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BUFFALO, N.Y. — As parents, we want the best for our kids. That includes a warm, comfy car ride during these frigid winter months. But, what if putting on that jacket to ensure warmth is actually putting your kid in danger? 

With his favorite Christmas ornament in hand, we set out to take Grant to get a tree. The temperature is in the 30s and the car has been warming up. He has his hat on, but like a lot of parents, I find myself concerned he’s not warm enough. It’s a debate every winter. What jacket is safe enough for him to wear? Is there a jacket safe enough?

A search on Google pops up all sorts of ads for "car jackets." Enter Benjamin Kasper, the injury prevention and outreach coordinator for Oishei Children’s Hospital.

“The one thing you really want to avoid is wearing anything bulky,” Kasper explained.

Kasper says it affects what's called ride down.

“When you wear a puffy jacket like that, it makes it so that ride down doesn’t occur until there are already projected forward, sometimes pretty significantly, so it can increase the injury for head and neck injuries,” Kasper said.

Kasper adds puffy jackets also lead to kids moving the chest clip down. He says that clips needs to be in line with your child’s armpit level. This way it’s on top of all those bones.

“And we see this quite a bit where the chest clip has been moved down and it can cause some internal abdominal injuries,” Kasper said.

The other thing to check for is how tight the shoulder straps are. It’s called the pinch test.

“If you are able to pinch the fabric and tent it, it’s too loose,” Kasper showed.

So, what are the alternatives to those warm down jackets? Kasper says thin layers, hats, mittens and depending on your child’s age, a loose-fitting blanket is another good option.

Regardless of the season, Kasper says just make sure your car seat is installed right. He says 80% of car seats are installed incorrectly. Kasper says your best bet is to look at the stickers on the seat and the manual. A seat should never move more than one inch either way. 

“Car accidents and the injuries we see at Oishei generally rank within the top five,” Kasper said.

Kasper says they tend to see fewer car accident injuries during the winter months, as drivers tend to be more cautious. But, that doesn’t necessarily reduce the risk.

“Speaking logically, those that are improperly in their seats have a greater chance of injury,” Kasper said.

So buckle up, and bundle up, one layer at a time, so you’re spending the holidays around the tree.

If you want your car seat checked, you can make an appointment with Kasper and his team over at Oieshi at 716-323-2624 or email at bkasper1@kaleidahealth.org. Or, he suggests heading to safekids.org to find a car seat event and other information.