What Is
LATCH?
What you need to
know about car seat safety
 What
Is LATCH?
Top
Tether Straps
Lower
Anchorage System
Frequently
Asked Questions
Types
of Car Seats
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
over 80 percent of child car seats are installed incorrectly.
The NHTSA believes that the full effectiveness of child
restraint systems is not being realized due to different car
seat designs and features that affect the compatibility of child
restraints with vehicle seating and seat belt systems. In order
to simplify the installation process, an innovative anchorage
and tether system known as Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children, or LATCH, has been developed. Since September 1, 2002,
all new car seats and vehicles come equipped with this new
system, and that means big changes for both car seat and
automobile manufacturers. This article will help you get up to
speed on this important new development in car seat safety.
What Is LATCH?
LATCH is a new standardized child restraint system designed to
simplify child safety seat installation and enhance child
safety. The result of a new government regulation (FMVSS 225)
aimed at reducing the number of car seats that are installed
improperly, the goal of the new LATCH system is simple: To
increase the effectiveness of car seats by requiring an
easy-to-use anchorage system independent of the vehicle seat
belts. The LATCH system calls for vehicles to be equipped with
one upper (tether) and two lower anchorage points. The upper
(tether) anchorage will be a ringlike object permanently
attached to the vehicle on either the rear filler panel or on
the cargo floor, depending on the vehicle. The two lower
anchorages will be a set of two small bars in the rear seat of
the vehicle, generally located where the seat cushion meets the
seat back. Outfitted with permanently affixed hooks or buckles
that are compatible with the anchorages in the vehicle,
LATCH-equipped car seats will now attach to the vehicle seat via
these anchorages instead of being held by the vehicle's seat
belts. By September 1, 2002, the LATCH system will be required
in two rear-seating positions in all new cars, minivans, and
light trucks.
Top Tether Straps
Since September 1, 1999, government regulations have required
automobile manufacturers to install built-in top tether
anchorages in new passenger vehicles. Almost all convertible car
seats and high-backed booster car seats manufactured after this
date have top tether straps to attach to the vehicle anchor. The
purpose of the top tether strap is to better stabilize the car
seat and reduce the potential for the head to move forward, thus
lessening the likelihood of injury in a collision. The tether
strap is attached to the upper back of the child's car seat and
hooks into an anchor located in the rear shelf area of most
passenger vehicles. (The mounting location for certain vehicles,
like station wagons and minivans, might be in another position.)
The top tether straps are only to be used when car seats are in
the forward-facing position. Some car seats manufactured before
September 1999 can be retrofitted with a tether strap available
through the car seat manufacturer and some cars can be
retrofitted at the car dealership. Parents and consumers should
be aware that a tether strap alone does not constitute the LATCH
system.
Lower Anchorage System
Since September 1, 2002, all new cars manufactured come equipped
with two sets of small bars (lower anchors) in the rear seat of
the vehicle, generally located where the seat cushion meets the
seat back. All car seats manufactured will have permanently
affixed hooks or buckles designed to attach to these lower
vehicle anchorages. Together, the two lower anchorage points and
top tether anchorage make up the LATCH system. The new lower
anchorage system can be used by itself for all infant and
convertible cars seats in the rear-facing position and with the
top tether strap for all forward-facing convertible and
high-backed booster car seats. Some car seats manufactured
before September 1, 2002, can be retrofitted with lower anchor
attachments with a LATCH kit sold separately. Most older cars
cannot be retrofitted with lower anchors. For information on how
to install a LATCH-equipped car seat, see our
Safety Tips for Car Seat Installation guide or watch our
informative
video on LATCH.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which vehicles have the LATCH system? All vehicles,
including cars, minivans, and light trucks, manufactured after
September 1, 2002, are equipped with the LATCH system in two
rear-seating positions. Some vehicles manufactured after
September 1999 are also equipped with the LATCH system, so you
should ask your car dealer which models are equipped with the
LATCH system when you are buying a used car manufactured after
September 1999. You can also check your vehicle's owner's
manual to determine if your older vehicle has predrilled
points where tether anchorages can be installed.
- Will the new LATCH-equipped child seats fit my older
vehicle? Yes. New child safety seats that are equipped
with the LATCH system can be used in older vehicles. They will
have to be installed using your vehicle's safety belt system
without the top tether attachment. (You may be able to install
a tether anchor mounting in your older vehicle--contact your
vehicle manufacturer for a tether anchor kit). These new seats
must continue to meet the current requirements of the standard
for head protection when tested without the tether attached.
- Is my current car seat safe? Yes. Child safety
seats on the market today that were manufactured before
September 2002 and are not equipped with the LATCH system are
safe when used properly and free of recalls. Continue to use
your current child seat with the vehicle's belt system, making
sure you have read the owner's manuals for both the child seat
and the vehicle about proper use and installation in your
vehicle. If you are in doubt about installation, look for a
car seat safety check, or call your local fire department,
hospital, police station, or state highway safety office for
assistance. Remember--always put children 12 and under in the
back seat.
