Two-in-five Canadian parents may be overdressing children in car seats

Two-in-five Canadian parents may be overdressing children in car seats

Allstate Canada stresses that bulky winter clothing may limit the ability of car seat restraints to keep children safe.

MARKHAM–With cold weather comes bulky clothing, and while this may be a great way to keep kids warm in the winter, it can be dangerous when a child is strapped in a car seat. While the vast majority—95 per cent—of Canadian parents state that they are confident they know how to properly buckle a child in a car seat, many may actually be overdressing their children, according to new poll findings from Allstate Insurance Company of Canada.

When asked what they thought was the best way to keep a child warm while in their car seat during the winter months, 41 per cent of parents with children at home said a snowsuit or a winter coat. But bulky clothes inhibit the harness from being properly tightened, in the event of a sudden stop, a child can be propelled forward suddenly, causing a bulky jacket or snowsuit to compress. When this happens, it results in slack in their restraints and can cause the child to be ejected from the car seat, which can result in serious injury or death.

“These poll findings suggest a large knowledge gap, and we want parents to understand that the key to protecting your child is to dress them appropriately for their car seat, not the weather outside,” says Jason Foroglou, Certified Car Seat Safety Technician and Agency Manager, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada. “Safety for Canadians is a priority for Allstate Canada, which is why we partnered with Safety 1st Canada— to help educate and spread awareness on this important issue.”

“We’re concerned to learn that so many Canadian parents feel winter jackets and snowsuits are the best attire to be worn, since they’re not the safest options for keeping kids secure while in their car seats,” says Mimi Brandspigel, senior product manager for car seats of Dorel Juvenile Canada, makers of Safety 1st products. “This kind of winter wear tends to be big and puffy, great for keeping kids warm—but not very effective at keeping them securely strapped into their car seats.”

Safety 1st recommends dressing children in warm, thin layers to allow the car seat straps to lay flat and snugly against a child’s body. Yet, while this is the recommended approach to better ensure car seat safety, only one-in-10 (10 per cent) parents feel that layers are the best way to keep a child warm in their car seat in the winter months.

Options for ensuring a child remains safe and comfortable while in a car seat include:

• Outfitting a child in warm, thin layers, along with a hat, mitts and boots

• Warming up the car before loading up the family

• Placing a blanket over a car seat after the child is properly strapped in

• Using a child’s coat as a blanket with their arms in the sleeves

(PRESS RELEASE)