Bulky winter jackets and snowsuits can cause harness straps in child restraints and seatbelts to be too loose which can limit the effectiveness of the child restraint or seatbelt. Here are some recommendations:
Bulky winter jackets and snowsuits can cause harness straps in child restraints and seatbelts to be too loose which can limit the effectiveness of the child restraint or seatbelt. Extra slack in a child restraint harness can be very dangerous and can result in a child passing through the harness or ejected from the restraint in a crash. As the temperatures drop, many people have concerns about keeping children safe from the cold AND safe in the car. Here are some recommendations:
- Check harness tightness with bulky coats vs. lightweight clothing. Child restraint harness straps should fit tight enough to the child’s body that you can just fit one finger underneath
- Warm up the car before you leave
- Dress in thin, lightweight layers (fleece works great)
- Secure a child in their seat without a coat and place the coat on backwards to cover their arms and body
- Place blankets over the child already secured in the child restraint
- Use car seat covers that don’t interfere with the harness for newborns/infants (only for infant car seats)
The Apple Valley Police Department offers free car seat checks by appointment for residents of Apple Valley. To learn more about child passenger safety or to schedule a car seat check, contact Crime Prevention Specialist Pam Walter at 952-953-2706