The danger of winter clothing in a car seat

When it’s freezing outside, it’s natural to want to keep your baby as warm as possible. A thick jacket, snowsuit, or warm sweatshirt may seem essential — but these layers can actually be very dangerous in a car seat, even if it doesn’t look that way at first.

Why is a jacket in a car seat dangerous?

Thick clothing creates an air gap between your baby’s body and the safety harness. In a crash, this gap “compresses” — the jacket flattens — and the harness loses its effectiveness.
Even if it feels tight, your baby could slip out of the seat or be seriously injured during an accident.

Studies show that because of bulky winter clothing, a child can suffer much more severe injuries in a crash than without it.

How to keep your baby warm and safe

• Always remove jackets and snowsuits before buckling your baby into the car seat.

• Dress your baby in thin, fitted layers such as a bodysuit, sweater, or light fleece.

• Keep your baby warm after buckling – cover them with a blanket or use a car seat footmuff or swaddle.

• A great alternative is the T-TOMI Wrapper – a soft, warm, and safe cover that opens easily and allows correct harnessing over the baby. The Wrapper keeps your baby cozy after fastening, without compromising safety.

• If you’re moving from home to the car, you can also use a blanket with harness openings, which is easy to put on and remove.

Safety first

Even a short trip “just around the corner” can be risky. Always make sure that your baby is properly buckled without bulky layers.
Harness straps must fit snugly against the body to do their job in the event of a crash.

And if you’re looking for a practical and stylish way to keep your baby warm without a jacket, check out the new T-TOMI Wrapper – ideal for car seats, strollers, and carrying your baby from the car to indoors.