Buckle Me Baby" Coats: Where Are They Made And Why Does It Matter

Buckle Me Baby Coats are made in the USA. The coats are designed to be worn in the car, with a thin back and split shoulders, and can be zipped and velcroed over the harness. They are a safe and convenient option for parents, as children can remain warm and securely buckled into their car seats without the need to remove their coats. The coats are crash-tested and approved by Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs), firemen, and first responders, who found them to be a safer alternative to traditional puffy winter coats.

Crash-tested and CPST-approved

Buckle Me Baby Coats are crash-tested and CPST-approved, giving parents peace of mind that their children are safe and warm when travelling in a car seat.

Traditional coats can create slack under car seat harnesses, which can lead to serious injuries in the event of a crash. Buckle Me Baby Coats are designed to be worn over a child's clothes and safely under their car seat harness, eliminating this risk. The coat's thinner back means there is no compression, and it rolls open so that the harness straps sit snugly and safely over the child. Once the child is secure, the coat rolls over to keep them warm.

The coats are also wind and water-resistant, making them a practical choice for parents and caregivers. They are available in bright, cheerful colours and are machine washable.

The Buckle Me Baby Coat has received positive reviews from CPSTs, who endorse its safety and convenience. One CPST reviewer noted that the coat is "easy to use, cute, warm and doesn't interfere with using [the] child's seat properly".

The coat has also proven its worth in real-world situations, with one parent sharing that their son "walked away from a horrible crash" while wearing his Buckle Me Baby Coat and stayed warm while waiting for first responders to arrive.

Designed to be worn in the car

Buckle Me Baby Coats are designed to be worn in the car. They are safe, comfortable, and warm coats that zip or velcro over the harness, ensuring that children are firmly buckled up while being nice and warm. The coats are easy to use: you unzip it from the side, open the front, buckle your child in as normal, and then close the flap over the harness and zip it shut. Alternatively, you can leave the coat open if the car is warm.

The back of the coat is thinner than the front to prevent compression, but it offers the same density so there is no loss of warmth. The coats are wind and water-resistant and have been crash-tested for car seat safety. They are designed to be worn at home and in the car, meaning no more struggling with car seat harnesses or removing coats in cold weather.

Buckle Me Baby Coats are available in three tiers of warmth: Toasty, Toastier, and Toastiest. All coats are designed for harsh winters, with some offering additional features such as a sherpa lining or a magnetic removable hood. The coats range from $69.99 for the Toasty style up to $149.99 for the Toastiest style, which offers the warmest option.

The coats are designed to be safe for children in the car. Traditional puffy coats can create slack under the car seat harness, even when unzipped, which can leave children at risk of preventable brain, neck, and spine injuries in the event of a crash. Buckle Me Baby Coats are designed to be safe and have been crash-tested and approved by Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

Secure Me Strips

The Secure Me Strips® are an innovative feature of the Buckle Me Baby Coats that ensure your child's safety in the car seat without compromising their warmth and comfort. Here's how they work and why they are essential:

How Secure Me Strips® Work

The Secure Me Strips® are designed to leave a path for the harness of the car seat to sit directly on the child's chest and shoulders. This unique design ensures that the harness is positioned safely and securely, providing the protection your little one needs during car rides.

Solving the Coat Dilemma

The creator of Buckle Me Baby Coats, Dahlia Rizk, experienced the struggle that many parents face during colder months. The challenge arises from the need to bundle up kids for the cold and then remove their coats before securing them in their car seats, as per safety recommendations. With the Secure Me Strips®, this dilemma is solved. The strips allow the coat to be safely worn in the car, eliminating the hassle of constant coat removal and ensuring your child stays warm throughout the journey.

Safety First

The Secure Me Strips® address a critical safety concern. Traditional coats create slack under car seat harnesses, resulting in excessive forward movement in a crash. This slack can lead to a significant increase in the risk of head, neck, and spine injuries for children. Buckle Me Baby Coats, with their Secure Me Strips®, eliminate this slack entirely. Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) have evaluated these coats and found them to be a safer option than puffy winter coats, even comparable to not having a coat on at all.

Peace of Mind for Parents

With the Secure Me Strips®, parents can have peace of mind knowing their children are both safe and comfortable. No more worrying about the safety risks of puffy coats or the inconvenience of constantly removing and putting coats back on. The Secure Me Strips® provide a fast and easy solution that keeps your little ones warm and secure during car rides, making cold weather outings easier and less stressful for the entire family.

Shark Tank featured

Buckle Me Baby Coats was featured on Season 12 of Shark Tank, where its founder, Dahlia Rizk, pitched her innovative product to the Sharks. Rizk, a mother from New Hampshire, was tired of the struggle to keep her children warm while ensuring their safety in car seats. This common dilemma inspired her to create car seat-friendly baby coats, addressing a significant gap in the market.

The Buckle Me Baby Coat is designed with a slit that allows the coat to be buckled across the baby's chest, rather than over a puffy jacket. This ensures that the child is securely strapped into the car seat, reducing the risk of injury in the event of an accident. The coat also features heavier insulation in the front and a front flap that can be pulled aside for easy buckling. Once the child is buckled in, the flap is closed, providing warmth and comfort.

Rizk's appearance on Shark Tank was a success, as she secured a deal with investor Daymond John. She initially asked for $100,000 for 10% equity in her company. However, after hearing her pitch and seeing the product's potential, the Sharks made their offers. Barbara Corcoran offered $100,000 for 20% equity, while Kevin O'Leary proposed $100,000 for 2.5% equity, plus a $2 royalty until he recouped $300,000. Daymond John's offer aligned with Barbara's, offering $100,000 for 20% equity, but he sweetened the deal by adding 30% equity on all licensing deals he brings in. Rizk accepted Daymond's offer, valuing his expertise and the potential synergies he could bring to the business.

Since appearing on Shark Tank, Buckle Me Baby Coats has experienced significant growth and success. The company has expanded its product line to include sleep sacks, pajamas, blankies, and more. They also introduced pre-owned baby coats, providing a budget-friendly option for parents. The exposure from Shark Tank not only boosted their sales but also provided a platform to educate parents about car seat safety, which was a crucial aspect of Rizk's mission.

Designed by a mum

Buckle Me Baby Coats was founded by Dahlia Rizk, a mum of three from New Hampshire. Dahlia experienced the struggle that many parents face during the colder months: bundling up their kids to keep them warm, only to have to remove their coats when putting them in the car for safety reasons. She believed that child car safety shouldn't be a struggle and set out to create a solution.

In 2016, Dahlia designed the first Buckle Me Baby Coat, a car seat jacket that keeps children warm and safe. The coat is designed to be worn in the car, zipping and fastening with velcro over the harness, ensuring that the child is securely buckled in while staying warm. The back of the coat is thinner than the front to prevent compression, but it still offers the same density to maintain warmth.

Dahlia worked with local New Hampshire Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs), firemen, and first responders to ensure that the Buckle Me Baby Coat was a safe option for children. The coat has been crash-tested and CPST-approved, demonstrating a significant reduction in forward movement compared to traditional puffy coats.

Since its launch, Buckle Me Baby Coats has expanded its product line to include the Snugs+Kisses Car Seat Suit, a snowsuit for babies that covers the lower half of the body to keep little legs warm. The brand also offers hats, accessories, and Car Seat Sleep Sacks™. Buckle Me Baby Coats has made cold weather outings easier and safer for thousands of families, providing a convenient and safe solution for parents and children alike.

Frequently asked questions