How to properly secure your child’s car seat this winter

Winter months are quickly approaching and making sure your child is safely secured in their car seat can be tricky.

With the amount of winter clothing needed to keep children warm, the thick layers can reduce the effectiveness of a child’s car seat.

“The extra bulky layers do not allow the harness to be tightened against the child’s body,” Elizabeth Vargas, car seat specialist, said. “That’s really the reason you have a car seat is to make sure they’re safe and buckled in properly.”

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A puffy jacket can leave a space between the harness and the child, she says.

“That space is what allows them to potentially pop-out of the car seat,” Vargas said.

Vargas recommends a two-piece snowsuit as it’s easier to manipulate with the harness of the car seat.

To test how much space is left between the harness and a child when they are wearing their winter jacket, Vargas suggests you tighten the harness on the child while they are wearing their jacket then unbuckle the harness and remove the child’s jacket. Fasten the harness again and you’ll be able to notice the amount of space left over.