Carseat blanket idea

[crunch!910]

http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2...-blankies.html

Is this okay? Except I would replace the batting and the inside layer closest to baby with fleece, for two layers of warm fleece.

[kanga1622]

I am not a tech but I would say no. Basically anything between seat and baby is a hazard. Especially something with batting that would compress in an accident.

We love our car seat ponchos. We have two and DS wears them all winter with no other coat. He stays nice and warm and we made ours extra long so they almost touch the ground when he walks.

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[KelseyH]

DH is a carseat tech and he says that is a big fat no.

Here is a thought, though - you could cut the middle out of the blanket and leave the hood. So you have two "wings" you could tuck in by her arms and legs, and still have the hood and blanket material going over the top, but nothing across the back or between the baby and the seat.

ETA: I just read the tutorial in depth, and where she lays the blanket in the seat to measure... I would just draw a general line around where baby's butt/trunk would be and cut that out. So there would be a big oval instead of a few slits.

[Shaunam]

Originally Posted by KelseyH DH is a carseat tech and he says that is a big fat no. Here is a thought, though - you could cut the middle out of the blanket and leave the hood. So you have two "wings" you could tuck in by her arms and legs, and still have the hood and blanket material going over the top, but nothing across the back or between the baby and the seat. ETA: I just read the tutorial in depth, and where she lays the blanket in the seat to measure... I would just draw a general line around where baby's butt/trunk would be and cut that out. So there would be a big oval instead of a few slits.

I would be comfortable with this alternative. I know it's considered acceptable to cut the back out of a bundleme.

[solarbabies]

yep, cut the back out.

Anther thing that I would think is as long as the slots are wide enough to not interfere with the strap placement then as long as it is no thicker than a piece of clothing I would be ok with it. Like...say it were a receiving blanket modified to fit...no thicker than a shirt then sure! You could even add fleece to the wings to make the actual cover part thicker but not the back.

Not a tech though.

[monica-m]

I am a tech.

I would be okay with it if the back was completely cut out so that there was nothing between the baby's back and the seat. Things that interact with the harness that are not specifically okayed by the manufacturer make me uncomfortable. I also don't understand why a fleece snowsuit and shower cap style cover cannot do the same thing but I live in Texas where it doesn't get cold so my view may be skewed.

[crunch!910]

The way I see it is that if I had a fleece coat on child, it'd be between carseat and baby. I am going to replace the inner batting with fleece instead. I cannot see how this in any way would be unsafe - it'd be even safer than a coat because there would be only one layer between the child's back and carseat, instead of 2 layers - 1 layer between the child's back and carseat, and then a layer between the child's chest and straps.

I do have a fleece bunting for baby, but I'm still not comfortable with how much looser it leaves the harness. I'd really be able to get the harness adjusted correctly using this "carseat blanket". AND when the car gets warm/hot, baby could kick it off. Baby couldn't do that with bunting, and he often gets mad when he gets too hot. Also, my baby is in a convertible - so shower caps aren't an option. Like I said, this would be a better option than even the Columbia fleece coats I bought as recommended here to be "carseat friendly".. so if those are safe - and those are some thick fleece! - then this should be as well.

[Green Decals]

Originally Posted by crunch!910 The way I see it is that if I had a fleece coat on child, it'd be between carseat and baby. I am going to replace the inner batting with fleece instead. I cannot see how this in any way would be unsafe - it'd be even safer than a coat because there would be only one layer between the child's back and carseat, instead of 2 layers - 1 layer between the child's back and carseat, and then a layer between the child's chest and straps. I do have a fleece bunting for baby, but I'm still not comfortable with how much looser it leaves the harness. I'd really be able to get the harness adjusted correctly using this "carseat blanket". AND when the car gets warm/hot, baby could kick it off. Baby couldn't do that with bunting, and he often gets mad when he gets too hot. Also, my baby is in a convertible - so shower caps aren't an option. Like I said, this would be a better option than even the Columbia fleece coats I bought as recommended here to be "carseat friendly".. so if those are safe - and those are some thick fleece! - then this should be as well.

I completely agree with you here. Living in the frozen north, I do the fleece jacket thing too, and they don't freeze between house and car, and I pre-heat my car, and they have fleece blankets to use in the car once they are strapped in. But, even with their fall fleeces, I have to loosen straps, then tighten on warmer days when they aren't wearing jackets. I would totally prefer this over the extra bulk of the fleece. There is only one layer with this bunting, between seat and child, but nothing between child and straps. MUCH safer than a fleece jacket! Just make sure the cuts are large enough that they in no way interfere with the straps...

[jaelynsmommy61607]

I personally think its fine. It's not thicker and a fleece suit like you said. I've been thinking about making DS one but so far the blanket is working fine.

I'm not a tech. I do take care seat safety seriously. I am pretty strict on the no after market products.

[Sweetbabybows]

I'm comfortable with it. I actually used that tutorial and made one for dd3. I did a layer of cotton for the cute outside print, flannel for the inner layer and minky for the layer against baby. I also just did a square and didn't make it hooded. It keeps her warm and is still very thin. It was not as easy as I was hoping for to use but I have a brand new baby in a radian so strapping her in at all is difficult with such big buckles even without the blanket. I made the holes really big so they don't interfere with the straps. If you planned on leaving it in the seat all the time it would probably be easier to just cut a big oval shape in the center like others have suggested.