An infant seat cover stretches over a car seat carrier to block wind, rain, and strangers reaching in to touch a newborn's face. It goes on in seconds and packs down small enough to live in the diaper bag.
Safety, which comes before everything else here:
- The cover goes over the outside of the seat only. Nothing may sit between your baby and the harness
- No bulky coats, blankets, or aftermarket inserts under the straps. Anything compressible creates slack in a crash. Harness first, then cover over the top
- Never place a cover over a sleeping baby's face, and never fully enclose the seat
- Check airflow and temperature regularly, particularly in warm weather. Covers raise the temperature underneath quickly
- Remove the cover as soon as you are indoors so your baby does not overheat
What to look for: breathable stretchy fabric that fits over the canopy without pulling the seat out of position, an opening or peekaboo panel so you can check on your baby without removing it, and machine washable construction.
Multi-use designs are worth considering: many double as a nursing cover, high chair cover, or shopping cart cover, which means one item in the bag instead of three.
How long will you use one? Typically as long as you use the infant carrier, roughly the first nine to twelve months.
Cleaning: machine wash and air dry in most cases. Check the label, and wash often given what it catches.
See car seat covers or baby covers and wraps. Every Itzy Ritzy product is tested through CPSC-accredited labs for CPSIA compliance.
