baby

bassinet to crib to bed

46: Bassinet to Crib to Bed Transitions with Becca Campbell from Little Z’s Sleep

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Parenting Podcast – Episode 46: Bassinet to Crib to Bed Transitions with Becca Campbell from Little Z’s Sleep

For the full show notes, visit: https://growingourfamily.com/s02e46/         

Follow me on Instagram: Instagram.com/growingrfamily

And Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/growingrfamily

We have Becca Campbell here with us today to talk about transitioning from a bassinet to crib to a toddler bed. She is a pediatric sleep consultant and the host of the Little z’s sleep podcast.

HAVE YOU JOINED OUR FACEBOOK GROUP YET??

“Growing Our Family Podcast -> A Community For Moms”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434759000779665/?ref=share

Where to find the podcast:

Show Notes

  • Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family and how you got into sleep consulting
  • Why is it recommended that newborns sleep in their parents room and what are the benefits?
  • What is the difference between a standard crib and a bassinet
  • When should you transition your baby from a bassinet to a crib/their own room?
  • How would you go about transitioning them?
  • How long do babies sleep in a crib before moving to a toddler bed?
  • How do you handle that transition?
  • How do you get your toddler to stay in a bed?
  • Are there other things to consider before switching to a toddler bed? Like baby proofing the room?

Product Recommendations

Dohm Sound Machine: https://amzn.to/2XGYjNq 

Becca’s Full Review: https://littlezsleep.com/blog/the-best-white-noise-machine-for-baby/

Blackout EZ Window Covers: https://amzn.to/3ab7TuA 

Pillowfort Blackout Curtain: Shop it on Target

Where to find Becca

Website: https://littlezsleep.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlezsleep/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlezsleep/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/littlezsleep/

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/little-zs-sleep-podcast/id1350931749

Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/sulp

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCATCSSrNaFHul6eJ5SQSHLQ/

Intro Song courtesy of:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626 Ft: J Lang, Morusque

weaning from breastfeeding

43: Weaning from Breastfeeding with Jacqueline Kincer

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Parenting Podcast – Episode 43: Weaning from Breastfeeding with Jacqueline Kincer 

For the full show notes, visit: https://growingourfamily.com/s02e43/       

Follow me on Instagram: Instagram.com/growingrfamily

And Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/growingrfamily

Jacqueline is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and the host of the Breastfeeding Talk podcast. She is here today to talk all about how to successfully wean your child from breastfeeding. 

HAVE YOU JOINED OUR FACEBOOK GROUP YET??

“Growing Our Family Podcast -> A Community For Moms”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434759000779665/?ref=share

Where to find the podcast:

Show Notes

-Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into lactation?

-How do you know if it’s time to wean?

-Tips for weaning a baby under a year old.

-Tips for weaning your toddler. 

-Is there a difference in daytime and night time weaning approaches?

-Can you discuss the different weaning techniques?

→ Don’t offer, don’t refuse

→ Dropping one feeding at a time

→ Distraction or substitution

→ Change in routine or schedule

→ Postponement

→ Shortening nursing sessions

→ Night Weaning

-How to make weaning more comfortable for mom? 

-Cutting down nursing sessions – what sessions do you cut out first and how?

-Eliminating the bedtime nursing session – how do you do this and still get your child to fall asleep?

-Can weaning cause behavior issues?

-What if your child gets sick during the weaning process? Should you hold off until they get better?

-Signs of post weaning depression. 

Jacqueline’s Recommended Mommy Item: Baby Carrier

Where to Find Jacqueline:

Website: https://www.holisticlactation.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holisticlactation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holisticlactation

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HolisticLactation

Podcast: https://www.holisticlactation.com/blog

Intro Song courtesy of:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626 Ft: J Lang, Morusque

baby's microbiome

42: Baby’s Gut Microbiome with Megan Whitaker

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Pregnancy Podcast – Episode 42: Baby’s Gut Microbiome with Megan Whitaker

For the full show notes, visit: https://growingourfamily.com/s01e42/  

Follow me on Instagram: Instagram.com/growingrfamily
And Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/growingrfamily

Megan Whitaker is the host of the Going Crunchy Not Crazy podcast and she is here today to talk all about baby’s gut microbiome. What are the benefits to having a healthy gut, what environmental factors play into it, and how is modern life destroying our guts? 

