The coat that killed me.

Did you know this? I didn’t and had never heard about this from anyone or anywhere.

Coats and car seats are a very volatile combination.

You heard me correctly. Keeping a child’s coat or jacket on him, while riding in the car, can equal possible death. I have a now, toddler and a 10 month old baby and I am just learning of this. Just place the bad parenting label on me now.

I knew the straps had to be pretty tight against the child’s chest. I knew the child had to be rear facing for at least 2 years. I knew about weight and height requirements. I knew all of this, yet I did not know keeping my child warm could make him loose his life.

Winter coats and jackets change how the straps fit around a child. I am pretty sure the straps were still fairly tight around my kid’s (even used the finger rule). The finger rule is something you use to determine if the strap is tight enough against a child.

I don’t know about you, but have you seen the child restraint systems our parents used? Now they want to say, a coat can increase the chance of your child being ejected from the car seat. I really find it silly to be honest with you. My children look as if they are going to the moon when I strap them in the old minivan(they are sooooo damn tight). A monkey couldn’t get out of these things.

I do have to point out, they are talking about thicker coats, snowsuits, etc.

Needless to say, I still have never heard of such a thing.

I know this may come off bad, but do you realize how much work it would be to do what they want you to. Take the coat off upon entering the car. Put the coat on before exiting the car. Place the coat on backwards while driving in the car. Do these people have kids? That coat would stay on my oldest son for a millisecond, just long enough for me to turn around and begin shutting the door. Not to mention, if you are busy fooling with a coat, then you are not paying attention to your surroundings, thus leaving yourself open for robbery or a carjacking.

I will say, I don’t think I have ever run into the problem of having a coat on so thick that it may endanger one of my children. I will continue to do what I have done and what they recommend.  Instead of placing your child into an Eskimo outfit, such as that shown in 'A Christmas Story', just bring a blanket and tuck it around your child once they are safely strapped. They also have another absurd idea…. Warm up your car before. Doesn’t that require me to leave the car running while not watching it? Can someone say, car theft.

The common theme.

Be sensible. Sensible in how you dress your child. Sensible in how you manage to keep them warm. Sensible in how you strap them in.

They give directions on how to test if your child’s clothing may be too bulky here.

Just a PSA, from a father who had never heard of such a thing. If I just open up the eyes of one person, then maybe it will save a life.