WFAA-TV

DALLAS - While coats certainly protect from the cold, many parents should be warned that they can also actually lessen the effectiveness of a child's car safety seat.

Shontavia Taylor said she thought she found the perfect coat when shopping for her 3-year-old daughter, Jada.

"I actually thought that because it was big, it would be okay for her," she said.

Taylor said while she always tucks her daughter into a car seat, she said she didn't know that Jada's plush coat is a problem.

"It almost gives you a false sense of tightness on our baby's body," said Martha Maldonado, a child safety specialist with Children's Medical Center Dallas. "You create a very, very thick barrier between the harness system and the car seat for your baby."

Maldonado said it's a common mistake. Parents loosen the car seat harnesses to make room for heavy overcoats. However, when when they tighten them again, it's not enough to protect a child in an accident.

Experts say the harness system needs to fit snuggly against a child's body, and the child must sit close to the car seat to prevent neck and spinal injuries. A big coat prevents both.

"Normally when a grown up is in a wreck you, always hear about the seat belt rubbing against the skin or bruising them and I thought it would be better because she was in a coat," Taylor said.

Experts say fleece, which is thinner, is a better option for keeping your child warm while still keeping them safe in their car seat. thinner, better option. As for babies, they say it's best to dress them in warm clothing and then bundle them in blankets after buckling them into a car seat.