Bundling up kids can be a hassle – especially when they’re in a car seat. To accommodate those bulky winter coats, the straps need extra slack.
But problem is, in an accident, kids could slip out of the seat. Still, shucking layers in the car is a pain, too, and can lead to chilly children.
So, after struggling with just that, Michigan mom Allison O’Rourke decided to create a fix: a cozy poncho called The WarmMe.
“There are covers for infant car seats, but there wasn’t anything for the convertible seats,” says O’Rourke, a school social worker and mom of two in the Lansing area with a third on the way. Four years later, her Facebook business is thriving.
The WarmMe has a double layer of fleece and a button-up front and goes on like a coat. It then buttons over the harness to keep kids warm.
“The patterns are endless,” says O’Rourke, who takes custom orders, including adult-sized hats and scarves. “I call them ‘mommy and me’ scarves.”
More about The WarmMe
- Prices: $40/poncho, $8/hat, $8/adult scarf, $7/ship (orders deliver in 1-2 weeks)
- Ages: 6-12 months to 7-8 years