HAVE YOU JOINED OUR FACEBOOK GROUP YET??

“Growing Our Family Podcast -> A Community For Moms”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434759000779665/?ref=share

Where to find the Growing Our Family Pregnancy podcast:

Show Notes

-What is the gut microbiome and what role does it play?

-What are the benefits to having a healthy gut?

-Are there environmental factors that play into a healthier microbiome? 

-What can you do during pregnancy and after birth to help our babies develop a healthy gut?

-How does the birth process affect a baby’s gut and when do their guts actually mature?

-How is modern life destroying our gut and what steps can we take to prevent that?

Megan’s Recommended Item: 

Restore for Gut Health

Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IEalyh 

Where to Find Megan: 

Website: https://goingcrunchynotcrazy.com/

Going Crunchy Not Crazy Podcast: http://goingcrunchy.libsyn.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goingcrunchynotcrazy/

INTRO SONG COURTESY OF:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626 Ft: J Lang, Morusque

parenting ep 36

36: Caring for your Baby or Toddler’s Teeth with Dr. Yum

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Parenting Podcast – Episode 36: Caring for your Baby or Toddler’s Teeth with Dr. Yum

For the full show notes, visit: https://growingourfamily.com/s02e36/ 

Today we have a special guest, Dr. Grace Yum is in a small pool of less than 5% of all dentists who become certified in pediatrics. She stays up-to-date on the latest advancements in the field of pediatric dentistry and is active in numerous professional organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and Chicago Dental Society. She is also the host of the Mommy Dentists in Business Podcast where she helps moms be successful in their medical careers and in their lives more broadly.

Show Notes

Have you joined our Facebook Group yet?? 

“Growing Our Family Podcast -> A Community For Moms”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434759000779665/?ref=share 

How did Dr. Yum get into pediatric dentistry?

She started as a dental assistant at age 18. Her family dentist had a daughter who was an orthodontist. She was the orthodontist’s dental assistant and did that as a part time job in college. One of the offices she worked at was a dual office that had orthodontics services as well as pediatrics dentistry. Sometimes Dr. Yum was asked to help with the pediatrics patients and she ended up loving it. She studied communications in college and also took science classes to go to dental school. Her communications studies have really helped with her dentistry career since she has to be able to learn how to communicate with patients.

When and how should you start caring for your baby’s teeth or gums?

There’s sugar in breastmilk and formula so it’s a good habit to take a warm washcloth and rinse your baby’s mouth and tongue. You should start doing this when the first tooth comes around 6 months. 

When should you transition to a toothbrush? 

You can introduce a toothbrush between the ages of 10 to 12 months.

What should you look for in a baby toothbrush? 

Buy an infant toothbrush with soft bristles. 

Will any kids toothbrush work? 

Rubber bristles are good for teething but don’t get plaque off. 

Do you have to floss baby teeth? 

Floss teeth as soon as they are touching.

When should you start using toothpaste? 

You should use training toothpaste or none at all. At age 2, you can use fluoride toothpaste at the size of a grain of rice.

Importance of fluoride:

Fluoride helps bind minerals to your teeth and strengthen your enamel.

What to do if your water is not fluoridated? 

Start fluoride toothpaste before age 2 or ask your pediatrician for a fluoride supplement.

When should children see a pediatric dentist themselves? 

A baby should see a dentist when they are growing their first tooth around 6 months, or by their first birthday. This appointment is just for the parents’ education for their baby’s teeth.

Baby bottle tooth decay

  • What is it? 

It is when the baby has access to the bottle in the crib and prolongs the use of the bottle.

  • How to prevent it? 

Give the bottle at meal time but keep it away from the bed.

  • What drinks should you give your kids to help? 

Stick to milk and water. Avoid giving juice.

  • How to spot the signs of cavities or decay? 

The tooth becomes a frosty white color near the gumline. It then turns light brown and then dark brown. You can rub fluoride toothpaste to strengthen it.

