How to fit staps around dd with a winter coat on??

[MissyL11]

My dd is around 18 pounds and 1 year old. She is still using the graco snugride for a carseat because she has not yet reached 20 pounds yet. Now that the cold weather is here, I can't fit the staps around her winter coat. I have extended the staps as far as they can go. Does anyone else have this problem? Should I buy a convertible car seat? Thanks so much



Missy

[Splash]

You should take the coat off of her and cover her with something instead if she is still cold.
If you are in an accident, the coat will compress leaving the straps very slack, which is not a good thing.

[Joolsplus2]

Most kids are 26 inches (the top height limit on the snugride) well before they are 20 pounds...she's really not safe in that seat if her head is near the top, it should be at least one inch below the top of the seatback, which for most kids is 4-6 months. Of course she may still fit in it, there are some nice petite kids that do! But right, you must take off the coat, because in a crash, the coat will compress, and there's only loose straps holding her in...the risk of ejection and severe injury is simply huge when straps are loosened up to make room for a coat :(.

Yup, time for a convertible, and keep her rearfacing till the full 30-33-35 (depending on the seat)pounds (or till the head gets close to the top) it's definitely safER than turning her forward at the bare minimum of 20.

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx