A light car blanket is a small, thin cotton blanket, often made of muslin (a soft, open cotton gauze). You lay it over your baby after buckling the car seat harness, to keep your baby warm while the car is cold. Once the heater has warmed the car, it comes off.
It always goes over the straps, never under them. A thick layer between your baby and the harness squashes flat in a crash and leaves the straps loose. So your baby rides in thin clothes, and the warmth goes on top.
You need one on cold days, about 0–7°C (32–45°F) outside. Below 0°C (32°F), use a warm car blanket. On milder days, thin clothes under the straps are enough. It does not have to be a special car seat blanket: any small cotton blanket works.
- For ages0–4years
- You'll need1
- Use it at0–7°C32–45°F
Car seat blankets and covers
Light blanket
A plain square of muslin or thin cotton knit. It is cheap and simple, but a baby who kicks soon pushes it off.
Blanket with arm holes
Your baby's arms go through two holes or short sleeves, so it stays on, like a jacket worn backwards over the straps. It suits a baby who kicks and a toddler who pulls blankets off.
Light car seat cover
For carrying the seat outside, not for the drive. It stretches over the outside of an infant car seat, with an opening at the top, and keeps wind and other people's hands off while you carry it.
Car seat poncho or blanket?
For a toddler in a bigger car seat, both keep the warmth over the straps. The difference is the walk to the car, the buckling, and the ride once the car is warm.
Car seat poncho
A cape with a hood that your toddler wears from the front door. In the seat, you lift its back up over the top of the seat, buckle the harness underneath, and let the front fall over the straps.
- Good: Warm from the door to the seat
- Not good: Hard to see the straps as you buckle
- Not good: Stays on as the car warms up
Blanket
Any light blanket, laid over your toddler once the harness is buckled. For the walk to the car, a coat goes on, then comes off before you buckle. A toddler who kicks soon has it on the floor.
- Good: Straps in full view as you buckle
- Good: Easy to push off when warm
- Not good: A coat on and off for the walk
How to choose a car seat blanket
1. No strap slots
Some car seat blankets have slots, so the straps pass through and your baby lies on the fabric. Car seat makers say to add nothing under or behind your baby that did not come with the seat. It has not been crash tested with that seat.
- Good: One plain layer, no slots
- Not good: Slots for the harness straps
2. Thin cotton
Thin cotton is enough for the cold first minutes of a drive, and it is easy to fold back once the heater is on.
- Good: Muslin or thin cotton knit
- Not good: Quilted, padded or thick fleece
3. The right size
It only needs to cover your baby from the armpits to the toes, with a little spare at each side. A big blanket bunches up, and a corner can end up near the face.
- Good: Ends at the edge of the seat
- Not good: Trails on the car floor
How to use it
1. Buckle first
Dress your baby in thin clothes and buckle the harness. Tighten it until you cannot pinch a fold of strap at the collarbone.
2. Blanket on top
Lay the blanket over the straps from the armpits down, and tuck it in at the sides. Keep it below your baby's face, and never put it behind the back.
3. Fold it back
Cars warm up fast, so fold the blanket down or take it off once the heater is on. If you drive alone, pull over to do it. At a stop, feel the back of the neck: warm and dry is right.
Questions parents ask
Is a car seat blanket safe?
Yes, on top of the buckled harness and below your baby's face.
Can you put a blanket over a car seat?
Over your baby, yes. Over the whole seat like a tent, no. A cloth over the seat stops the air moving and traps heat, the same as a cloth over a stroller. To keep the sun off, use a window shade on the side window instead.
Are car seat ponchos safe?
Yes, if no part of it sits under the harness or behind your toddler. A poncho-style coat is one good way to keep a child warm over the straps.
Are car seat covers safe?
For carrying the seat, yes. For the drive, take a light stretchy cover off: its makers say so, and like any cloth over the seat, it traps heat. Winter covers differ, so check the label: some may stay on for the drive.
What size is a car seat blanket?
Small, usually about 80 cm (31 in) square. A bigger blanket works folded in half.
Is there a sleep sack with a hole for the car seat straps?
Yes, but skip it. A sleep bag (a sleep sack, in the US) with a hole for the straps still puts a padded layer behind your baby, and sleeping bags and other stroller extras never go in a car seat. Take it off, buckle your baby in, and lay a blanket over the straps.
My baby keeps kicking the blanket off. What can I do?
Tuck it in at both sides and under the feet. If it still ends up on the floor, try a blanket with arm holes, or a jacket put on backwards over the buckled straps.
