I think it’s becoming, thankfully, more and more common knowledge that we should not be strapping our children into their car seats while they are wearing their snowsuits or thick jackets. I’ve posted about how I didn’t always know this: if it’s news to you, you’re not alone!
In a nutshell, if the case of an accident, the force of impact causes the snowsuit or coat to compress, causing a gap between the child and his car seat straps. Children can be ejected from their seats if the straps are too loose.
Since driving is probably one of the most statistically dangerous things we do with our children, it’s important that we make sure they are as secure as possible, especially since we have no control over the other folks on the road.
Of course, not being able to strap a child into his seat with a snowsuit on leaves a Canadian parent in a bit of a quandary: how do I keep him warm on the way to the car and in the car as it warms up?
Solution: Canadian Baby Ponchos.
Designed for children 6 months and older, the Canadian Baby Poncho is printed igloo fleece on the exterior, backed with solid colour lamb fleece, hand sewn with two sturdy brass snaps at the neck closure for the right fit around the child. The piece is made from a metre of fabric, so it’s plenty roomy as your child grows. On Cub we do up just one of the neck snaps to get the right fit.
I was expecting a poncho with just a single-layer of thin fleece, so I was pleasantly surprised with how thick and warm the Canadian Baby Poncho is. I confess that, since I am chronically cold while working at my computer, I often wear it! I am sure that Cub is warm enough going to the car wearing his light polar fleece jacket with the poncho on top and, of course, a hat, even on the coldest of days.
So, one thing I didn’t count on when I agreed to do this review was that my son would refuse to wear it. This has nothing to do with the product and everything to do with him being a very, very stubborn toddler. If he had his way, he’d be going outside in the snow in his baseball hat and regular shoes. He refuses to be carried to the car, which is fine: unlike with a blanket, the child can absolutely walk himself to the car while wearing the poncho. However, Cub wants to walk completely unencumbered, no matter how cold it may be.
He loves the poncho on his lap in the car or in the stroller, and so do I. It makes a great blanket for winter outings.
I’m confident that baby number two will be more complacent (at least if I introduce the poncho at an earlier age) and I will use it as soon as he or she is big enough for it. I remember struggling to carry Cub to the car and keep a blanket covering him: the poncho is definitely the solution. As Cub gets older and perhaps more open to negotiation, I may be able to reason him into his poncho…. or… that might be wishful thinking.
When you get in the car, you can leave the poncho on the child and flip the back of the poncho up over the back of the car seat without interfering with the straps, or, if the car has been heating, take it off right away. As the child warms up, the poncho can then be easily removed without having to be unbuckled.
/a>The one improvement in design that I would suggest would be the addition of a hood. Granted, given the one-size nature of the poncho, this may be a bit tricky.
{Update, November 2015}
Last year, Cub wouldn’t really wear his poncho. This year, I didn’t expect he’d be any more willing. Turns out, he loves it! (And I know his expression doesn’t convey that, but it was cold and I didn’t have time for retakes.)
And now that he actually wears it and walks to and from the car in it, I love it even more!
A zipper at the front would make it easier to access his car seat straps to buckle him, but he is definitely warm enough getting to the car (and it covers his hands, which is good, since he usually refuses mittens).
data-pin-description=”Avoid a bulky snowsuit in the car seat that interferes with straps: choose a car seat poncho instead!” />/a>You can order your Canadian Baby Poncho via their Facebook page.
How do you keep your kids safe and warm in the car in the winter?
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