Automotive experts are urging parents not to make this one life-threatening mistake when travelling with a child
With the UK weather unlikely to warm up any time soon, Brits won’t be packing away their winter clothing just yet.
When it comes to travelling in the cold, it’s obvious that we want ourselves – and our children – to stay warm. However, a key item of clothing, although vital when the temperature drops, actually can impact our children’s safety when in the car.
Bulky items such as puffy coats, or snowsuits, need to be removed before placing your child in their car seat or booster seat, in fact this also applies to adults, who should also remove their puffer coats when getting into a car.
As such, the automotive experts at Group 1 Automotive have shared their tips on how to keep your child safe and comfortable when driving in the winter.
- Take off their coat
Although vital for protecting kids from the cold weather, children cannot wear most coats when in a car seat. See Multimac
Coats with thick padding or hoods mean that your child will not be strapped into their car seat properly – allowing gaps between them and their harness. This means that if you were to find yourself in an accident, your child is not secure and their seatbelt can move, leading to serious injuries.
When putting any little ones in the car, remove any thick jackets, puffy coats or snowsuits before strapping them into their kids’ car seats – you can then lay the jacket or a blanket over them, after strapping them in, to ensure they’re not cold.
- Layer up
Kids and babies in particular, generally need to wear more layers than adults, as they run colder. So, layering up your child in thin layers can be the perfect way to keep them warm without any thick coats needed.
Thermal layers, or materials such as fleece and wool can keep your child warm without adding bulk to their outfit.
- Tighten the straps
Remember, even if you think your child is firmly in their harness, test the straps. Check your child car seat straps by seeing if the belt can be pinched or folded – if it can, this is too lax and needs to be tightened.
To be sure that it’s tight enough, try the pinch test. At your child’s collarbone, see if you can slip your hand underneath the straps of their car seat. You should only be able to fit one or two fingers in between your child and their harness.
- Pack an emergency bag
Keep an emergency bag in your car. You can fill this with spare clothes, hats, gloves, and extra blankets. This means that you won’t have to panic about your child not having their coat – you have everything they need to stay warm already!
This can be a great way to plan for any unexpected journeys or delays, or a sudden temperature drop, and will leave parents feeling prepared in the cold weather.
- Consider your car seat and accessories
According to car seat regulations in the UK, all children must use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. It’s also important to note that the seat must be appropriate for the child’s weight and height.
Parents should ensure that child car seats are not only securely installed but also free from any debris, such as snow or ice, which can affect the grip of the seatbelt or isofix anchors.
You can also get child car seat covers that’ll help keep any infants warm. However, you should always be cautious about accessories that weren’t made for your specific car seat as they will not have been road-tested together.
You should only use a car seat cover if it doesn’t have a layer that goes underneath your child, or between them and the harness – as remember anything bulky will impact their safety.
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