In a real car with a vehicle seat in front of you, you can easily imagine that the dummy in the background could hit his head on the back of the front seat or other hard structures because his head moves so much farther forward. Note: Tethers are for forward-facing car seats — where the child uses a 5 point harness as their restraint. While all convertible seats have tether straps because convertibles can be used forward facing , only a few allow the tether to be used when the seat is rear-facing.
Using lower anchor connectors Is it safer to use the lower anchor connectors instead of using the seat belt? Our answer: Sometimes. Should I use the lower anchors and the seat belt at the same time?
Can you use the seat belt and the lower anchors at the same time if you want to? Tether Strap and Hook. Why is it safer to use the tether? Which car seats have tethers? YES a few allow the use of the tether when seat is rear-facing. Most vehicles will have three top tether anchors in various locations. Unlike the lower anchors, the locations of these anchors vary. Depending on your make and model, the top tether anchors could be under the seat, on the rear window shelf, or the floor.
Manufacturers strategically placed these metal bars for attaching the top tether hook on forward-facing and convertible car seats.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded that car seats saved infants and toddlers involved in car accidents in This makes sure the car seat and its headrest are in the most secure position, with limited to no movement in either direction during accidents.
Since the locations of the tether anchors vary, locate these before attempting your installation. No matter your make or model, there are some general steps to follow when installing your LATCH-equipped car seat:. When you are installing your LATCH car seat, remember to following tips to ensure the safety of your child:. There is a weight limit capacity in place on how much force the tether anchors can withstand. Depending on the models of your vehicle and your car seat, you may still need to use your seat belt.
This depends on the combined weight of your child and the car seat. Since , federal law mandates that every LATCH car seat must come with an illustrated label to guide parents and caregivers on weight limits. These instructions inform which options — either the lower tethers or the seat belt — is best for a particular weight limit. Britax has a helpful, printable chart on their site that breaks down how you should install your LATCH car seat according to the combined weight of your child and the car seat.
The anchors in your vehicle will also have their own weight limit, and it may not match the weight limit on your car seat. In this case, always choose the lowest number. Most vehicle anchors cannot withstand more than 65 pounds. Most designs will have an indicator or marker, such as a dot or a tab, on the seat. There is also a back tether anchor attached to the backside of the seat.
What do I do? Gently press down on the fabric, where the seat meets the back. You should see the metal anchor protrude from inside the seat. Excess weight could cause the lower anchors to detach during a crash. Car seats manufactured after February will have a label that clearly defines the maximum weight limit for installing that car seat with lower anchors.
Shortly before the February final rule went into effect, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration added a few additional stipulations to the requirements for this labeling. Allowing for the child restraint to round the maximum weight limit to the nearest number ending in 0 or 5.
All car seats made after February are required to comply with this final version of the labeling requirements. Always use the top tether strap with safety seats in the forward-facing position, in addition to either the lower anchor strap or the seatbelt. The tether strap is not needed in the rear-facing position. A tether strap keeps a forward-facing seat from tipping forward in a crash.
Using a tether could be the difference between a brain injury or no injury at all. If your seat has the LATCH system, it can be used to prevent the booster seat from flying into other occupants if the vehicle is in a crash when the child is not in the seat.
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