Car Seat Safety and Winter Coats: What Parents Need to Know

A common question we get asked when the temperatures drop each year is “Can my child wear a winter coat in her car seat?”

Great question! 

The short answer is: Yes, your child can stay warm and safe — but only if the car seat harness fits properly underneath or around that winter layer.

Why Coats Can Be a Problem in Car Seats

Winter coats, puffy jackets, and thick sweaters can create dangerous gaps between your child and the car seat harness.

Even if the straps look snug, the padding in the coat compresses during a crash — leaving extra space that can cause your child to slip forward or even be ejected from the seat.

The harness should fit snugly across your child’s shoulders and hips, with no slack — something that’s hard to achieve with bulky clothing in the way.

 

How to Check for Safety

Here’s an easy way to test your child’s fit:

1. Buckle and tighten the harness while your child is wearing their winter coat.
2. Unbuckle the harness — without loosening the straps.
3. Remove the coat and buckle your child back in.

If the harness now feels loose, it wasn’t tight enough before. That extra space came from the coat’s padding!

To get the safest fit:

• Adjust the harness with the coat off.
• Once it’s snug, rebuckle with the coat over (if it still allows a tight fit), or place a blanket or thin fleece over the harness for warmth.

Tip: The “pinch test” is an easy way to check snugness — you shouldn’t be able to pinch any slack at the shoulder straps once your child is buckled in.

 

For questions, to book an appointment, or any other concerns, Augusta Pediatrics can be reached at (706) 868-0389. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.