Overheated in Carseat

She may be overdressed. Also try a microfiber towel - available in bath stores or camping stores. They absorb a lot and dry more quickly, keeping the child cooler. Also don't let the kid stay in the car seat while the car is stopped, shopping, etc.

This happens to my nephew still at the age of 3 if my SIL doesn't put ice packs under the car seat cover. She puts the soft gel packs in the refrigerator so they don't get hard in the freezer and puts them under the fabric in the car seat (I believe she puts them on the sides). It keeps him nice and cool and happy in the car, which is good because she lives an hour away from most of the family so traveling was very difficult before this little trick!
I hope this helps!
J.

you could always put a cool cotton sheet in there first. that's more comfortable than the fabric the carseat is made of. you might just have to turn up the air! :)
H.

You can get a small battery-operated fan that will hook on to the back of your car seat or the handle of her car seat. You can take papertowel or linens, wet them, put them in plastic bags and in the fridge, then put them under her (maybe with another piece of cloth over it if you think it's too cold). You can do pretty much the same with a couple bottles of cold water (like the sport-sized bottles) and place them on her sides. Again, use a cloth to put between if it seems too cold. That should help...

Be very careful about what you put between baby and the carseat...you're better off putting something soft like the freezer pack tucked into the side..putting anything under the cover can compromise the safety and effectiveness of the carseat...also...there are wonderful window tints (not the roll down shades)that can be applied to your windows....we didn't have overhead air vents in our car with our first and I love having them in our van...both kids stay so much cooler (but I'm not suggesting you go out and buy a minivan....) hopefully as she gets older she will be able to cool herself a little more...

B.

Do not overdress her. Take her jacket off in the car. Send air conditioning back to her backseat location if she's still warm.

S

I understand your frustration...my son was the same way in our car. We finally had the rear window tinted to cut down on sun shining in on him, which helped. We would also use ice packs underneath the car seat padding which helped. However, I was concerned this could create a safety issue, but I was more concerned with how incredibly hot and miserable he was every time we had to put him in the car. When he was able to go forward facing, it was no longer a problem because the air can get back to him. It is a problem in a car with no rear vents. Good luck!

Carry a wet wash cloth in a plastic bag. Wet her head when she is hot. The evaporating water will cool her off. My poor son would throw up he would get so hot. It is so scary when they get hot. Line the car seat with terry cloth that should help as well.

I would lay a thin receiving blanket under my sons in their infant carseats. It seemed to "breath" better than the material on the carseat.

Firstly, cotton cotton cotton if you don't already dress your child exclusively in cotton. Natural fibers are a must-esp in summer. I would use a cotton receiving blanket between baby and seat not just to soak up sweat, but to prevent it. Those covers are polyester and that causes sweating in summer. Also, in addition to a clip on fan, you could simply use the sun shade that comes on the carrier, open it all the way and then tilt it forward so that the sun isn't on baby. I do that. I use no socks or shoes in summer (she's not walking yet, tho) and another great idea would be to carry a little spritz bottle of water w/ a drop or two of peppermint essential oil and occasionally spritz baby to cool down. Be careful for eyes, of couse! HTH

if your vehicle has rear vents make sure they are on
if only front one point some of them back toward the roof the air will hit roof then float down
make sure you don't have a winter cover on the seat, dress her very lightly in the seat no blankets, if you leave the seat in the car when not in use put a white towel over it

J.