Joy

Friday, July 29, 2011

Improved Car Seat Cooler


I cannot imagine my life without our carseat cooler. Seriously, I don't know how people with toddlers and small children make it through the summer without one. Maybe my child just complains and cries more than most. I don't know.

I've made three different versions for Claire now, but finally found one that works the best and looks the best too.The top side is a piece of felty, wool-like material, sandwiched between two layers of a thicker, home decor fabric for added insulation.The bottom layer is just a thin knit which allows the cold to get to the seat quickly.

These hard block ice packs are the way to go for the seat coolers. The soft bag packs ALWAYS get a hole in them and leak bluish ooze everywhere, plus, the block ones stay cold for a good 6 hours, whereas the soft ones get warm within 3 hours when in a 120 degree car.I just fold it up and throw it in the freezer so it is always ready for a trip in the car. If I'm really on the ball, then I remember to put it in the carseat about 20 minutes before we leave so that the seat is cool when Claire climbs in. (Since we still can't park in our garage.)I have toyed with the idea of trying to sell them. Especially since there really aren't any available anywhere - unless you want to spend $60 online. I have so many cute home decor fabrics to make them with but man, sewing on the bias tape is such a pain! I need to practice before they are sell worthy.

89 comments:

  1. These are awesome! My daughter is constantly complaining that her "back is sweaty". This would be perfect.

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  2. I have a toddler also who gets hot. I've been thinking of a way to cool the seat off. But do you have the child sit on it? Wouldn't it be hard and uncomfortable if so?

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    2. Do use while child is in car seat.

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    3. A child could get burns if they sat on the ice packs. Should remove from carseat before child sits on it. Could just remove the ice packs.

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    4. you leave the seat cooler on while you are out of the car. just take it off when the child gets back in and the seat will already be cool.

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  3. You must be in AZ too! I would buy these if you decide to sell them.

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    1. We are moving to AZ in August. I will for sure be needing 2!

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    2. There are a ton of people who make/sell these on FB Marketplace in AZ but about $30

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  4. GENIUS!!!!! We are in AZ and this is just PERFECT for summer!

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  5. We're in AZ as well. this would be awesome to have! totally would buy 2 for my twins if you decided to sell them!

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  6. Replying to J Girl. No the kid doesn't sit on it. You put the nice frozen beauty in the seat while you're out and about and the car is sitting in the blazing heat... While you're in the grocery store, or church for example. When you get back in the car, you take it out and put your kid in a nice cool seat :) And I always go ahead and sit mine right on top of the straps too. No reason to leave them out of the cool goodness! Happy all around. :) I don't know what I'd do without mine!

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  7. Actually putting anything between your child and the car seat voids the warranty and can SERIOUSLY endanger your child if you were to get in an accident. DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!!!!

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    1. You are only putting this in the car seat while the child is NOT in the seat...for example when you go into a store, then you take it out before you srtap them back in.

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    2. Maybe NewMexiGirl should read the post instead of just making stupid comments. Nice one!

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    3. Lol...why would you have your child sitting on hard block ice packs in their car seat? So funny! These are adorable, by the way. What a great idea!

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    4. There was another comment that said to use while child is in seat.

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  8. I would definitely buy one of these! My Claire gets very hot in the car. This would be a life saver! And I'm not crafty enough to try to make one on my own :)

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  9. I would be completely interested in buying one of these!

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  10. I would be interested in buying them or even make a tutorial of how to make one would be good too.

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  11. I would buy one of these, too. I won't need one until next summer, so you have some time to figure it out ;)

    You could always just make the cover (I know that's the hard part) and tell people buy their own ice packs for it. It would save time for you and shipping costs for your customers.

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  12. I would love these for both of my kids! I hope you start selling them soon, because I can't sew if my life depended on it!

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  13. My friend Angie makes and sells something similar to this!! They are ah-mazing!! I love, love love mine!! It is a miracle worker here in Phoenix!! Check out her stuff at https://www.facebook.com/EskimoPillows.

