Ah winter, that great time of year when we get to bust out the boots and sweaters and hats and scarves. Winter used to be my favorite time of year. But since my kids joined our family, I’ve decided it’s just annoying. Too much stuff! Gloves, hats, coats, boots, snow pants, all of it. And never where it is supposed to be when needed. Thankfully, we haven’t gotten into scarves yet!
But my biggest winter pet peeve: puffy coats for kids that have to be taken off every time they get in the car. You know the drill: it’s not safe for the kids to wear their big coats in their car seats (check this out if it’s news to you).
Yet, as annoying as it is to take off and put on coats every time we get in the car, this is an area where I don’t compromise. I might let my daughter wear flip flops to school (I’ve learned to pick my battles) but she’s always going to take her coat off when she gets in the car. Fortunately, my kids accept that this is the rule of the car. They are in pre-school, so you would think they’d be good helpers when it comes to getting in and out of the car. Ha! Ha! If you have a preschooler, you are probably laughing, too.
Let me describe the conversation that occurs when we arrive at a destination:
Me: Ok, we’re here. Unbuckle, coats on, let’s go.
Kid 1: It’s not cold. I don’t need a coat.
Kid 2: I WILL NOT put on my coat.
Me: Not negotiable. It’s cold. You need a coat.
Kid 1: No, I don’t need a coat.
Kid 2: I can’t get unbuckled!
Me: Put on your coats. People will think I’m a bad mom!
Kid 1: Ugh. I need a new mommy.
Kid 2: I won’t!
Repeat this at every stop… Every. Single. Stop.
And you know, to be honest, if we aren’t going far, I just let them go without coats. I consider it the cost of safety, I guess. But the coats always come off when they buckle up.
Like most moms, I bought my car seats after doing tons of research on the best, safest car seat. I watched those horrible crash test videos and fretted over the price of the top-of-the-line seats. I bought the best ones I could afford. Now that winter is here, the reminders come telling us it’s not safe to wear coats in the car. Here’s a disturbing crash test video that shows what can happen if the straps are too loose. This article also makes the point that the same rules apply to adults, so I have started taking my coat off too. It’s not too puffy but I like being looser and setting a good example for the kids.
Some might worry about the kids being cold in the car. Mine have never once complained about being cold (they have plenty of other things they like to complain about!). But you can keep a blanket back there or cover them up with their jackets if necessary.
As a related side note, it’s always a good idea to keep up on the usage rules for your particular car seat. My kids have the same car seat, but one uses the latches and the other uses the seat belt to secure the seat because the manufacturer recommendations for their respective weights are different. A couple more pounds and my son will move to the seat belt, too. If you can’t find the instructions that came with your car seat, most are available online.
I deal with this every time we are in the car so I’m glad I’m not the only one dealing with this problem. My son hates wearing a coat so sometimes I will carry him and run inside the store so I don’t have to fight him. I know people are making comments about me being a horrible parent since I am wearing my winter coat. I have settled for a light weight jacket that will keep him worn but more light a shirt than a slick coat. I wonder at what age this will no longer be a problem….