https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:31:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662377 Wed, 07 Dec 2016 11:40:05 +0000 catgirl 2662377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: it's really easy to test if a coat is safe in the car seat. Put the coat on your LO, buckle her in and tighten the straps to the pinch test, take her out without adjusting the straps, and then put her in without the coat. Then check the straps to see if they still pass the pinch test, small adjustments are acceptable (think the amount needed to adjust between leggings and jeans). </p> <p>There is no way to say any one coat will work for all kids. I've always been told the Patagonia down sweater is a good bet but it didn't work for my DD in the car. The only sure way is to test it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662345 Wed, 07 Dec 2016 10:09:38 +0000 snowjewelz 2662345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunnyday: Because of this alone now I want a mini van haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662191 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 19:22:53 +0000 Foodnerd81 2662191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: we have one of those now and I've been wondering about wearing it in the car. Her current one just fits and truthfully, I have let her wear it in the car a few times but wasn't sure if I am really supposed to. I like it and it's held up really well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662188 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 19:13:01 +0000 sunnyday 2662188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: +1 on van! I close us in and undress everyone, win!! Same as before we get out, unbuckle everyone and gear up. I certainly look forward to it a wee bit more when not 36w preggo!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662187 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 19:11:04 +0000 MsMini 2662187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The Gap primaloft jackets are thin as can be and my DS is warm in them down until about -30C </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662178 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 18:17:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 2662178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: @tinyperson: I agree in general- when we are just going from inside to the car I do a fleece or just hurry her unless it's really cold. But coming from the playground with all the gear on... blah. And we keep two blankets in the car, one for each of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662161 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:56:54 +0000 tinyperson 2662161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: that's what I think too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662152 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:34:32 +0000 littlejoy 2662152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Forget winter gear in the car - it's just not safe. </p> <p>We have a blanket, mittens, and a hat for the car. I usually take her jacket off of her before we transition from her school to the car (or if it's a longer walk, I just take it off before putting her in the seat). </p> <p>Taking boots off is a PITA (we live in Oregon, so it's not for snow, but mud and rain - what a mess!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662139 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 15:59:41 +0000 catomd00 2662139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd just take it off in the car and give a blanket if the car isn't heated up. A few minutes in the cold while the car heats up isn't going to hurt them either. Maybe I'm a mean mom though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662108 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 15:15:53 +0000 snowjewelz 2662108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since her jacket is roomy enough I usually just layer with a fleece inside. I quickly take off her jacket, buckle her in, and keep a blanket to throw on her if it's really cold/car's not warm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662095 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 14:48:12 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2662095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: We have two car seats too...one RF and the other FF. I blast the heat before I go in and get the boys and have him wiggle out. It helps that LO is 4, though we did the same last year when he was 3 come to think of it. I also have a blanket in the car as well that I cover him up with in case of super cold days too. We're in PA, so it doesn't get quite as bad as NE, but still freezing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662093 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 14:41:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 2662093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: We have the two car seats in the back of our SUV so there isn't much room. But today I just had her take off her coat while sitting in the seat and it was fine (but today wasn't super cold either). She even wanted me to open the window on the way home, while she rode in a long sleeve t shirt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662061 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 13:53:40 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2662061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a mid-size SUV, and I get LO in the car, and he takes his coat off once he's in. He leaves his hat on, climbs into his seat, I strap him in and cover him up with his coat once he's all tightened. On not as cold days, I give him the fleece LL Bean coats to wear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662050 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 13:41:48 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2662050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use a 3in1 for school and a separate car coat at home. I keep a pair of snow pants there but she goes in in a very thick fleece pair on extra cold days. It's a pain but I go inside with the two toddlers as well to get big sister dressed and undressed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2662045 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 13:31:05 +0000 kiddosc 2662045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The snozu jackets at Costco are carseat approved and warm. You could just unbuckle her snowpants and pull them down to her ankles, zip her jacket back up and go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661993 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 12:09:43 +0000 Littlebit7 2661993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>its not inexpensive but I buy a size up. the patagonia down hoody. Not the nano-puff, not warm enough.