How do you help a toddler brush their teeth when they want to be independent? 

Let your toddler brush for a minute and then give the parent a turn to help brush. Kids usually don’t brush well until age 7.

When to use children’s mouthwash? 

Kids can use mouthwash at age 6. Make sure you keep it away from young children. If mouthwash is swallowed, give them milk right away, call poison control, and go to the ER. 

What are some product recommendations from Dr. Yum?

She recommends Nosefrida to get boogers. However, don’t use it too much or it will cause inflammation and swelling in the nose.

Dr. Yum’s Product Recommendation for new moms: Nose Frida https://amzn.to/386VibI 

Where to find Dr. Yum

Mommy Dentists in Business Podcast

Where to find the podcast:

Intro Song courtesy of:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626 Ft: J Lang, Morusque

pregnancy podcast episode 32

32: Postpartum Essentials

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Pregnancy Podcast – Episode 32: Postpartum Essentials

For the full show notes, visit: https://growingourfamily.com/s01e32/  

The first few weeks at home after delivery can be difficult on any new mom. I’ve put together a list of some of the most important items to have on hand. Most of these should go into a basket or bin next to your toilet. You might even want to make one of these kits for every bathroom in your house, just in case. 

If you prefer to read instead of listen, check out my blog post on this topic here: https://growingourfamily.com/postpartum-essentials/ 

Show Notes

Facebook Group: “Growing Our Family Podcast -> A Community For Moms”

https://www.facebook.com/groups/434759000779665/?ref=share

Additional postpartum items (not bathroom related):

Padsicles

Where to find the podcast:

Intro Song courtesy of:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626 Ft: J Lang, Morusque

pregnancy podcast choosing a breast pump

30: How to Choose a Breast Pump

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Pregnancy Podcast – Episode 30: How to Choose a Breast Pump

For the full show notes, visit: https://growingourfamily.com/s01e30/ 

Choosing a breast pump can be overwhelming at first with all of the different options out there. There are a few factors that come into play when you are making a selection, so hopefully this guide will help you in your decision. 

If you prefer to read instead of listen, check out my blog post on this topic here: https://growingourfamily.com/choosing-a-breast-pump/ 

Show Notes

Facebook Group: “Growing Our Family Podcast -> A Community For Moms”

https://www.facebook.com/groups/434759000779665/?ref=share

Breast Pump through Insurance (Episode 4): https://growingourfamily.com/s01e04/ 

Q-Jing Manual Pump: https://amzn.to/2ZiMICR 

Medela Harmony Manual Pump: https://amzn.to/2SjqVJO .

Lansinoh Manual Pump: https://amzn.to/38YYjM5 

Spectra S1: https://amzn.to/399r88L 

Spectra S2: https://amzn.to/2PQrOIl 

Medela Pump In Style: https://amzn.to/2Sk9g50

Willow Wearable Pump: https://shop.willowpump.com/ 

Freemie Cups: https://amzn.to/2MlEYuW 

Freemie Full Product Review: https://growingourfamily.com/freemie/ 

Ameda Platinum: https://amzn.to/2EHcnMi 

Haakaa Breast Pump: https://growingourfamily.com/hakka-breast-pump/ 

Where to find the podcast:

Intro Song courtesy of:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626 Ft: J Lang, Morusque

diaper rash

Prevention and Treatment of Diaper Rash

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Diaper rash normally occurs in babies around their diaper areas. It’s usually related to wearing wet or soiled diapers, sensitive skin, or even having the diaper chafe the skin. Seeing your precious little with this rash can be alarming at first, but it typically goes away with a few home remedies.

Tune in to this week’s podcast episode if you prefer to listen instead of read: Episode 28

My posts may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission from your purchase, with no extra cost to you!

When are babies most likely to be affected?

  • Babies 8-10 months old
  • Infants that go a long time between diaper changes
  • Any babies that are prone to loose stools or diarrhea
  • When your baby starts solids
  • Teething babies

Causes

Wet or Dirty Diapers

If you baby sits in a wet or dirty diaper for too long, the exposure can start to cause irritation. As the urine breaks down, the pH level will rise in Baby’s skin which increases irritability. Babies that poop more often or have runnier stools or diarrhea are more prone to diaper rash due to the breakdown of digestive agents in the stool. 

