Millions are set to hit the road this Christmas to visit family and friends over the festive period.
But, an expert has warned parents to avoid a common car seat mistake many make during winter travel.
It might be tempting to wrap your little ones in puffy jackets and warm layers when it’s cold outside, but it can cause issues when worn in the car.
Car seat expert Kirsty Carroll, from Kiddies Kingdom, reveals how it could even be dangerous in a crash.
‘The padded linings in some baby winter coats, while keeping your little one toasty, will compress in the event of a crash,’ she warns.
‘So even if the straps on the car seat looked secure when you set off, the extra space around the harness will mean your little one isn’t protected.’
Kirsty says it’s better to completely remove coats from babies and infants.
She adds, ‘Because of this, the best thing to do is before placing a baby in their car seat is to take off their coat altogether.’
It might be tempting to wrap your little ones in puffy jackets and warm layers when it’s cold outside, but it can cause issues when worn in the car
But the expert acknowledges parents might be conscius of keeping their little ones safe and warm during travels, so she shares her five different ways to regulate a baby’s temperature in a car.
Kirsty advises layers of clothes and blankets instead of thick items, so that they can easily be taken away or added if needed.
‘Thick clothes aren’t always the best option in winter. In fact, layering clothes and blankets is a much better way to keep your baby warm when travelling. Because babies have a much harder time regulating their own body temperature, it is easier to add or remove layers of clothing and make those small adjustments,’ she says.
‘As a general rule, babies need one more layer than adults to stay warm. Layers should be lightweight and close-fitting, with any extra warmth added over the harness rather than underneath it, to keep your little one snug and safe.’
Kirsty also recommends adding blankets after safely strapping your baby into the seat, making sure to not tuck around the harness.
‘Once your baby is strapped in safely, then you can layer blankets on top to keep your little one warm,’ the expert explains.
‘The most important thing is that you don’t tuck anything into the harness so that the blanket doesn’t interfere with the car seat’s safety features.
‘A common mistake made by parents is covering the entire car seat with a blanket, which can restrict airflow and lead to overheating.
‘The padded linings in some baby winter coats, while keeping your little one toasty, will compress in the event of a crash,’ Kirsty Carroll warns
‘Instead, if using a blanket, only ever go up to their chest, leaving their face exposed.’
The car seat expert also recommends not going too strong with the vehicle’s heater and says, ‘Overdoing it on the car heater is easily done, especially on a chilly day. Ideally, babies need to be in a room with a temperature of 16-20°C. So, keeping your car’s heating within this range helps prevent overheating.
‘The best way to check if your baby is getting too hot is to feel their tummy or the back of their neck. If their skin feels clammy or sweaty, that is a sign that they are too warm. If this is the case, removing a layer of clothing will help them regulate their temperature.’
She also advises taking plenty of breaks during car journeys and limiting the amount of travel time for the youngsters, as well as frequently checking their temperature.