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  14. Oh....here's her Etsy site too!! She is super easy to work with and my product has held up amazingly well!! Can't believe the ice packs stay so cold in this heat! http://www.etsy.com/shop/EskimoPillows

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  15. I have one i purchased from babybeetrendy, but want to try to make my own too. thanks for the tips!

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  16. Such a great idea! I'll have to try my hand at making one for my boys.

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  17. I am also another who can't sew! I would love one of these if you do start selling them!!! My baby isn't due until November but we live in West Texas! I don't think we have a winter!!

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  18. I would LOVE to buy one! Please!! My email is christyvalladares@yahoo.com. I need one bad!

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  19. Please let me know if you decide to sell these! It's 101 in Louisiana right now! hbroussard82@yahoo.com

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  20. If you have an "extra" one I would love to buy it ASAP! if not can you please provide the types of fabric (jersey, actual type of wool, knit, or canvas)
    A pattern anything would be awesome!
    please email me.
    1kaydee3@gmail.com

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  21. Would def buy as gifts.... I'm done with the precious packages LOL

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  22. Instead of the top layer of home decor fabric (underneath the felty layer, facing the sun side) you could do a layer of insulated batting. I bet it'd keep the cool pack cool even longer, for those extra long, hot days.

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  23. I would love to buy one as well if you decide to sell. I wish I knew how to sew. My son is ALWAYS complaining that his car seat is hot so I end up running the AC and waiting for 5-10 min before putting him in on really hot days.

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  24. for in the car while the kids are in the seat you could make a cool tie that is BIG / just fits around neck but doesn't tie kinda like a head support for babies (not that big just not like the ones in the stores). dip in ice water and the cracked salt ice crystal things you put in them swell and stay cool (not cold ) great for hot days in the stroller also

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  25. I would buy one!, perfected or not. My 9 mo old would be so happy

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  26. Please put together a tutorial for me. I have 3 grandchildren and even in the south we need these.

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  27. I have a special needs child who can not tolerate temps over 80. One of these would allow us to safely go out in the summer! Please please sell me one or two of these!!! Jilliebean1973@gmail.com

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  28. hi (using my husbands google acct since i don't have one), i really need one of these for my daughter...we live in south tx and man! everyday from 8am till at least 7.30pm its waaayy too hot!!
    are you by any chance selling these yet?
    in case you are or might in the future please email me brendaa1michelle@yahoo.com

    thanks!
    brenda

    (:

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  29. Hey guys- I'm making these. They are $40. You choose top cover colors. Email me @bethkaric@charter.net if you want one! :)

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  30. can i get one for my bed for night sweats? :D

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  31. I am in Oklahoma and I am raising my grandaughter - she is 10 months old. We are travelling to South Padre Island in August for vacation and I am definitely making one of these for her before we go. If it goes well, I will definitely sell them. My email: deanna.leeds@ymail.com

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  32. I don't have kids but I would love to have this for my own seat!

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  33. Please sell these!! They are great! :)

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  34. I would buy three of them. My kids are older and don't use car seats, but there is nothing worse than a hot seat in the car.

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  35. Shoot, I need one for myself... Its hot in KC and my leather seats could use a cooling before I get in....Great idea

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  36. Such a wonderful idea!! Thanks for sharing!

    Also wanted to let you know that I featured your awesomeness on my blog!
    Feel free to come check it out :)
    http://www.artsyfartsymama.com/2012/07/pinteresting-features-n-shtuff-39.html

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  37. Please sell them I would buy one!! I like yours better than the others people mentioned in their comments!!

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  38. Fantastic idea and it looks like you could make a killing here! I'm wondering if there's an economical way to swap out the ice packs for heat packs for the winter. We live near Seattle so on the 3 summer like days we have each year, this would be nice but hot packs would be great, too!

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    1. make rice bags for winter, and nuke them in the microwave before putting them in the car seat cooler.

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  39. very cute...I've saved this for when I have Grandchildren :D

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  40. I'm making a pair for my grandbabies and was wondering if anyone has dealt with a condensation problem with these? I have all my fabric and just realized that they may wind up soaking the seats? Any help would be awesome!

