This fall, as it got colder and Sam got increasingly close to outgrowing his infant seat, I began to research what kind of outerwear would be best for him. When Kate was his age, she had a fleece snowsuit, and while that was nice and warm, it was a giant pain when we went to put her in the car seat.

As it turns out, though, it was more than a pain – it was unsafe. Here’s what the National Highway Transportation Authority has to say:

• “coats can add a lot of slack, reducing the level of protection in a crash,”
• “always remove bulky clothing or blankets before you place your child in the seat,” and
• “never place anything thick under the baby, unless that item came with the car seat originally.”

With these tips in mind, the search was on. I wanted something that would be safe, but would also be warm and convenient.

Fortunately, I found exactly what I was looking for, and unsurprisingly, it was created by moms. It’s called the Babycape, and I love it!

The Babycape is wonderful – soft, cozy and warm, and it’s easy to put on and take off. The snap in the back is the most unique part of the design, in my opinion. The cape is split in the back, and it unsnaps so that you can pull the fabric from behind him and put the baby down in the car seat without taking off the cape. This feature allows you to take the cape off or put it on without unstrapping the baby. It also works well with a stroller or front carrier.

It’s great when the baby’s not in the car seat as well – it completely covers my eight-month-old from head to toe. It’s made of super soft, luxurious fabrics (that are machine washable!) and has a pocket in the front for tucking in the feet of a baby or the hands of an older child.

I must admit that the price initially gave me pause – I wanted the thickest, warmest variety they have (a soft suade with sherpa lining), which costs around $100. However, the Babycape works for a baby, toddler or preschooler. Alternatively, I was planning to buy a fleece snowsuit for $50 that would definitely only work for Sam this winter. When I thought about it that way, $100 for several years of use seemed like a bargain! And now that I’ve been using it for a month or so, I know that it is totally worth every penny.

Suffice it to say that I thoroughly researched baby outerwear before making this purchase, and the Babycape was the absolute best solution I found to the problem of keeping Sam warm but also safe. I am so happy that we have it, and I would highly recommend it to anyone!