Does giving your toddler a neck pillow in his carseat compromise the safety at all? My oldest needs a pillow bec every time he dozes in the car his chin falls right down to his chest and the last time he woke up with a terrible stiff neck, poor thing. I just want to make sure it would not be a hazard in an accident, though.

I don't think so. I'm sure if it was a hazzard they wouldn't be able to produce them?. I have one for my dd. but the one i got doesn't work because it goes behind her neck. ( U shaped)

Technically, it falls into the 'after market product' category which we techs frown upon and are encouraged to discourage. ;)

However, as long as it doesn't interfere with the straps or how the child fits in the seat (ie, pushes them forward), you're ok. Many prefer to use the U shaped neck pillows, backwards. They generally slip those on the child after they've fallen asleep though.

Just nothing that attaches to the seat, interferes with straps or in any other way affect the way the child sits/fits in the seat. You're probably fine. Feel free to post the specific product you're referring to if you're still questioning. :)

I don't think so. I'm sure if it was a hazzard they wouldn't be able to produce them?.

Sorry, not true.
It doesn't have to pass any tests.
The general rule with car seats is...only use with it what came with it. If the seat did not come with a particular padding set, do not buy a set to use on it. If your seat did not come with X padding it was not tested with X padding and therefore, you could be compromising their safety.

They sell full body pads that go behind a baby in a car seat...not safe...it affects the way the child fits/is secured into the seat.

They also sell Mighty Tites, contraptions that are said to help get a secure fit with your seat belt, however, they actually stretch the belt too far, causing it to weaken and could very well break in the event of a collision, rather than stretching to the point it is supposed to before it retracts.

They also sell many a gadget to attach TO the carseat which, again, were not tested with the car seat and therefore should not be attached to it during use. At the very least, using those, you're putting projectiles directly in front of your child.

So, sorry, but, just because such things are on the market, does *not* necessarily mean they are 'safe'. ;)

But as for these pillows..you're 'likely' ok.

Feel free to post the specific product you're referring to if you're still questioning. :)

ok so we have:
http://www.amazon.com/KidCoddler-Child-Support-System-Amazon/dp/B000MGSQ26/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1214914456&sr=1-17

this pillow-blanket combo which is interesting:
http://www.amazon.com/Leachco-Nogster-Travel-Pillow-Blanket/dp/B000T5VSV6/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1214914456&sr=1-11
(is it too big/bulky?)

http://www.amazon.com/Toddler-Coddler-Seat-Support-Pillow/dp/B000BUQNPA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1214914456&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Recaro-Neck-Pillow/dp/B00180YYI0/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1214914952&sr=1-38

infant-to-toddler:
pic showing a baby using it:
http://www.amazon.com/Kiddopotamus-Adjustable-Newborns-Toddlers-Applique/dp/B000DZS7BG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1214915154&sr=1-2
pic showing a toddler using same neck pillow:
http://www.amazon.com/Kiddopotamus%2526-Co%252e-Cradler-Adjustable-Support%252d/dp/B000K66EBI/ref=sr_1_50?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1214915251&sr=1-50

And then the more traditional:
http://www.amazon.com/Bucky-Junior-Neck-Pillow-Planes/dp/B000078RL6/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1215020689&sr=1-19

http://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Total-Head-Neck-Support/dp/B000E120EO/ref=sr_1_45?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1215020617&sr=1-45

Some of them do look like they might interfere with the straps so maybe I will go for something small. Why are there so many different kinds of pillows???

hehe the same reason there are so many of ANYthing....to be obnoxious :p

I'll take a look at the links.

#1 looks like the least obtrusive to me, for a toddler/preschooler. Very little going behind the child. Just enough cush to fill in the gap between child and seat side. But not pushing them forward or anything.

Wow..that blanket combo one looks huge..like one of those C shaped pregnancy pillows. Yikes!


The third one, Toddler Coddler, I think might pass. Just watch how it affects the shoulder. It may have a tendency to push out a bit. At the very least, ensure the child is snugged in the harness before moving the pillows down.

Isn't it crazy how many after market things are not good to use?!?!

I have a problem because up here we need decent winter protection and the cuddle bags are so awesome. (I used mine ignorantly with J all winter). So many of the alternatives either greatly increase the inconvenience level or decrease the warmth factor. *I know* that convenience shouldn't win over safety!

Anyways- all that to say- I'm looking for alternatives if a second winter baby shows up.

oh I know it! crazy!
the canadian folks at the car seat board use lots of polar fleece..suits for the babe (since they are thin, nothing serious to interfere w/straps, not like compressing fluffy snowsuits), tuck a blanket over them once snugly strapped then top with the 'shower cap' style covers. All that for infant seats of course. Can't very well put one of that caps over a forward facing 3yr old teehee

Thanks Tara!

Tara- the shower caps help- but the seat on their backs gets so blinkin' cold and the tiny nb's loose body heat so fast.
I figure the cuddly (well adjusted with strap level) is better than fluffy snowsuit. I'm looking into "carseat coat" made by some carseat geek mommies. I think I found them on car-safety.org
Always looking for better ideas on this topic.
d:)