New Products

Babies have extremely sensitive skin so any change in diapers, wipes, laundry detergent, bath soap, baby lotion, or anything else that comes in contact can cause irritation. 

Allergic Reaction

If your baby is having an allergic reaction to a diaper, you will notice the rash right away. The rash will occur everywhere the diaper is touching their skin, including their little butt, back, and legs. You can try a different brand or switch to cloth to see if that alleviates the symptoms. 

Chafing

Diapers or clothing that is too tight can rub against their skin and cause chafing or a rash. When tight clothes are mixed with moisture it can start to rub the skin raw. 

New Foods

Starting solids or changing up your child’s diet can cause their stool to change. If your baby is breastfed, it may be in response to what mom ate but talk with your pediatrician before you go making any crazy diet changes. If it’s food related, you will most likely notice the rash right around their bum hole. 

Teething

Teething causes an excess of saliva to be produced. When this saliva is swallowed, it causes runny stool or diarrhea. 

Sensitive Skin

Some babies are born with certain skin conditions like eczema or atopic dermatitis. This can make them more prone to diaper rashes, but you will most likely notice skin irritations in places other than their diaper as well. 

Yeast/Bacterial infections

The area inside a diaper is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria since it’s warm, moist, and dark. A simple skin infection can easily spread causing a rash and red dots scattered around their creases. 

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are made to kill bacteria, unfortunately, it can’t differentiate between the good and bad. This can kill off the good bacteria meant to keep yeast growth at bay which can actually cause a yeast infection. Antibiotics can also increase the risk of rash from diarrhea. 

Symptoms

  • Pinkness or redness anywhere the diaper might touch
  • Flakiness, dryness, or peeling
  • Chafing from the diaper rubbing against their skin
  • Sensitivity 
  • Feels hot to the touch
  • Dry raised bumps
  • Puss filled bumps
  • Swelling
  • Fussiness during diaper changes

When to call or see the Pediatrician

  • It seems severe or unusual
  • Your baby cries or screams in pain when you touch the rash or affected area.
  • The rash spreads to other parts of their body
  • The rash is blistering, bleeding, itching, or oozing
  • Baby has a fever
  • It does not get better within 7 days

Prevention

Use a barrier cream. 

Layer it on like icing on a cupcake. That way when the child pees or poops, you can just wipe off the top layer and apply more. You don’t have to actually scrub it off their bottom after every use, because this can actually make it more irritated. You can use products like coconut oil, olive oil, creams with zinc oxide, or vaseline. Vaseline or coconut oil are especially great with newborns to easily wipe the meconium off. 

Change diaper often

Change your baby’s diaper as often as you can, and preferably soon after they go to the bathroom so they aren’t sitting in a wet or soiled diaper. 

Use warm water during changes

You can either rinse your baby’s bum off in the sink or bath, or you can use washcloths or wipes. Try to avoid any wipe with alcohol or scented wipes as these contain chemicals that can make the rash worse. Especially early in life, babies just need water to clean them off between changes. 

Pat dry

Use a gentle cloth or baby towel to pat them dry after diaper changes, especially before applying a barrier cream. Make sure not to rub or scrub as this can make it worse. 

Air Dry

When it’s possible, leave the diaper off for a little while so your baby’s skin can have a chance to air dry and heal. This is a perfect time to have play time on a big towel or blanket to catch a mess if one occurs. If you have a baby boy, you might want to do some tummy time so they don’t end up peeing all over you or the floor.  

Make sure the diaper isn’t too tight

Too tight of diapers can not only cause chafing, but it can also prevent airflow. This creates a very warm, dark, and moist environment which can lead to bacteria growth. You don’t want them so loose that your child leaks out of them, but try to make sure they aren’t skin tight. 

Wash your hands

Clean up after each diaper change to prevent the spread of bacteria or yeast. 

