How do I keep the carseats from getting too hot?

[bangzoom6877]

When we drive to the parks and then leave to take our afternoon break, the kids' carseats will be super hot, especially the buckles which is what I worry about most just in case it touches their skin by accident while buckling them into the carseat.

Is there any way to keep the metal buckes (at the bottom of the 5-pt. harness) from getting too hot where it actually burns the skin? My uncle suggested towels for all the seatbelts in the car including ours. I did see online that they sell a carseat cover that holds an icepack, but it costs $26 per cover and I am wondering if they are worth it or if I can just do something myself. DS3 freaks out when it is hot in the car and I know if the buckle is that hot and touches his leg by accident he will be very upset.

I know that most of you will say to use the buses, but we really prefer to drive to the parks, at least early in the morning when we can get better parking, and just in case we miss a bus (we really want to be there for rope drop, and days we are taking advantage of morning EMH, for the entire EMH). So buses would be an option for us maybe when returning to the park, but we decided to definitely drive in the morning. I know by 1 or 2 the car will be crazy hot so I am wondering if I can do something for their carseats. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bonnie

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I honestly think you're worried for no reason. When you get to your car, open it all up and crank up the a/c and just wait a few minutes until the interior cools down a bit.

 

[katybugsmom]

You can buy a carseat cover that protects the seat from the sun at Toys R Us or Babies R Us. You can also purchase them from www.onestepahead.com We bought ours a couple of years ago from our local Toys R Us store. It really works!!! Hope you and your family have a great time! We leave Saturday!!!!

 

[katybugsmom]

Our's was much cheaper!!! We only paid $10-$15. It doesn't have an ice pack in it either. It's made from the same material that some windowshield shades are made from-looks like alum. foil! It's more than worth it especially in the Southern heat!!!!!

 

[eclairemom]

I always just throw a baby blanket over it.

 

[SandrainNC]

A baby blanket or towel will work just fine. That is what we do.

Sandra

 

[Minniemouse07]

I would just throw regular blankets over the seats.. then air out the car when you get there.

 

[Taja]

Yep! A towel or baby blanket over the car seat will help. And don't forget to cover the steering wheel, too!

Air the car out a bit before loading everyone in. It will help, as well. Be sure to test each part of the car seat before putting your child in it. Just run your hand over it. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for a child! A former colleague inadvertently burned her infant's head. First baby, first summer in the desert--a bit of a learning curve. Baby was fine in a few days, but mom was very upset with herself.

Err on the side of caution, please. Which you're already doing!

 

[AuroraBeauty]

Living in a place closely resembling the surface of the sun in the summer, I have a tiny bit of experience.

First, the ice things won't work very long in the sun. I use ice packs for my DD's booster but even now when it's only 102 they don't last but a a few hours. no way would they make it all day in a parked car.

Second, not only cover the car seat with a blanket or towel but if you can hang a towel over the back door and close it so that it's like a curtain that will help a lot too.

Third, as many OPs said open windows and crank up the A/C. If your adult traveling companion can head to the car 5 minutes before you (and you can still manage the kiddies) that will help a great deal as well.

Fourth, at the end of a long day take a deep breath and re-engage full on mommy mode before you get the kids into the car seat. If they are old enough to stand/walk then you can have the in the back seat so they're not potentially out in the parking lot with traffic.

Be safe! Best Wishes!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

These are all great suggestions! I am going to start using a towel to cover the car seat. being that it will only be 94 tomorrow maybe I won't need it.

 

[snoopy5386]

I am not sure where you live, but I imagine carseats get just as hot pretty much everywhere in the country.....we have temps here in the high 90s and while the carseat is hot, it has never burned DD. I agree with the others, throw a white towel over it and maybe have a spray bottle of water to spray down the metal buckles if you are really worried.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Thanks everyone, this is all great advice!

I live in Brooklyn, NY (thank goodness the heat wave just broke after 4 days!!), so it does get really hot here in the summer. Actually, although it does not happen that often, there are sometimes points throughout the summer when it is actually a few degrees hotter here than in Florida, when we go through some of the heat waves.

I will bring white towels to cover the carseats. The spray bottle of water sounds great too. I did buy a cover for the steering wheel, but DH does not think we will need it (there is a small cloth covering on it now at all times, but I bought one that has the aluminum-foil look to it which is supposed to be better).

I did think about maybe one of us going to the car first and the other one coming 5 minutes later. I don't know if we will do that though. We will definitely air out the car for 5 minutes before putting the kids into their carseats. We have a minivan so there is also A/C in the back seat which is good. DS3 freaks out though when it is hot in the car (like the past 4 days in this heat wave), even if his seat is not that hot. Just the hot air, I guess, he does not like.

Maybe I am giving this too much thought, just want to be cautious regarding my children and I don't want the metal buckles to hurt them. Thank goodness the part of the carseat that goes across their chest is not metal! At least that helps out some!

Thanks,
Bonnie