- Can my current car seat be fitted with a top tether
attachment? Possibly. Depending upon when your car seat
was manufactured, there are tether kits that you can find in
our store or order from your car seat manufacturer.
- Can my older car be fitted with the mounting needed for
a top tether attachment? Probably. Most vehicles can be
fitted with the necessary hardware. If you require further
information, contact your automobile manufacturer.
- Which child safety seats have a tether? Most
forward-facing child safety seats manufactured after September
1, 1999 will have a tether strap attached to the child safety
seat. The stricter head protection requirement does not apply
to rear-facing and belt-positioning booster seats; therefore,
they typically won't incorporate a tether. If your child
safety seat was manufactured before September 1, 1999, check
your manufacturer's instructions or contact the child
restraint manufacturer to determine if a tether can be added
to your child safety seat.
- What about side air bags? Side-impact air bags,
which are not required by law, provide additional chest
protection to adults in many side crashes; some also provide
head protection. Consumers should be aware that children who
are seated in close proximity to a side air bag may be at risk
of serious or fatal injury if the air bag deploys, especially
if the child’s head, neck, or chest is close to the air bag at
the time of deployment. Since children 12 and under should
ride in the back seat, you should not purchase a vehicle with
an activated rear side air bag unless the manufacturer has
determined that those side air bags pose no significant risk
to children. Because there are variations in the design and
performance of side air bags, check with the dealer or read
the owner's manual for information and warnings about child
passengers and side-impact air bags.
- What car seat can I purchase if I drive a new car
manufactured after September 1, 2002? A LATCH-equipped car
seat with a permanent top tether and lower anchor attachments,
or a LATCH-compatible car seat that comes with a permanent top
tether strap but requires the purchase of a LATCH kit sold
separately. The kit will retrofit the seat with the lower
anchor attachments.
- What car seat can I purchase if I drive a car
manufactured after September 2000 and before September 1,
2002?A LATCH-equipped or compatible car seat for use with
your vehicle seat belt system, or a non-LATCH car seat for use
with your vehicle seat belt system.
- What car seat can I purchase if I drive an older car
manufactured before September 1, 2002?A LATCH-equipped or
compatible car seat for use with your vehicle seat belt
system, or a non-LATCH car seat for use with your vehicle seat
belt system.
- In vehicles that do not have LATCH anchorages, the
vehicle seat belt system can still be used to install any car
seat, including the new LATCH-equipped seats.
Types of Car Seats
Below you'll find some general information about the three
different types of car seats, including infant car seats,
convertible car seats, and booster car seats, and how the LATCH
system affects their installation. Always be sure to check the
manufacturer's instruction manual for specific item features and
restrictions.
Infant (Rear-Facing) Car Seats This type of car seat
is designed for infants from birth to 1 year of age. A
rear-facing infant car seat can continue to be used by children
who are older than 1 year but who weigh less than 20 pounds.
When an infant car seat that is equipped with LATCH is installed
in a vehicle that is also equipped with LATCH, the rear-facing
seat should be secured with the two lower anchorages but not the
top tether. If the infant car seat or the vehicle it is being
installed in is not equipped with the LATCH system, the
vehicle's safety belt system is used to secure the seat, and a
top tether will not be used.
Convertible Car Seats This type of car seat can
initially be used in the rear-facing position for an infant who
is less than 1 year old and who weighs up to 20 to 30 pounds,
and then switched to a forward-facing position once the child is
1 year old and weighs at least 20 pounds. When a
convertible car seat that is equipped with LATCH is installed in
a vehicle that is also equipped with LATCH, the seat should be
secured with the two lower anchorages in either the rear- or
forward-facing positions. The top tether will not be used when
the seat is in the rear-facing position, but it should be used
when the seat is switched to the forward-facing position. If the
convertible car seat or the vehicle it is being installed in is
not equipped with the LATCH system, the vehicle's safety belt
system is used to secure the seat. In this case, a top tether
will not be used when the seat is in the rear-facing position,
but can be added when the car is switched to the forward-facing
position.
Booster Car Seats Many high-backed, belt-positioning
booster seats come with an internal harness and are used as
forward-facing safety seats for children weighing 20 to 40
pounds. When a booster seat equipped with LATCH is installed in
a vehicle that is also equipped with LATCH, the seat should be
secured with the two lower anchorages and the top tether. If the
booster seat or the vehicle it is being installed in is not
equipped with the LATCH system, the vehicle's safety belt system
is used to secure the seat and a top tether can be used. When
used with a belt-positioning booster seat without harness
straps, the vehicle's safety belt is used to restrain the child
in the seat and a tether strap is not necessary.
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