Safety comes first when traveling with a baby. A car seat for a baby is safe until you fasten your baby tight in the seat. To keep your baby safe in a car seat, it is necessary to avoid anything that obstructs the tightness of the seat’s straps.
So, can babies wear hoodies in car seats? Winter is a tricky time for a baby car seat. A general rule of thumb is to avoid wearing bulky clothing such as snowsuits and winter coats underneath the harness of a car seat.
When a car crashes, fluffy padding in a winter coat flattens out immediately from the force, leaving additional space under the harness.
As a result, a baby can slip through the strap and be thrown from the seat. Avoid dressing up your baby in clothes that are too bulky to ensure their safety.
But you have to keep your baby warm when traveling so that they don’t get cold through the wind during the ride.
Keep reading to learn more about this topic.
Table of Contents
Can babies wear hoodies in car seats?
Babies can wear a hoodie in the car seat. It is OK to dress your baby in a hoodie as long as it is not bulky enough to prevent the straps from being tight on your kid. To be on the safe end, use a hoodie that is made up of cotton or any other non-slippery material. Moreover, make sure that the straps of your baby’s car seat are secured tightly around the shoulders. Hoodies are one of the best ways to keep your little one warm while traveling. A hoodie must not be very thick.
How to keep a baby safe in the car seat when wearing a hoodie?
You can let your baby wear a hoodie in a car seat but you have to tightly secure them in the harness. Make sure that the hoodie is made of non-slip material and it should not be very thick and bulky.
Cotton is the best material for a hoodie if you want to use it in a car seat while traveling.
Moreover, when moving the seat straps over the shoulders of your baby, lift the hoodie to get a tight grip around your baby’s shoulders.
Can a baby wear a winter coat in a car seat?
Winter coats are not safe in a car seat for your baby. It is not recommended for a baby to wear a thick winter jacket or a winter coat in a car seat.
It is because winter coats are bulky and thick. Therefore, the harness of your car seat will not be able to secure your baby as tight as needed. In case of a car crash, your baby can slip out of the car seat.
Winter jackets and coats are generally made of slippery material, making them risky for a car seat. Being slippery adds to the fact that the harness is not tight enough which makes it even more dangerous for your baby while traveling.
You can check the safety of your baby with a winter coat in a car seat but it is better to avoid wearing it in a car seat.
How to keep a baby warm and safe in a car seat
Now we know that winter jackets and coats are not a great option for a baby in a car seat, there are many other alternative ways to keep your baby warm.
You can go for warm clothes, ponchos, and hoodies designed especially for car seats. Get mittens, hats, warm pants, blankets, and sweaters that do not obstruct the safety of your baby in the car seat.
Ponchos, hats, and mittens are usually safe for your baby as they are made of non-slip materials. Socks, booties, and mittens can help keep your baby warm without interfering with the straps of your car seat.
If there is extremely cold outside, you can put a blanket over the car seat once you harness your little one.
Here are some other tips to keep your baby safe and warm in the car seat.
Dress your baby in thin layers
You need to start earlier if you are planning to go outdoors with your baby in winter.
You will have to collect many things to get your baby ready to go outside on chilly days and nights. Also, your baby may not be the most cooperative.
Begin with close-fitting inner layers such as leggings, warm body suits, or tights. Then go for warm pants and warm tops such as a thermal-knit shirt or a sweater.
You can dress your little one in a thin fleece jacket over the top. If the weather is too cold, long underwear is also a safe and warm layering option.
A basic rule is that babies should wear one layer more than adults. If you are wearing a coat, your baby must wear a coat and a blanket.
However, don’t forget to remove the blanket inside the car before putting your baby in the car seat.
Securely tight the straps of the car seat harness
Your baby may look snuggly bundled up in the car seat but multiple clothing layers can make it hard to tighten the harness enough.
Check the straps of the car seat by pinching and if you can pinch it, there is a need to tighten the straps to fit against your baby’s chest.
Use a blanket or coat over the straps
If there is extreme cold, you can use a blanket over the harness straps to ensure safety. You can also put your baby’s coat over the buckled harness straps after she/he is buckled up.
Many parents prefer items like poncho-style jackets or coats that close the sides so that the back can flip forward over the harness.
Remember that the top layer must be removable so that your baby does not get very hot inside the car.
Conclusion
I hope that this article “can babies wear hoodies in car seats?” helps you find the answer to your question.
A car seat for a baby is safe and effective only if your baby is firmly harnessed. You should avoid anything that interferes with this to ensure your baby’s safety while traveling.
Winter coats can compromise the safety of your baby in the car seat. They are thick and bulky leaving space between the straps and the shoulders of the baby.
Hoodies are a great alternative to keeping your baby warm on car seats when traveling.