Car Seat Safety Tips For Your Family’s Holiday Travels – Did you know bulky clothing like winter coats and snowsuits shouldn’t be worn under your child’s car seat harness? The holidays bring lots of driving, meaning it’s time to brush up on your winter travel car seat safety! Find out all the tips to keep your littles safe while on the road right here on Newsymom!
This informational campaign comes to you in partnership with the Stark County Community Action Agency.
You heard it right: you shouldn’t be buckling your child into their car seat with their bulky coat or snowsuit on! Why? During a car crash, the force of it flattens out all the padding, leaving extra space between your child and their harness. This means they could easily slip out!
As you prepare yourself and your family for your winter holiday travels this Christmas and New Year, keep all of these traveling safety tips in mind:
Car Seat Tips for Your L.O.’s (Little Ones)
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Test the thickness of their coat – Test out how tight the straps of your child’s car seat are with and without the coat. First, put your child, coat and all, into their car seat. Don’t loosen the straps, take off your child’s coat, and buckle them back in again. The harness shouldn’t have more than two fingers of space between them and the belt! Tighten that harness.
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Store the carrier portion of your baby’s car seat indoors when not in use – If you leave the carrier outside, their body will lose heat!
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Leave early, early, early – Give yourself time to accommodate your child’s car seat, warm up the car, and the wintry conditions outside to get to your destination safely. When in doubt, it’s better to be late than to never arrive! Drive safely.
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Dress your child in thin layers – It’s better to keep your baby warm this way! If they get hot, peel off some layers. Start with tights, leggings, or long-sleeved bodysuits, then add some pants and a warmer top, like a sweater. If more warmth is needed, add a fleece jacket!
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Don’t forget hats, gloves or mittens, and booties – Add these to protect the most vulnerable areas of your baby!
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Use a coat or blanket over the harness – Since the coat is not under the harness, it’s safe to throw it on top to keep babes warm!
Important Travel Tips to Keep Your Family Safe During Travel
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Monitor road conditions: Keep an eye for ice and sleet this winter. Watch the temps – if it’s below 32 degrees Fahrenheit with water on the ground, you know ice is out there! Don’t hesitate to call off your appointment, work, or meet-up. It’s not worth risking you or your children’s lives!
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Keep an emergency kit for the car: Pack extra clothes, blankets, non-perishable snacks, water, diapers, flashlights or flares, first aid kit, and more in case you’re stranded!
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Give yourself more time: We can’t stress this enough! When you make plans for travel in winter, allow extra time to get to your destination. Drive safely and cautiously. Don’t rush.
Stay safe this winter by taking all the above precautions to keep your babies safe. And when you need a helping hand, don’t hesitate to connect with the SCCAA Community Actions Pathway HUB! They’ve got education, resources, and support to help new and pregnant mothers get through life’s bumps and bruises.
Melissa Klatt
Reporting
