What Is The Real Cost of The Car Seat Poncho?

In today's economy, is the Car Seat Poncho a justifiable purchase? Of course, the safety of our loved ones is priceless, but in addition, consider the following:

• The Car Seat Poncho will last 2 seasons or more. Babies and toddlers grow at least one size per season. My son would start the fall wearing 12M, but finish the winter in 2T! That would be two more coats, a double purchase.
• Your child can wear it every day, in a wide range of temperatures, from frigid cold up to 60F degrees.

The Car Seat Poncho is a terrific value. It will last for years and can be passed from one child to another. Our materials are the highest quality, and our workmanship is impeccable. Order now and you can have it in 3 days!

Getting Into the Car Seat = 180 Times

If you start using your Car Seat Poncho this week (beginning of fall), and put your child(ren) in the car seat at least once a day for the next six months (till spring), that's 180 times you'll be able to keep your baby warm going to and riding in the car seat.

180 trips = 6 months x 30 days

And then, of course, you have to take him or her out:

180 trips x (into the car + out of the car) = 360 "in and outs"

And for most parents (and definitely for those with more than one child), there are at least TWO trips a day. So, over the course of this fall and winter, there will probably be about 500 "in and outs."  Six. Hundred.

But if you've already got your Car Seat Poncho, you're probably so psyched, because you're knocking off those 600 "in-and-outs" without the hassle of a coat or the coat trick.  Without taking your child's coat off in the car and putting it on backwards (or picking it when it drops to the floor).  Without pulling the harness reeeealllly tight and hoping for the best...

The sooner you order your Car Seat Poncho, the sooner you'll receive it.  Put it to work right away and start getting back the value for your money and your time.  Then you'll have even MORE reason to love those crispy, chilly mornings.  All 180 of them!

Match the Poncho to the Car Seat

The new line of Car Seat Ponchos had your car seats and your car interiors in mind.  In addition to fashion, fun, convenience and cuteness, the Car Seat Poncho can add a grace note of coordination between your kid, the car seat and your car.  The match game above is just for fun, so choose the poncho that matches your seat, then visit the store to see the full selection.

Y'All Ready for This?

Feel that chill in the air? It's poncho time! Let's kick off the fall with a good ole' pep rally. Stadium lights on, cue the marching band....  Now, y'all ready to shop?  Take a look at all sizes and colors.

Making or Buying a Car Seat Poncho

Making one could require more time and effort than you think.  There are not only the cost of materials and the time involved, but basic decisions involving design and construction.  Take a look at this video:

Those moms who weren't satisfied with their results?  I probably muttered their exact thoughts when I was working on my first Car Seat Poncho for my own son, back in 2004.  The genuine Car Seat Ponchos available today are the fruit of many unsuccessful attempts and many different prototypes, resulting in a product that keeps your child warm, is easy to use, fun to wear -- and gets tons of compliments and admiring glances everywhere you go!

What's Coming Up At Car Seat Poncho?

Another sample sale --  several one-of-a-kind or last-of-its-color-ever ponchos that have never been seen outside of H Barry Boo LLC corporate offices.

And possibly (if time allows) hot pink hats with leopard or paisley trim.  Those might be coupon code specials, or gifts with purchase.

Who says the season is over?  There's plenty of cold weather ahead!

Are you thinking of making a poncho to use in the car seat?

I just got another email from a mom who tried:

I tried to make my own, but I really can't sew so I tried a no sew option, using fleece. It worked, it was fast & easy, but it's not the greatest. It's only one layer and has no hood or zipper. It's working fine for now, as the weather hasn't gotten too cold here yet, but I'm going to need something better for winter! Keeping my baby safe and warm is the most important thing!

I promptly sent this mom a coupon code to save $10 off the price of a Car Seat Poncho.  Since it's two warm layers of 400-weight cozy fleece, it's like having TWO blankets snuggled over your little one.  Very warm, very safe, very convenient -- and very cute.

So if you made a poncho and wished it were warmer, cuter or more convenient, post to this thread and receive a $10 coupon code!

More Stories of Attempted Poncho Sewing

This week we got some more emails from moms who tried to make their own ponchos.  One Nebraska mom with three kids sent us a picture and told us her story:

It's not near as good as a real Car Seat Poncho since mine doesn't have a hood. I made it w/ a hood and it ate my child's head so it had to come off, lol. Then I had to tighten up the hole for the head so it stayed on, it was quite the comical sewing day! It's just 2 layers of fleece I got sewed together in every which way. It's definitely NOT reversible either. It's a better option than a coat for small babies, but mine isn't so good b/c it has no hat and Olivia will not keep hats on right now!

Another mom sent this:

I made DD a few last year and only one that turned out halfway decent. It was "okay" but it was only one layer and the hat was separate and no zipper (I can't do zippers). She outgrew it and I was going to make another this year, but I'm seriously reconsidering because I still have not perfected it and by the time I buy all the fabric....sheesh... Making just one took about an hour...2 hours counting the hat. It wasn't warm enough. And I don't want to mess with it this year.

Thanks to all the moms who came clean about their home sewing experiences.  If you have one you'd like to share (and get a $10 coupon as consolation), post with a picture to this thread. Thanks!

TRUE-LIFE TALE: Turning A Bad Poncho Into A Good Poncho

Angela posted to one of our threads on Car-Seat.Org, about trying to make a Car Seat Poncho for her son:

I attempted to make my own car seat poncho and it was a huge disaster. I bought a bunch of fleece fabric and went to town. I thought I could make a lined poncho but there was so much fabric that my sewing machine needle wouldn't even go through it all. It took me hours to complete and it looked a mess. I didn't even attempt a zipper! I wasn't sure how to finish the neckline so it looks pretty bad..and the hood is falling off. Then when I put it on my son, it just hung really weird. I'd like to get a REAL Car Seat Poncho because I know it will be made much better!

We sent Angela a $10 coupon to make up for the cost of the wasted fabric (although we couldn't compensate her for the wasted time!).  This way she can purchase the Car Seat Poncho for her son and put the whole home-sewing experience behind her.

Believe me, I've been in Angela's shoes!  It's easy enough to make a basic poncho: cut a hole in a blanket or piece of fleece.  I tried that, but when it came time to fasten the harness, I had to move the front of the poncho out of the way -- up to his neck, across his shoulder, or over his head.  Around that age, he wasn't crazy about being strapped in anyway, so that annoyed him even more.  A basic poncho was still not solving the problem of warmth, safety AND convenience for both mommy and baby.

I hacked and stitched my way through half a dozen prototypes before I hit upon the patent-pending design that's easy for moms to use without hassling the baby.  And the Car Seat Poncho is made by professional seamstresses, whose work is supervised and inspected by the same people who make clothes for Pea in the Pod and Motherhood Maternity.  Moms send emails all the time raving about the beautiful workmanship, saying, "It is worth every penny and so much nicer than anything I could have made myself!"