With colder weather on the way this weekend, AAA is reminding to parents to be careful about puffy jackets in car seats.
The travel agency says that added padding between the child and the harness limits the protection a seat belt provides. The gap then can cause the child to slip through the restraint, causing an injury.
They remind parents that straps should lay flat and snug against the child’s body while in a car seat.
Terri Rae Anthony is a safety advisor with AAA and he says it’s best to put the extra layer over the child once they’re buckled in.
“Parents should buckle children in cars without jackets first, and then cover them with something like a blanket. The seat belt should be snug enough that no strap material can be pinched at the child’s shoulder.”
They suggest warming up the car ahead of time and using a thinner jacket like a fleece to provide the best safety.
