Why Children Should Not Wear Outerwear in Their Car Seat

As the temperature drops and winter coats make their return, it’s natural to bundle kids up before heading out. But what’s warm isn’t always what’s safe — especially when it comes to car seats. According to safety experts at Axkid, bulky jackets, snowsuits and padded outerwear can create extra space between your child and the harness, seriously reducing the effectiveness of the restraint system.

At IN Car Safety Centre, we’re committed to helping families travel safely — and that means understanding how clothing affects car seat performance.

Why Bulky Outerwear is a Safety Risk in Car Seats

Car seats are engineered to keep your child secure by holding them firmly against the shell of the seat in the event of a crash. However, outerwear like thick winter coats or snowsuits compress under load. Axkid explains that when a jacket compresses in a collision, the harness can become loose — leaving more room for forward movement and increasing the risk of injury.

Here’s why it matters:

• Compressed Clothing Reduces Harness Effectiveness – A big puffy coat looks snug when you clip the harness, but that bulk disappears under sudden force. The harness might appear tight, but in a crash, your child could move forward more than expected.

• False Sense of Security – Parents often tighten the harness over the clothes, thinking that makes it safer. In reality, that “tight fit” may only exist because of the padded jacket — and can give a false sense of protection.

Tips for Keeping Kids Warm and Safe

1. Adjust the Harness with No Bulky Layers

Axkid advises that the harness should always be snug directly against your child’s body or thin layers of clothing. A good fit means you cannot pinch any slack at the shoulder once the harness is secured.

2. Use Thin, Breathable Layers Instead

Instead of heavy coats, dress kids in thinner layers like a fleece or wool jumper. These provide warmth without creating space under the harness. Thin layers also help you check that the harness is correctly positioned across the shoulders and chest.

3. Add Warmth After the Harness Is Fastened

Once your child is securely strapped in, you can add warmth outside the harness:

• A warm blanket tucked around them

• A car-specific blanket designed to go over the harness

• A cosy car seat cover that doesn’t interfere with straps

Axkid highlights that this method keeps your child warm while ensuring the harness works as intended.

4. Consider Heated Seats or Car Climate Control

Even in freezing weather, you can let the car warm up before setting off and use heated seats or climate control to keep everyone comfortable without compromising safety.

Cold Weather Safety Starts with the Right Fit

Winter outerwear has its place — just not under the car seat harness. Following the guidance from Axkid and IN Car Safety Centre helps ensure that your child’s car seat is doing the job it was designed to do: protecting them in every journey.

When it comes to child safety, warmth should never come at the expense of correct harness fit. For personalized advice on choosing the safest setup for winter travel or help fitting the harness correctly, our team at In Car Safety Centre is always here to help.

Stay warm — and stay safe on the roads this season.