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    1. More important than soaking the seats, you want to make sure the straps don't get saturated. According to most carseat manuals, the straps can only be wiped down with a damp cloth/sponge and MILD soap. Never soaked b/c it can weaken the straps. Which would mean, in a crash, the straps may fail.

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  41. It's so hot I don't think the condensation will last long, at least not here in Texas at 106 outside and 115 to 140 inside the car! These are a great idea and I wouldn't mind having one for an adult! The steering wheel burns my hands! I have got to buy a cloth cover soon! Living in San Antonio where it stays hot just about all the time is getting to me. I take meds that don't mix well with heat and having one of these for an adult would be great! Your sewing looks great to me! I wish I had the capital, I'd help you start a business!

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    1. Does anyone know if these hard ice blocks have a problem with condensation? I'm not familiar with them, so I don't know. If they do sweat, there has to be some sort of barrier material between the "carseat cooler" and the straps. For safety reasons, the straps of the carseat can never be soaked. Verify in your carseat manuals.

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    2. Josie, I have a very simple one of these I made for myself - I used parachute fabric as a liner so the outer cover would stay dry.

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  42. I WOULD totally buy one!!!!!!
    Are you selling them? Can you email me?

    ashley
    the banner planner at yahoo .

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  43. I didn't really see this question posted. But how long does the car seat stay cool after you remove the cooler pad?

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    1. probably not very long. but by that time, (hopefully) the a/c will be doing it's job. =)

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  44. I would totally buy 2 of these! if you are interested my email is erinfbaskin@gmail.com
    -Erin.

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  45. Oh my gosh my life is going to get sooo much easier now!

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  46. Let me know if you would be interested in selling these in my store! You would be a great fit.
    www.miamourboutique.com

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  47. What a brilliant idea! I've never even heard of these before.

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  48. I want one!!!! I will buy it off you even if not perfected. :)

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  49. If you're ready to sell I'd love to buy one! Email me at mandy.sosa@ymail.com

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  50. Thank you so much for posting this! I made one tonight and LOVE it already...even though I haven't actually used it yet :) Thank you again, you've saved my daughter's poor little legs from the heat!

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  51. Alright, I have to know if you're selling these! Such a great idea.

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  52. I just wanted to say this is super smart! My son is always a sweaty mess when he rides in his car seat. I also wanted to say that I am featuring this on my blog - Tutoring Tommy. I plan on making one as soon as I get to town to buy the materials.

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  54. Does anyone know if these hard ice blocks have a problem with condensation? I'm not familiar with them, so I don't know. If they do sweat, there has to be some sort of barrier material between the "carseat cooler" and the straps. For safety reasons, the straps of the carseat can never be soaked. Verify in your carseat manuals.

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  55. Hey! Did you ever get around to selling these?

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  56. Those of you that are concerned about condensation and getting the seat wet, use PUL fabric that you would use for making cloth diapers...thats what I plan on doing.

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    1. Good idea! I just ordered some black PUL for the coolers I'm going to make!

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  57. Please sell them!! My daughter has special needs so i am a busy single mom but my little would love this. They'd be useful for wheelchairs too!!

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  58. This is a great idea! To keep the ice packs cold for longer, you could also drape a beach towel over the whole car seat. I do that with my son, so that the black vinyl parts don't get super hot when the car is in the sun. (The towel also doubles as a blanket, or a changing pad, or a .... towel!)

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  59. Are these avilable for purchase anywhere yet??

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  60. If you are selling these - please email me at devin.vay@ey.com. We definitely need one!

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  62. Please sell them. Apparently there are enough people that would buy them. You could sell them on Etsy. It's a popular place for brilliant handmade products such as this.

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  63. Hi Dear, have you been certainly visiting this site daily, if that's the case you then will certainly get good knowledge.ice chest

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  64. Loved this article! Such a great cooler. Super cute! Found a different cooler with speakers that they might love!

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  65. Looks great. This is one of those little things that is not required, but it is extremely important in every car. I treat such trifles even a сar vacuum cleaner , and an air fragrance. Perhaps a couple of small comfortable pillows.

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  66. Your car seat tutorial will definitely help for car users.I hope you will keep posting this kind of post.Thank you very much

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