<br /> Its pretty rugged and car seat approved (so I'm told). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661965 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:39:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 2661965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I haveto bring her snow pants some of the time anyway. And snow boots. So I guess if I have a bag of outdoor stuff it doesn't make a big difference if there is a coat in there or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661964 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:38:47 +0000 Foodnerd81 2661964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: we have one of those fleeces now and we're just handed down one in the next size up! </p> <p>@looch: dh will never ever get a minivan, unless I somehow unexpectedly became pregnant with twins! And yeah not much too in the back with two car seats. </p> <p>Luckily the car is usually not too cold, as we park it in the garage at home and it has time to warm up even more on the drive to pick her up. So for the times she's just going from inside to the car the fleece is fine. I think the answer is two separate coats, one for playing outside and one fleece one for the car, and have her stay for lunch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661960 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:34:39 +0000 ShootingStar 2661960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This LL Bean jacket looks like it might be pretty good - <a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/88733?feat=512115-GN1&#038;page=girls-bean-s-fleece-lined-down-jacket" rel="nofollow">http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/88733?feat=512115-GN1&#038;page=girls-bean-s-fleece-lined-down-jacket</a></p> <p>You'd have to see how puffy it is in person, but I think it looks pretty dense. You can also do one of those 3 in 1 jackets and take off the outer layer when she gets in the car. We do the super annoying puffy coat and take it off in the car. I never intended to do it that way, but DH hates taking him to daycare in his car coat and then having to bring his outdoor play coat with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661957 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:32:22 +0000 Adira 2661957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yep, the Columbia fleece is the one I use! Love it! And yes - I totally agree letting her stay for lunch and having the teachers get her out of her winter gear sounds the easiest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661955 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:31:22 +0000 looch 2661955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a minivan? If not, buy one, lol.</p> <p>Then you can do all you need to in the car to prep your kids for getting into the carseat.</p> <p>I used to remove everything, but I did it while seated in the backseat, which is not possible if you have two kids in car seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661951 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:29:31 +0000 Foodnerd81 2661951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: does that make it harder to get the whole coat on though? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661949 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:28:33 +0000 catgirl 2661949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about a 3 in 1 coat so you only have to take off the outer layer for the car? </p> <p>And yes, snow pants need to come off in the car seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661947 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:26:24 +0000 Foodnerd81 2661947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: so so inconvenient, since the baby will be just one, just starting to walk, and out of the infant seat. And the 3 year old is not at her most cooperative at pick up time. Then again, really, what IS convenient about little kids?? :silly: </p> <p>I may sign her up to stay for lunch in which case I pick her up inside. I was thinking that was less convenient but now that I think of the winter gear stuff it might be more. Let the teachers deal with getting her out of it... </p> <p>Do you still use the Columbia fleece as their car approved coats? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661940 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:16:55 +0000 Adira 2661940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, this is probably not convenient, but this is what we do. When I get to Xander's daycare, if he's outside playing, we go back inside and change out of his winter gear and into his carseat-approved winter coat. You'd have to take your younger one with you though, which is a bummer. You could try changing right next to the car or right in the car, but that could be a challenge too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-playground-winter-gear-advice#post-2661920 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:04:30 +0000 Foodnerd81 2661920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is our first winter in the suburbs when we are actually driving a lot, so suddenly all this winter coat warnings and advice are relevant! My 3.5 year old needs all new winter gear. Her preschool goes out in the playground every day unless it's raining or below 25 degrees. I pick her up directly from the playground. </p> <p>So two questions really- is there a winter coat that would be warm enough to play outside in the snow in, but also thin enough to wear in the car? She has a warm fleece that's her usual car coat but it's not warm enough for playground play. Preferably one that doesn't cost a million dollars... </p> <p>And, given that I pick her up straight from the playground (which is really convenient in terms of not having to take my younger one out of the car at all since it's right next to the parking lot!) I can't put her in the car with her snow pants still on, right? I need to remove boots and coat and snow pants just to buckle her in? </p> <p>Just popping her in the stroller last winter was so much easier! Oh and we are in New England. So, it gets cold and they are predicting a lot of snow. But when it's super bitter cold we just won't go out much. </p>