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Car seat safety experts to moms: Avoid puffy coats

Ever heard of "coat compression"? It's what happens to bulky, fluffy, puffy clothing, most often outerwear, when it gets squished - for example, by an infant car seat harness. Suddenly, there's lots of space between the harness and the baby who's wearing the coat - enough space for the baby to slip through.

Experts are telling parents to "strap before you wrap" your baby in the car seat. In other words, put your baby in the seat, buckle him up, wrap a blanket around him for warmth, and put the jacket on the baby when you get out of the car. Otherwise, if you strap your puffy bundle of baby into the seat and there's an impact, the straps can compress that puffy jacket or snowsuit and the baby will no longer be tightly held by the harness - especially if the baby's coat has room to grow.

If you or your baby don't like the "strap and wrap" solution, experts say to look for an outer garment or bag that has slits for harness to pass through.

How do you keep your baby warm in the car?

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Comment by mama0313 on November 23, 2011 at 4:47pm: ha me too! i liked the pink but i'm always torn by my logical frugal side lol.

Comment by Bethany Ann, Star Mom on November 23, 2011 at 12:04am: @Silvermix81 that's the same one that I got :) and I got it in the tan/green colors so if I have a boy next I can reuse it. I love it!

Comment by mama0313 on November 22, 2011 at 11:35pm: i use a cuddle care brand stroller blanket. i got it from walmart for only $12 and it's lightweight and fleece. it hooks into the stroller or car seat. it has a zipper and a foot pocket that you can take off for say an older or taller child. it can also unzip all the way to be just a blanky. we love it.

Comment by ariezgirl03 on November 21, 2011 at 8:11pm: I just put the bundleme on our car seat and I love it. It keeps my little guy warm but still provides the safety I'm looking for!

Comment by DomMom on November 21, 2011 at 4:30pm: I use a CuddleCare fleece, zip up, blankie thats made specifically for the car seat. It has the slits for it to go on and off easily from the car seat. His head does poke out ofcourse, but he wears a little hat to keep his head warm.

Comment by Bethany Ann, Star Mom on November 21, 2011 at 1:38pm: Hmm..I guess I can see the logic in this. When my daughter was in her infant seat, I bought one of those fleece sleeping bag things that the straps go through. It was much easier than getting her bundled up in a snowsuit, she was much comfier, and just as warm. I wasn't thinking in safety terms, but apparently that was another bonus!

Comment by Andrea on November 21, 2011 at 1:14pm: I have an almost 7yr old girl and I always dressed her in snowsuits but thankfully we were never in an accident though. I would rather be on the safe side and accept or consider advice for infant safety. Ex: I don't use bpa in bottles etc to be safe just because my eldest did bc now we have more info available...lol btw I feel sooooo bad for my eldest bc it seems everything we did for her we are being told was bad/wrong it seems like! :(.

Comment by purplebutterflies on November 21, 2011 at 12:52pm: I dress my baby in warm clothes, a hat, and covered with a blanket. I'll have her coat on the side in case it's needed.

Comment by Family of 6 on November 21, 2011 at 12:43pm: I hate reading things like this. I've had kids for 13 years and NOW it's too dangerous to wear a coat in the car? Gimme a break. You all would be happy to know that my four kids are all alive and have been wearing coats in the car for years. It actually makes them more secure bcuz the straps are TIGHTER around them.

Comment by JULIE MANIATES on November 21, 2011 at 9:30am: Yay a study to prove Mother Dearest wrong! Love you Mom, but this proves it :)