Infant Car Seat Covers: Getting Yourself Covered
If you spend a lot of time in your car, or you just live in an area that gets a lot of extreme weather, you might find that a coat and hat aren’t enough to keep your baby safe. Keeping your baby safe is one of the most important jobs that you have as a parent, but sometimes you can use a little bit of help. While there are many ways to do this, one of the easiest things you can do is getting a baby car seat cover.
These fit over the top of your baby’s car seat (and carrier) somewhat like a shower cap would fit over your head. Your baby will be inside a tent of sorts, and usually won’t be upset about it.
Is a baby car seat cover really necessary?
No – a baby car seat cover really isn’t necessary for everyone. However, having one can offer many benefits for families. The first is that the cover will provide warmth to your child when the weather is cold, as well as protect from some of the elements. It is also a great idea for the summer months, because it can protect against the sun and sunburns. If you travel in the morning, you can use it as a way to block the sun as it rises and your baby tries to get more sleep.
When you purchase a car seat cover, you are purchasing yourself more than just protection from weather, however. You are also getting added safety and security. In a world where cameras and cell phones are all around, it can feel a bit intrusive to go anywhere. A car seat cover can keep your child protected from the glare of the camera.
Types of Car Seat Covers
There are a few different kinds of car seat covers. What you need will deeply influence what type of car seat cover that you buy. While you do want to think about the different thicknesses and temperatures that your baby will endure when in a car seat, there are infant car seat covers for any season that are available.
Some of the most common types of seat covers include:
- Summer Car Seat Covers: These seats have built-in sun protection against sunburn, but they do not had weight to the seat, so they are not too warm. Most often, these covers are made out of cotton so that it breathes. You might even find some that have air vest or mesh inserts for a bit of a cool down.
- Winter Car Seat Covers: These are the car seat covers used for bad weather and warmth. It doesn’t matter how cold it is, or what it is doing outside, your baby will be comfortable. You do want to look for thicker material on the inside, but ensure that your baby is still able to breathe. Your best bet is to get a seat that has air vents on the sides or at least a window so that you can see into the seat.
- Rainy Weather Car Seat Covers: If you have to leave your house on a day that it is rainy, you know how difficult it can be to keep your child dry and covered while also keeping yourself at least somewhat dry. A wet weather car seat cover, or a rain shield, does not have any gaps or mesh because that invites water into your seat. What you don’t want is a completely plastic car seat cover, because this will be extremely uncomfortable for your baby and could even be dangerous. Never keep the plastic cover on when you are indoors or even in the car. You can simply put it back on before you take him out of the car again.
- Insect Car Seat Cover: If you don’t live in an area where you need protection from the weather, there is a chance you live somewhere with many, many insects. Mosquitos, bees, and fire ants are some of the insects that you might have to worry about. These covers are almost always made out of netting or mesh material. However, you do have to ensure that cover doesn’t have holes at any point, because mosquitos are able to get into very small holes if they want to – and they will.
What kind of car seat cover will you want?
