Frequently Asked Questions
Coat Questions
Are Buckle Me Baby Coats compatible with car seats?
Buckle Me Baby Coats have been crash tested at an independent University crash test facility where they outperformed traditional puffy coats. They also work at the same harness setting as no coat in the car seat. The coats have been evaluated by CPSTs who give them two thumbs up! Visit our Tutorials page to see our crash test footage in action and learn what CPSTs have to say about Buckle Me Baby Coats here.
Have Buckle Me Baby Coats been evaluated by Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs)?
CPSTS love Buckle Me Baby Coats because they go on at home and stay on safely in the car seat. Read reviews from your favorite CPSTs here.
How warm is the coat - are there temperature ratings?
This question has become very popular since sleeping bags started including temperature ratings. Sleeping bag companies can rate bags because a sleeping person is inactive and (most often) in a sheltered environment, eliminating many of the variables which make ratings for coats so difficult and inaccurate.
Temperature ratings in winter coats are a bit of a marketing gimmick – most reputable companies like Patagonia don’t provide temperature ratings either.
As a one Mama startup I make a promise that is true – this coat is crash tested and designed to be safer than traditional coats and can be used with the same harness setting as no coat at all without adjustments. I don’t want to mix promises that are true with marketing terms that are debatable.
With all that just because I don’t give exact ratings doesn’t mean we don’t make super warm jackets. There is one simple rule that determines how warm a jacket is: thickness equals warmth. Which is why our coats are stuffed with 1.5 inches of thick warm coziness.
You may notice that other coats LOOK puffier but what you don’t know is that most coats are sewn with baffles (like pockets) then the insulation is blown in giving it a puffy look but the actual coat itself isn’t very thick (that's why when you throw it in the washer it totally flattens out).
Buckle Me Baby Coats are designed with a sheet of insulation that is hand quilted in giving the coat even warm cozy coverage all over.
We tested our coats against a sleeping bag rated for -15 degree weather. Using dry ice and a handheld heat loss device our coats retained heat BETTER than the sleeping bag at the 1 minute, 5 minute, 10 minute and 20 minute mark)
Why aren't they the same price as coats at Wal-mart or Target?
As a single mama gig with three kids I get it. Big box stores and large corporations can make products for dirt cheap because they order by the millions. Im small potatoes one mom gig with small orders so the cost to make them is high and the price is set by the cost to make them. I totally get budgets though and have lots of ways to help!
The coats have extra length in the sleeves for longer wear without sizing up and adding bulk to the back and I've added Sezzle so parents can split it up into four payments with no interest or credit check.
Most parents get two years out of the coats and some even get three years which works out to about 25/year if you never trade it up or use it with another child.
Our trade up program that allows parents to get up to a $20 refund on the purchase of a new Buckle Me Baby Coat (excluding clearance and Toast coats) when they donate back a gently used Buckle Me Baby Coat.
Are the coats true to size?
The coats run a little long in the arms. Sizing up adds bulk in the back which is unsafe in the car seat. To extend the life of the coat we designed the sleeves a little longer so parents can get more use out of their coat.
I need help choosing the right size
Please use our size finder quiz to find your perfect size here
I need size 2T. Do you have a size 2T?
24M and 2T are the same size.
How do the coats work? Is there any fabric between my child and the harness?
The front panel of the coat opens at the side and shoulder seams leaving the shoulders and chest area bare allowing the harness to lie flat and snug against the chest and shoulder.
Can't I just do the same thing with a traditional coat?
Test it out at home! Buckle your child in the car seat with no coat on and adjust the harness properly then take them out – put your traditional coat on – and try to buckle them back in without readjusting.
It can’t be done.
The puffiness of the coat makes it impossible to tighten the harness to the “no coat” setting. Buckle Me Baby Coats split along the side and shoulder seams and is thinner in the back than in the front so you can set the harness with no coat on then use your Buckle Me Baby Coat without any adjustments!
What about the back of the coat - is that puffy too?
The back of the fabric is thinner than the front leaving no excess fabric to create slack in the harness. In fact, you can adjust the harness with no coat on – put the coat back on and use the car seat with the coat without readjusting the harness again.
If the back is thinner than the front won't it be less warm?
Although the back is thinner than the front – the density of the insulation is the same keeping littlest loves warm front to back.