Treatment

If the above remedies don’t work for prevention, there are a few options for treating the rash. For irritant rashes (the most common type), you should stick with a cream containing zinc oxide. You can lather the paste on like icing and then just remove the top layer during diaper changes. At the end of the night you can give your baby a warm bath to help get all of the paste off. If the diaper is absorbing the paste, you can coat with petroleum jelly to seal everything in. 

For a list of common skin care ingredients found in diaper rash creams and their purpose, check out this table by Medscape. 

Natural Remedies

If you want to go a more natural route, you can try bathing your child in a milk bath using your breastmilk or just poor a little milk onto the affected area and let it air dry. Many moms swear by this approach, even stating it works better than the creams! If the rash is caused by a yeast infection, you should avoid breast milk because the yeast likes to feed off sugars. 

Yeast Infections

If your child has a yeast infection (the rash looks shiny with red spots and might smell a little potatoey) you can try using sugar-free yogurt. Talk with your doctor first, of course, to make sure they don’t recommend anything stronger. The yogurt contains probiotics which is a live bacteria that can help fight off the bad bacteria! Just smear the yogurt directly on your child. 

What other Moms are saying:

I conducted a poll on Twitter asking for parent’s favorite diaper rash creams. Unfortunately, Twitter only allows you to choose 4 options so I randomly selected 4 of the most common remedies. Many parents commented afterwards with their favorite options outside the 4 that I listed. Here were the results:

Destin: 219 votes (42%)

Boudreaux Butt Paste: 182 votes (35%)

Breastmilk: 78 votes (15%)

Coconut Oil: 42 votes (8%)

The top two manual entries were Aquaphor and Baby Vaseline which were commonly used in combination with other rash creams. 

I have also compiled a list of all the other creams that received 2 or more individual recommendations by parents. The list would be far too long if I included every single one of the recommendations, but you can view the whole twitter poll here if you want to scroll through yourself. I have not tried all of these ointments so I cannot personally attest to how well they work, but I did feel comfortable listing anything that was mentioned multiple times!

[Note: Anything blue and underlined will take you to that product on Amazon. I am an Amazon Affiliate so I do get a small portion of anything you purchase through that link, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!]

In Conclusion

Diaper rash can be so heartbreaking as parents! Hopefully these tips help you avoid or treat anything that comes your way. Comment below with your recommendations or experiences with diaper rash!

Subscribe!

If you enjoy these posts, subscribe to our newsletter on the side bar or the subscribe page! It’s completely free and I promise not to spam you. Just updates on new content once a week and you’ll receive access to exclusive content!

REFERENCES

HealthyChildren.org “Diaper Rash”: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/diapers-clothing/Pages/Diaper-Rash.aspx
Mayo Clinic “Diaper Rash – Symptoms and Causes”: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diaper-rash/symptoms-causes/syc-20371636
Mayo Clinic “Diaper Rash – Diagnosis and Treatment”: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diaper-rash/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371641 
Medscape “Diaper Rash Treatment & Management”: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/801222-treatment#d9

Parenting Podcast Episode 24

24: Winter Car Seat Safety Tips

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Parenting Podcast Episode 24: Winter Car Seat Safety Tips

Now that the weather is changing, you might be wondering how to keep your child warm in the car without puffy coats or aftermarket inserts. Here are some winter car seat tips so you can keep everyone safe this season!

If you prefer to read instead of listen, check out my blog post on the subject here: http://growingourfamily.com/winter-car-seat-tips/ 

Amazon Gift Card Giveaway Details:

How to enter the contest:

Leave a written REVIEW on iTunes/Apple Podcasts under the Growing Our Family Pregnancy OR Parenting podcasts

If you don’t have an iPhone, you can subscribe to the weekly newsletter for entry! 

Product Review: 

Shynerk Baby Car Mirror:  https://amzn.to/2rASXoT 

Review: https://growingourfamily.com/baby-car-mirror/ 

Show Notes:

Tips for keeping baby safe and warm: 

  1. Keep the seat warm
  2. Dress in Layers
  3. Make sure the straps are tight
  4. Nothing between baby and the seat
  5. Safe options to keeping your child warm
  6. How do you know if a coat is too thick?
  7. Aftermarket add-ons: safe or not?

