[skilack]

Its finally time to buy our little guy a toddler seat for my car.

Does anyone know the answer to this. When you forward face the seat and use the latch, do you have to use the top tether strap? My car doesn't have a top tether. I wasn't sure if I have to use the carseat strap instead. I can't find the answer anywhere.

How old were your kids when you turned them around?We aren't sure if we are forward facing him or rear. Depending on the car seat it might not fit rear facing.

Thanks.

[Fran27]

Well, the law is, rear facing until 20lbs and one year. In practice though, it's much safer to keep them rear facing as long as possible. If you do a google search, there is a video that shows why. It's scary. So, I'll definitely keep mine rear facing until 30-35lb.

I'm no help for your other question, none of our cars have LATCH.

[DPline]

Definetly keep your child rear facing for as long as possible. It is definetly much safer.

If your car has LATCH points in the seat byte it also must have a teather point. It is part of the LATCH system.

Very few convertable seats teather rear facing but it is always better to have a forward facing seat teathered if possible. Do read your car seat and vehicle owners manual though for weight maximums for the teather.

This link might help you LATCH and Top Tether Information for Child Safety Seat Restraints

[catey]

Here is a website where you can search for a Child Safety Seat Inspection site close to your home. Good luck.

Child Safety Seat Inspection Station Locator

[mommieof2cuties]

Go to your dealership and have them install the top teather if for some reason you don't have one, if you have an SUV they can be hidden! for example, on the floor, on the back of the seat. All carseats should be installed using the latch and top tether when it can be as that is the best way to install.

Summer

I love Britax, always safe, seldom recalled and you can get one that will remain a five point for 65 pounds and another one till 85 pounds five point is the safest carseat you can get! It is about being safe! My oldest will be in a five point until he is 85 pounds, he is only 30 pounds, has a long way to go

[skilack]

Thanks everyone. I have a SUV. I just can't find the top tether. I will have to check the owners manual.

I notice people always say weight for rear facing,does height matter too? My guy is skinny but tall. Almost every car seat he outgrew is because of his height. I'll be lucky he is 30 pounds when he is five. LOL.

[Fran27]

Yes not sure of the height though... but I'd say it's going to be way past one year anyway before they outgrow it (there needs to be one inch between the top of the seat and their head).

[DPline]

Originally Posted by mommieof2cuties

All carseats should be installed using the latch and top tether when it can be as that is the best way to install.

A seat correctly installed with a seatbelt is just as safe as one correctly installed with LATCH. LATCH may make it easier to get a proper installation, but is not in and of itself safer.



skilack - The maximum height and weight is totally dependent upon the seat and the maximums for that seat. There is a sticker on your child's car seat that will tell you what those maximums are for rear and forward facing. The one year and 20 lbs minimum is to get the child to a developmental point where their body is hopefully strong enough to withstand the crash forces while forward facing. The older/bigger/stronger they are the better though. That is why it is better to keep them rear facing as long as possible. (We would all be better off rear facing but I would get mighty car sick!)

To the best of my knowledge there are no documented cases of children who legs where injured in a crash because their legs were touching the back of the seat, folded, or whatever. But there are many children in hosptials with horrific neck and spinal injuries because they were turned around too soon. Keep them rear facing until they max out the rear facing weight limit for the seat or max out of the seat in height. Whichever comes first. (I have one of those tall skinny kids who always out grew them in height first too. )

[skilack]

(We would all be better off rear facing but I would get mighty car sick!)

Me too!!! Thanks Debbie for the info. There is so much info out there I never know what to believe.

[DPline]

And there is a lot of BAD information out there!

The NHTSA website is another good one for car seat info. Home | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) | U.S. Department of Transportation It is what catey linked to above to find a car seat check location but there is also a lot of other good info. there as well.

[HappyHopefulMommy]

The childs height also affects the car seat. My daughter outgrew her infant car seat at 4 months old because of height. So we bought the toddler convertible car seat and had it rear facing until she was 20 pounds. So even if their height is too long for a specific car seat, they do still have to be rear facing.

[calpal]

I listened to two weeks of child car seat experts a few years ago. They all strongly recomended using the tether regardless of whether you are using the latch system or the seat belt, primarily to reduce the possibility of a head injury. Most SUV's I've driven have the attachment on the back of the seat.

[mommieof2cuties]

I agree and if the seatbelt fails, that is why they came up with the latch and the tether as a way to install