Winter Coats & Car Seats Don't Mix

A brief demonstration of the reason that winter coats are not safe for use in harnessed car seats. For more information, go to: http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/10969...

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  Education

[TH3GOD88]

Move the buckle down, then tighten straps. It's simple physics.

[Christie Haskell]

Um... what? Yeah, no.

[ptitelaeti77]

We can't judge this way if the give in the straps is enough to endanger the child. Could you please put your child back in his seat with his coat on, tighten him up snuggly as you did, and then shake the seat upside down to see if you can make him fall out?

See, I'm not convinced that amount of looseness is enough to be detrimental. Is there a video somewhere with a crash-test-dummy wearing a coat in a car seat, compared to one without a coat, both being strapped snuggly?

[ptitelaeti77]

Thank you doulananny, that does make sense. I think I can picture the slow-motion clip-breaking ride-down action. I guess if the clip didn't break, the child might be strangled by it.

[Edith Johnson]

Ok. But this just doesn't work for people (like my family) that lives in a place where we have 7-8month winters and 0* is the warmest it gets.

[thedoulananny]

Sorry if I came off as preachy-not my intention.

The chest clip is a pre-crash positioner and holds the straps where they should be on your child's body. Upon impact (that cannot be recreated by human strength), the chest chip breaks with your child in it allowing ride down. The straps must be tight enough otherwise the child might fly out. The purpose of the car seat is to absorb crash forces. If the straps are too loose, the child absorbs them and the car seat isn't doing its job. Make sense?

[ptitelaeti77]

I was just asking an honest question, not trying to bring this mom down; it's not my fault popular rating keeps bumping my question to the top...

A question for you: if the chest clip breaks open anyway, what difference does the absence of slack make? Your comment is not very clear: it sounds like the child will fly out either way after the clip breaks... Please elaborate?

[miadob2009]

I have shared your video so many times now! Every fall and winter since you uploaded it. Makes me sad but people usually just roll their eye's at me when I speak up. I'm sorry to say I didn't know any better when my daughter was an infant but since I've seen your video she hasn't been buckled in with a coat on since! I made her a car seat poncho too that I found through the Newly Wed Newly Bred blog that had your video on it. Thank you so much! <3

[miadob2009]

Oh God that must have been terrifying!

[miadob2009]

Yeah shaking it upside down TOTALLY has the same force as a wreck. Why don't you go look for news stories on kids launched through windshields.

[thedoulananny]

Wouldn't you want to do EVERYTHING you possible can to keep your children safe? This Mom has done a wonderful job raising awareness and educating on a very common, yet dangerous mis-use of car seats.

Additionally, the "chest clip" is a pre-crash positioner. Meaning that upon impact, it will break open slowing down the child (this is good). If you have a ton of compressible slack as shown above, the child will no doubtingly "fly out" of the seat. I am a CPST.

[LeAnne Braniff]

It's not only about keeping them in the car seat, falling out isn't the main concern. In a crash, it the straps are tight enough it reduces the impact on your child by keeping them tightly against the back of the seat. It's like wearing a back brace. Keeping them tight against the car seat will reduce the stress put on the spine during a crash. The proper location of the chest clip will keep them in the car seat and even out the impact.

[Courtney Allen]

This video was excellent. I see tons of kids in carseats that are unsafe. The strap has to be up and it has to be tight without a coat. Its silly that so many of you are arguing this instead of taking someones advice and risking your Childs well being. My carseat Manuel stats no bulky clothes. And its 6months old. Also my 6year old niece also is in a carseat. Her safety comes first period!!! Thanks for sharing this awesome video. I will deff be sharing it :)