Healthychildren.org “Winter Car Seat Safety Tips from the AAP”: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Winter-Car-Seat-Safety-Tips.aspx 

Car Seats for the Littles “Non-Regulated Products for Car Seats”: https://csftl.org/non-regulated-products/  

Car Seats for the Littles “Hello Winter, Goodbye Coats!”: https://csftl.org/hello-winter-good-bye-coats/

Facebook Group: “Growing Our Family Podcast -> A Community For Moms” https://www.facebook.com/groups/434759000779665/?ref=share

Where to find the podcast:

Intro Song courtesy of:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626 Ft: J Lang, Morusque

baby car mirror product review

Baby Car Mirror by Shynerk

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The Shynerk Baby Car Mirror is a great way to keep an eye on your littles while they are rear facing. Before I dive into why I love this product, I want to first give a disclaimer. From a pure safety standpoint, car mirrors are not a good idea. They distract parents from the road and they do not pass the “ouch” test. The ouch test is a common theory that a product is safe to have in the car if you would feel comfortable tossing it at your baby (please don’t actually toss it). 

My posts may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission from your purchase, with no extra cost to you!

Now that I covered that portion, I understand that some parents (like myself) are going to purchase a mirror regardless. When I am in a car without the mirror, I end up looking back way more often just trying to see what is going on inside the car seat. Not being able to see my child when I want to check on him gives me anxiety and I really enjoy having a way to look back and check on him. 

This mirror is large and convex so it is easy to see exactly what is going on in the rear facing seat. This also allows for a larger range of view; my husband and I can both see our son, even though he is almost a foot taller than me. The mirror itself is made of plastic so you don’t have to worry about it shattering in an accident. However, it is very clear and isn’t like the toy mirrors you get with baby toys. 

Features

This mirror is so easy to adjust and does not shake at all during car rides. It has a swiveling ball socket so you can attach it to the headrest and angle it however you’d like. I have it set up so I can look through my rearview mirror and see my son through this mirror, along with having a clear view of my back windshield. It comes with two sets of straps for the headrest; one set goes around the sides and the other goes over the top and bottom. The dual straps makes me feel a lot more confident that it will stay in place in an accident and it doesn’t move around during car rides. 

Downsides

The only downside to this mirror is it really takes two people to set up. It’s possible with one person, but you have to do a trial and error type of method to get it positioned correctly. Other than this, I have not found any other downsides to the mirror; we even purchased a second one for our other vehicle!

Final Thoughts

If you are going to purchase a mirror, it’s important to look for a mirror that fastens tightly and is not just a suction cup. This mirror by Shynerk has been great and has provided us with peace-of-mind during our car trips.

Check it out on Amazon!

Subscribe!

If you enjoy these posts, subscribe to our newsletter on the side bar or the subscribe page! It’s completely free and I promise not to spam you. Just updates on new content once a week and you’ll receive access to exclusive content!

winter car seat tips

Winter Car Seat Tips

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Now that the weather is changing, you might be wondering how to keep your child warm in the car without puffy coats or aftermarket inserts. Here are some winter car seat tips so you can keep everyone safe this season!

Tune in to this week’s podcast episode if you prefer to listen instead of read: Episode 24

My posts may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission from your purchase, with no extra cost to you!

Keep the seat warm

If you have an infant seat, bring it inside the house with you to keep the seat warm. When you put a warm baby into a cold seat, it transfers the baby’s warmth to the seat. If you don’t have an infant seat, you can prestart your vehicle so the seat has time to warm up before you load your child in. 

Dress in Layers

Putting multiple layers on is perfect for car seat safety. If you are going out for a snow day, you don’t want to put your baby in the car seat with a snowsuit on. Not only will this get too toasty once the car heats up, but bulky clothing is very dangerous in an accident. Dress them in leggings, long-sleeved onesies, then add pants and a warmer top like a fleece sweater. You can then put the snowsuit on once you get to your destination. Babies typically need one extra layer than adults, so you can dress them in the same amount of clothing and place a warm blanket over them. 

Make sure the straps are tight

Once you add more layers to your child’s outfit, the tightness of the straps can be deceiving. A good rule of thumb is to try and pinch the harness. If you can pinch the harness up by baby’s shoulder, the straps are too loose. 

