Winter is almost here, which means parents are bundling their little ones up to keep warm from the cold. While dressing your children whenever they go outside may seem like a great idea, experts are know warning parents against putting winter coats on their kids before strapping them into their carseats.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is warning parents that the extra padding in the winter coat may actually put a child’s life at risk if they are worn underneath the straps of a carseat.

“In a car crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the harness. A child can then slip through the straps and be thrown from the seat,” the expert warned.

Any parent who has ever tried to strap their child in over a bulky winter coat knows how difficult this is, so this actually does make sense. With the winter coat under it, the harness becomes way too loose to keep the child safe.

Experts say that even in the cold, you should dress your child in thin layers.

“Infants should wear one more layer than adults. If you have a hat and a coat on, your infant will probably need a hat, coat, and blanket,” experts stated.

We would suggest dressing your child in tights or leggings before adding pants and a warmer top. You can place a blanket over the straps once they are buckled in if it gets really cold.

Keeping this in mind could end up saving your child’s life during the winter months!