I am gong to purchase a JJ Cole Bundle Me Car Seat Cover for my baby who will be born in November. It will be cold from November to March where I am located. I have read reviews on both the regular cover and the "lite" (less material, thinner) and cannot decide which to get. Lots of moms said the "lite" was better since there is less material between the cover and the car seat with the lite version. I think the lite would keep the little bugger warm enough. But, I was thinking of getting the thicker one given the winters we have. What are your thoughts?
Neither would be my vote as well. I used a "shower cap" style from Gold Bug. Lands End sells them as well. You shouldn't use anything in the car seat that doesn't come in the box with it.
Neither. You should never use ANY aftermarket product that goes between the baby and harness, including those aftermarket carseat strap covers. Another problem is the cover can cause the straps to be come misaligned.
The safer alternative is the carseat caps, these do not interfere with the straps or create any unnecessary bulk.
Three infants and six MO winters has me voting for the lite. We used one (not JJ Cole) that velcroed around the straps so there was no interference. Babies are naturally hot (at least mine were) in the car seat to startwith and unless the top zips down to combat overheating you might be doing more harm than good. The lite with a recieving blanket or two layered so that you can control the heat factor should be plenty.
NEITHER! Nothing should go between your baby and the car seat. Get him a light fleece coverall through Landsend.com (they are very reasonable), thats enough to keep him very warm, as polar fleece is warmer than puffy jackets. If you don't want to put a fleece on him, then dress him in a onesie, with clothes over top of that, socks, hat, and put a blanket around him tucked in and then a blanket over the car seat, and use a shower-cap style cover for the car seat. He won't freeze to death... trust me in I'm in Minnesota where it gets below zero most of the winter, and my boys have never worn a jacket or used a Bundle Me in the car seat and both are still alive iwth no ill effects. :)
Its just not safe, don't risk it. The blanket and shower cap style covers will keep him plenty warm.
I second Mk. The lite one! That way you can add too it instead of being all or none. I know my son was super warm and so we'd be in the cold for a minute or two, then once the car or was in the warm building, he'd start sweating so I'd have to unbundle him.
I had both. I HATED the lite one because it was such light material that it never stayed in place when I took the baby out. I was constantly trying to retuck it. We have harsh winters here too (Chicago) and I used the heavy one with both of my babies during their first winters. It was definitely one of my must-have baby items for each! It was thick so it didn't move around, the zippers were great so I could control how cozy it was, and I liked being able to remove the top and just use a lighter blanket if it was warmer one day. Both babies were big spitters too, and the part that was sat on was always in need of washing. It would have soaked right through lighter material and I would have been scrubbing the seat itself!
We used the regular one this last winter with my baby and I loved it. It was an absolutely horrible winter here and I don't know what I would have done without it. That being said I'm not sure if I could have gotten away with the lite version or not? I'm sure it would work fine also.
I used both. The lite in the summer and the heavier one in the winter. I thought they were fantastic. Easy to give them warmth and protection w/o having to put a coat on them. Good luck with the baby!