Nothing between baby and the seat

Any car-seat inserts, liners, or blankets that come between your child and the car seat are not safe to use. Manufacturers do not have to get any sort of permission to market towards using in the car seat. You should not have to loosen the straps for anything, any blanket or car seat cover should be made to go over the baby after they are strapped into the car seat. 

Safe ways to keep your child warm

Ponchos

This is a great alternative to blankets since they can’t be kicked off. Just make sure to adjust the car seat harness under the poncho so it doesn’t interfere.

Backwards Coat

Put your child in the carseat without the coat on and then just slide the coat on backwards. This allows them to move their arms around or take the jacket off if they get too hot. 

Open Coat

This method only works with booster seats and a seat belt. Just unzip the jacket, put the seatbelt on, and then zip the jacket up over the seatbelt. This allows for the seatbelt to be positioned correctly without a puffy jacket getting in the way. 

Fleece

Fleece is a great cold-weather option for when you are getting in and out of the car often. It is thin enough to not have to remove before buckling your child in, but will keep them toasty warm. You can keep a waterproof jacket in the car if it is raining or snowing and just put it on the child before they get out of the car. 

Blankets, hats, and gloves

These are always great to have in addition to the above options. I always keep extra blankets, hats, and gloves in the car just in case. It is easy to remove them one at a time if your child starts to get a little toasty and they are perfect for layering. 

Noogle

The Noogle helps transport the hot or cold air from the vent to the back seat. This is perfect for vehicles that do not have ceiling vents throughout the vehicle. If you go out to prestart the car, you can just place the other end near your child’s car seat to help warm it up. 

How do you know if a coat is too thick?

If you are concerned about the thickness of a coat, Car Seats for the Littles (CSFTL) has a great suggestions for checking. 

  1. Without a coat on, secure your child in their car seat. Tighten the harness as usual so no webbing can be pinched at the collarbone.
  2. Remove the child from the car seat without adjusting the harness.
  3. Put the child’s coat on, then try to buckle them back into the car seat.

Just remember that “properly fitting fleece jackets or sweatshirts do add a bit of bulk to the child’s body and will often require a little harness adjustment.  The key here is harness length that remains appropriate to the child’s compressed clothing, compared to ‘dangerous amount of extra slack intro the harness via an uncompressed puffy jacket.’

In many cases, you’ll see that coats introduce  a potentially dangerous amount of slack to the harness. The pinch test can determine how much slack is acceptable.”

You can also try putting your child in the car seat with the coat on. Without adjusting the straps, remove your child, take off the coat, and put them back into the car seat. Would you feel safe with them riding in the car seat like this? Coats compress with impact, and it makes it easier for babies to fly out of restraints. 

Aftermarket Add-on Items

Car seat liners and weatherproofing

Opt for products that are a “shower cap” style. You want covers that just go on the outside of the car seat and do not interfere with the straps. Anything that goes between your baby and the car seat is not considered safe. Fore more information, you can check out the post by Car Seats for the Littles. 

Not Safe:

You can see that this insert goes between baby and the car seat:

Safe: 

This model just goes around the outside of the car seat to prevent wind chill, it doesn’t interfere with the harness.

Head supports

Most aftermarket head supports and infant inserts have not been crash tested and are not rated to go into the car seat. Unfortunately, stores are lined with products like this and there is no regulation on them. Just because you can purchase it, doesn’t make it safe. Instead, try rolling up swaddle blankets and stuffing them into the car seat AFTER baby is latched in. 

Not Safe: 

Final Thoughts

There are so many different options to keep your family safe and warm this winter. Like most of parenting, what works well for one family may not work for another. Try out different methods and see which way you prefer!

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References

Healthychildren.org “Winter Car Seat Safety Tips from the AAP”: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Winter-Car-Seat-Safety-Tips.aspx 

Car Seats for the Littles “Non-Regulated Products for Car Seats”: https://csftl.org/non-regulated-products/  

Car Seats for the Littles “Hello Winter, Goodbye Coats!”: https://csftl.org/hello-winter-good-bye-coats/

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