extra warm car seat poncho Archives

Posted on February 28, 2019April 10, 2019 by Elaine — 4 Comments

Fleece Car Seat Ponchos Are Getting Bigger!

We’ve probably all had the misfortune of ordering a clothing item online only to find that when it arrives, it’s smaller than we expected it to be. This situation is especially frustrating when ordering for a child because children grow so quickly. An item that just fits today may be too small in three months! I’ve always been up front about the fact that my fleece car seat ponchos run small. I’ve spent a fair amount of time during my busy season urging customers to size up. But I’ve still had some customers who were disappointed in the size when their order arrived.

That is why, after selling my handmade fleece car seat ponchos for four years, I’ve decided to make a change in the sizing of my ponchos. This decision was not made on a whim, but is the result of careful consideration and concern for my customers.

The ponchos will be exactly the same design — a circular poncho with a two-way zipper and hand slits — made from premium anti-pill fleece. I will continue to offer ponchos with hoods and ponchos without hoods. The difference is that effective March 1, 2019, the ponchos will all be one size larger than before. This means that my car seat ponchos will now more closely correspond with typical children’s clothing sizes.

Last year’s size 8 will be this year’s size 6. Last year’s size 6 will be this year’s size 4T, and so on. Ponchos will still be available in five sizes, but this year, the sizes and front zipper measurements will be as follows:

3-6 months 12″
12 months 13.5″
2T 16″
4T 18″
6 20″

I’m certain that this change is going to be a positive one for my business and for my customers. I look forward to offering a generously sized car seat poncho in my Etsy shop beginning March 1, 2019.

What are your thoughts on this change to my car seat ponchos?

Posted on November 10, 2017April 25, 2019 by Elaine — 2 Comments

What Customers Say About Extra Warm Car Seat Ponchos

I’ve been selling fleece car seat ponchos in my Etsy shop since 2015. The first year that I sold ponchos, I offered only one style of car seat poncho. My regular car seat poncho was and still is made of two layers of anti-pill fleece. Here in Pennsylvania, my grandchildren have found them to be cozy and warm.

Extra Warm Poncho

But what about those kiddos in extremely cold climates? Would two layers of fleece be warm enough for a child in Minnesota or Wisconsin or Canada? I wasn’t sure it would be. That’s why, in my second year of poncho making and selling, I offered the option of choosing a layer of cotton quilt batting that I added between the two layers of anti-pill fleece.

Last year, one third of my poncho orders were for extra warm ponchos. Most of those extra warm ponchos made their way north to colder states and to Canada.

This fall I asked some of those customers whose children used the extra warm ponchos last year to take a short survey. The results were overwhelmingly positive, and every one who responded said that she would make the same choice to purchase the extra warm poncho again.

Survey Results

1. In what state or province do you live?

The women who answered my survey were from Nebraska, Michigan, New Jersey, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and New York.

2. Did the extra warm poncho provide adequate warmth?

Everyone agreed that the extra warm poncho provided adequate warmth. One mom said that on the coldest days in Michigan, she would layer the poncho over a fleece jacket.

3. Where there times when the poncho was too warm?

Some responded that the poncho was too warm for fall and spring weather. Another mom added that if the temperature were forty degrees or warmer, the poncho was not a good choice. The others assured me that the poncho was not too warm in their winter climates.

4. How would you describe the weight and feel of the extra warm poncho?

I wanted to get some opinions on the feel and weight of the extra warm poncho since I’m often trying to describe it to potential customers. My survey-takers described the extra warm poncho as a thicker fleece, not too heavy or thick, warm and cozy, substantial without feeling stiff or cumbersome. One mom was concerned that the extra layer would make the poncho stiff, but it did not.

5. If you were to purchase another poncho, would you choose the extra warm style?

All of the survey participants agreed that if they purchased another poncho, they would, without hesitation, purchase the extra warm poncho again.

There was that one mom who said that since she already had an extra warm poncho, she might choose a regular poncho to use in spring and fall weather. I like this idea! Everyone should buy two ponchos: a regular and an extra warm one.

Contact Me About a Poncho:

If you’re interested in ordering a regular or extra warm car seat poncho, please contact me. You can use the contact form here on this site, contact me in my Etsy shop, or visit my business page on Facebook. I’d be happy to work with you to create a poncho for that special child in your life!

Posted on September 3, 2015July 17, 2019 by Elaine — 6 Comments

Car Seat Ponchos for Safety and Warmth

Here in Pennsylvania, we’re still enjoying summer weather with temperatures in the high 80s, but these warm summer days will soon be a memory. When the temperatures start to fall, how can you keep your little ones safe and warm for fall and winter traveling?

You may need to swap out that heavy winter coat for a cozy car seat poncho for safety and warmth. It’s so much easier to zip on a poncho than to fuss with a winter coat.

Until a few years ago, I had no idea that buckling an infant or child into a car seat while he is wearing a winter coat is not safe. A puffy winter coat will prevent the car seat straps from fastening tightly enough to keep a little one safe. Here’s an article from Consumer Reports that explains exactly what can happen when a child is buckled into his car seat while wearing his winter coat. (Consumer Reports article)

Continue reading Car Seat Ponchos for Safety and Warmth