JOPLIN, MO.--- Members with the Alliance in Joplin recommend that you take your child's coat off before you buckle them in to their car seat. The coat puts extra space between the child and the strap, which makes it less safe.
Experts say to put blankets on top of your child until the car warms up. You should be able to fit one finger between your child's shoulder blade and the upper strap.
"If you have a heavy coat, it keeps you from getting the harness tight enough. If the kid should take off their coat or in a big wreck he would slide out. It would not be tight enough to hold the child," states Kevin Theilen, Alliance.
Once you reach your destination, you can just put your child's coat back on in the back seat before you go out into the cold.
Experts say to put blankets on top of your child until the car warms up. You should be able to fit one finger between your child's shoulder blade and the upper strap.
"If you have a heavy coat, it keeps you from getting the harness tight enough. If the kid should take off their coat or in a big wreck he would slide out. It would not be tight enough to hold the child," states Kevin Theilen, Alliance.
Once you reach your destination, you can just put your child's coat back on in the back seat before you go out into the cold.
