How to Make Infant Car Seat Covers

Making an infant car seat cover is a great alternative to putting your baby in layer upon layer of winter clothing. The more clothing a baby has on, the less secure the safety straps on the car seat will be. 

1. Measure your infant car seat. Every car seat will vary by manufacturer, so be sure to measure yours rather than just guess. You will want to write down both the length and the width. Add 4 to 5-inches extra to each the length and width to allow for the car seat cover to actually hang over and gather beneath the seat itself.


2. Bring your measurements with you to your local fabric store. You may be able to browse through their scrap section and find a piece of material that is just the right size for what you need. The fabric store personnel will be able to cut your material to the size you have measured. Depending on where you live and your weather conditions, you may want to consider a fleece cover as opposed to a cotton cover. Fleece will help keep your baby warmer as well as protect her from drafts and breezes. 


3. Spread your material out completely on a flat surface. Using pins or a pencil, mark off a circle about 8 inches in diameter, 9-inches from the top of your material. Make sure you have this circle centered on the material width-wise.


4. Using an exact-o knife, cut out the circle. Flip the material over and sew the edges of the circle up so there are no frays or loose ends. 


5. Sew a 1 to 2-inch wide casing around the perimeter of the material based on the width of your elastic. Insert the elastic into the casing you have created and make sure the elastic has enough give to allow for stretching over the edges of your car seat. Sew closed the opening you just inserted the elastic in.