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Bring the carrier inside and leave the base in the car. A carrier that's been in the house is warm when you put your baby in it, so you can buckle them in thin layers and add warmth over the harness instead of under it. Click it into the base, and once the car is warm, open or take off the extra layer. When you're back inside, take your baby out of the seat if they're going to sleep.
Why not leave the carrier in the car?
A carrier left in a parked car overnight is as cold as the car. Putting a baby into a cold seat makes it tempting to add a snowsuit or thick bunting under the straps, and that's the part to avoid: bulky layers under the harness can stop it from fitting snugly. Transport Canada says bulky coats and snowsuits may not work well with a car seat. Our guide to winter car seat safety and coats goes through harness fit in detail.
The base can stay installed. Most infant seats click in and out of it, so the carrier comes inside with you and the base stays put.
A winter routine for an infant seat
- Keep the carrier indoors between trips.
- Dress your baby in thin layers and a hat. Save the snowsuit or bunting bag for the stroller; our guide to snowsuits, bunting bags and footmuffs explains which suits which outing.
- Buckle and tighten the harness inside the house. For a rear-facing seat, the straps come out at or below your baby's shoulders, the chest clip sits at armpit level, and you can fit no more than one finger between the strap and their collarbone.
- Add warmth over the harness: a blanket tucked over the buckled straps, or a cover that goes over the carrier. Keep your baby's face clear.
- Warm up the car safely. Clear the snow from the car and the exhaust pipe before you start it, never run it in a garage, even with the door open, and don't leave your baby in the car while it's running and you're clearing snow.
- Click the carrier into the base and check the indicator shows it's locked. Make sure the blanket or cover isn't caught between the carrier and the base.
- Once the car is warm, open the cover or fold back the blanket so your baby doesn't get too warm.
Which covers are OK?
| Type | Where it goes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Blanket | Over your baby after the harness is buckled and tightened | Nothing tucked behind your baby or under the straps; face clear |
| Cover that fits over the carrier | Over the outside of the seat, like a shower cap | Your seat's manual, and whether the cover can stay on in the car |
| Liner or bunting that goes behind your baby | Between your baby and the seat | Only if your car seat's manufacturer makes or approves it for your exact seat |
Check covers that go over the carrier too. The UPPAbaby CozyGanoosh ($84.99) for the Mesa and Aria is made for strolling and carrying your baby outdoors, and UPPAbaby says to take it off the carrier while you're riding in a vehicle. The Peg Perego Igloo cover ($119.99) fits the Primo Viaggio seats; check its instructions for use in the car. Prices are in CAD and were current when we wrote this.
Anything that goes behind your baby or under the harness needs extra care. Transport Canada explains that there are no regulations or standards for third-party car seat products, and that padding behind a child can let the harness go slack in a crash. It also notes that car seat manufacturers generally tell you not to use third-party products with their seats. If you're not sure, ask the manufacturer about your exact seat.
Back inside: take your baby out to sleep
It's easy to carry a sleeping baby in from the car and leave them in the seat. Transport Canada says infant car seats aren't cribs and that a baby should never be left unattended in one. If your baby is asleep, move them to their crib or bassinet.
What about convertible seats?
A convertible seat stays in the car, so it will be cold. Warm up the car first, buckle your child in thin layers, and add a blanket over the harness. Our winter car seat guide covers coats for older children, and our car seat terms guide explains harness height and the chest clip.
Want us to check the fit?
We offer car seat installation and check-ups by appointment at our Richmond and Burnaby stores, free for seats bought from us and $50 for other seats. Our guide to what happens at a car seat check explains what to bring. You can also browse our infant car seats and car seat accessories online, and call ahead to ask which seats we have on display.
Neo W. is a BCAA-certified Child Passenger Safety Educator at baby enRoute (BCAA CPS Educator II Course).
