Watch CBS News

Consumer Reports: Car Seat Safety In Cold Weather

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - In cold weather, we bundle up our children to prepare them for the elements. But, a bulky coat and a car seat can be a dangerous combination.

The harness might not be tight enough to secure your child in a crash. Here's how to check whether your child's coat is too big and bulky to wear under the car seat harness.

First, put your baby in their coat and properly secure them in the car seat so there's no slack in the harness straps. Then, remove the coat and put them back in the seat to see whether the straps are loose. If they are loose, in an accident, your child could ride up, putting their head outside the protection of the seat, resulting in a possible head injury.

So how can you keep your baby safe and warm in the car? Consumer Reports recommends first securing them into his seat and then putting a blanket on top of the harness.

If you have a bigger child, you can use the same test to see how much room their puffy coat puts between them and the harness. Then, teach your child the trick of wearing their coat over the harness for riding in the car. Just put their arms in the sleeves and use the coat as a blanket.

In any kind of weather, Consumer Reports says always make sure that your child is properly harnessed every time. You should not be able to pinch any fabric, and his or her chest clip should always be at armpit level.

Along with those tips, Consumer Reports suggests you periodically go to a car seat checkup event to make sure your seat is properly installed.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.