Bundle me in the car seat

It's getting to be that time of year again, it's getting colder and we start to think about keeping our babies warm. Those of you who've been around for a while know that CarseatSafety (Chris) and I ask constantly that people not use the Bundle Me or other types of buntings which go behind the baby in the car seat. (and I know Chris is planning on dropping in with his yearly warning on this product as well lol)

Here is a great article with pictures that explains it much better than I can

We don't ask you not to use it because we are paranoid, mean, over protective etc. We ask you not to use it because it is not safe. You're putting your child at risk, basically making them a crash test dummy. I don't say that to be mean or strike the fear of God into you, I say it because it's true. They have not been crash tested for safety. FMVSS 213 applies to car seats, not after market products! We do not know how they will perform in a crash. The Bundle Me is NOT APPROVED by ANY car seat manufacturer for use with their seats. JJ Cole has stated on their website that they tested the product in seats. What seats? When? No one knows, including the seat manufacturers. JJ Cole has never worked with any manufacturer to approve this product. It costs a lot of money to test a seat, but if JJ Cole was so sure that it would pass every test, why wouldn't they work with manufacturers to test the product? Even with ONE manufacturer!?!? Did you know there is a small disclaimer on the Bundle Me packaging stating not to use it in your car seat?

What we DO know is that improper fit of harnesses on tiny bodies can cause injuries to children. There is less room for error with a harness on a 10lb baby than there is on a grown adult. A seat cover or bulky coat probably won't affect us much, but a 1/4" of fabric can make a huge difference. Graco once recalled a seat over a cover being too thick and failing tests. It was less than a 1/4" too thick.

Fact is most of us won't be involved in a collision. Most of us are not going to find out first hand if these products pass or fail, so we will have been "fine" using them (just like we were "fine" being carried home on mom's lap, standing in between the front seats, not wearing seat belts etc). Statistically, one of us will eventually end up in a crash, possibly a severe crash. The information provided is to help your chances that if you DO have a collision, you are giving your baby the best chance possible of walking away from that collision with little to no injuries.

There are other ways besides a Bundle Me to keep baby warm in the winter. No puffy coats/snowsuits, those have the same issues as the Bundle Me. They can cause hidden slack in harnesses. Layered fleece blankets, shower cap style covers (like the posh pouch), fleece ponchos? All great alternatives.

These are the facts, I'm not here to argue or to debate the subject with anyone. I'm not here to judge you, nor do I. If you were/are OK using one, that is your decision, but please don't tell others it's ok to use it.

Re: Bundle me in the car seat

Thanks so much for posting this. We did use the Bundle Me for DS#1 last winter, it was given to us. DH is going to complain because we are on a budget and we have ours and my nieces but I think I am going to go for a different, safer one this time.

Re: Bundle me in the car seat

Is this style safe to use, though? This is the one I have now after returning the "unsafe" one.

Thanks for the info!

Re: Bundle me in the car seat

As long as this a shower cap type cover and goes over the car seat, you are good to go.


UOTE]Posted by teaforthree

Is this style safe to use, though? This is the one I have now after returning the "unsafe" one.

Thanks for the info!

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So glad i checked this out i just removed it from my registry and added the one that other posters posted!!