The coats look thinner than regular puffy coats are they warm?
Regular coats are sewn together to get that quilted look and fill is blown into pockets which is why when you wash it it deflates like a balloon. Regular coats look puffy and warm but wherever theres sewing there's no insulation so you have cold air leaky spots.
Buckle Me Baby Coats is sewn with whole sheets of insulation between the outer layer and the inner layer and because its a sheet sewn in instead of blown in it looks flatter but its warm enough for the coldest day to and from the car.
Are traditional puffy coats really dangerous? I've seen it on the news but is there proof?
There have been several reports of children wearing puffy coats thrown from their car seats during accidents. You can learn more about them here:
https://news.keepmecurrent.com/raymond-crash-puts-focus-on-safety-seats/
No Bruising From Car Seat Straps for Toddler Killed In Crash
Traditional coats can add inches of space in a crash and this extra space dramatically increases the risk of critical injuries and fatalities. Here is a research study that reviews car crash statistics with regards to injuries due to excessive forward movement:
https://www.bucklemecoats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ArbogastInjury-1.pdf
What if there is a car accident, the car is on fire, or submerged in water. Will the coat delay getting my child out?
The coat has been evaluated by first responders who found that the coat does not slow rescue efforts should the worst happen. In the event of an emergency the car seat is cut out of the car with the child still strapped in to keep them stable. However, the coat does not slow down the process – check out how long it takes to get out of the car seat with our coat on (Spoiler Alert: 10 seconds): https://youtu.be/VQkMQVgqwKA
Will my child be too hot in this coat?
The panel can be rolled to the side to keep little ones from overheating in the car. If your child usually wears a coat or blanket in the car they will find the Buckle Me Baby Coats comfortable too.
Pajama Questions
I read Buckle Me Baby Jams grow in the arm and leg cuffs but what about their torso?
Buckle Me Baby Jams are 95% bamboo and 5% spandex for super stretchiness that lasts.
Why are Buckle Me Baby Jams less expensive than other bamboo brands?
My main product is Buckle Me Baby Car Seat Coats which helps keep the cost (and price) of the jams down.
Wait aren't those the coats that were on Shark Tank??
Yes! Shark Tank was so much fun! The coats were featured on Season 12 Episode 7.
Why are you making pajamas?
Reason 1: I pick out prints for the Toastiest line every Spring and its so hard to narrow down the ones I like best so I decided to make jams too!
Reason 2: Running a seasonal business is hard (many seasonal businesses can't stay open) selling jams helps me keep the business alive, keeping car seat coats on the market and keeping kids safely buckled.
International Orders
I love your coats!!! Do you ship internationally?
Thank you for the love! Yes we do ship to many countries internationally (see below for retailers)! The customer is responsible for all duties, taxes, and fees.
International orders are final sale and are not eligible for return.
Where can I find the coats Internationally?
Please visit one of our partners to choose your Buckle Me Baby Coat, get it faster and save money on shipping!
Canada
Germany
Why is shipping so expensive to Canada?
The shipping charge is the cost to ship plus the cost for Tariffs and Duties mandated and collected by Canada. To avoid the costs please visit one of our partners from the list below to purchase your Buckle Me Baby Coat.
Order/Shipping Questions
I cant find where to enter my coupon code/my coupon code isn't working
Promotions can not be combined. Please make sure you don't have a clearance coat, or blankie in your cart as those are already discounted. If you have a free gift in your cart please remove it from your cart and the coupon code box will show at checkout. If you are still having trouble please reach out to hello@bucklemecoats.com
I placed an order and need to change/cancel it
Our warehouse works as fast as possible to get your coats out to you quickly. Once the warehouse has started processing an order it can not be changed or cancelled.
How long will it take for my order to ship?
We try to ship all orders same day before 2pm. Orders placed after 2pm ship the next business day. Preorders ship when the inventory is back in stock.
Where's my tracking number?
Tracking numbers are sent automatically – please check your spam and junk mail folders.
I would like to return my coat but I took the tag off
Please make sure you try the coat out and love it before removing tags. Once the tag is removed the coat is not returnable or exchangeable.
I sent in a return/exchange - when will it be processed?
I pick up returns and exchanges Tuesdays and Fridays and everything is processed within 24 hours or pickup.