Question about the Latch System with car seats

[blessedby3]

I was wondering about using the Latch system for my infant carseat. Am I correct in understanding that you use the Latch OR the seatbelt, but not both together? Its been about 8 1/2 years since Ive had an infant in a car seat and this Latch is new since my last child. What do you prefer to use if you only use one or the other? Is one better than the other? My husband put the car seat in with the latch clips, but it looks weird with the seatbelt not latched through like we have been used to. Any info. would be appreciated

 

[Colinsmom]

Use one or the other, not both. Use whichever gives you the best install in your car; they are both very safe when used properly.

Be sure not to create a middle LATCH position in your car if there isn't one. If you only have four LATCH hooks across the back seat, you cannot use LATCH in the middle unless it is specifically allowed in your car's owner's manual.

 

[grlpwrd]

Yes, that's right - you use only one method.

I frequent www.car-safety.org and this is in their FAQs:

Q37: What is LATCH? Is it safer? Does my car or carseat have it?

LATCH (also ISOFIX) is not necessarily safer than using seatbelts to install a carseat. It may make it easier to get a safe installation. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. Most newer vehicles and child seats have this system.

I highly recommend that site. I also highly recommend carseats be inspected by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

Hope this helps...

 

[MSSANDRA]

Our car recomended using the latch system. What i like about it is that once it is installed, it never moves. it just seems to stay put a lot better. Another reason I like using it that with a teen DS and his freinds in the back seat, i would worry that they might release the middle belt holding the seat in place rather than their own belt and not realize the seat is un hooked. WE never move the seat so it works for us.

 

[SeptemberGirl]

Check our your car's manual - they are really helpful. It will tell you where your latch anchors are. LATCH is really easy once you get used to it!

 

[tanyaandallie]

LATCH is not safer. It is supposed to be easier to install a seat using latch. Sometimes this is true, sometimes not!

 

[Cruz91]

Wife and I are carseat fanatics. We read everything about how to use them appropriately, and I'm very confident at the installation. Even after I put them in, though, she still takes it to the local fire station for an inspection. Around our area (suburbs of Columbus OH), you can find an inspection somewhere close by a couple of times a month.

 

[thepeach80]

www.seatcheck.org is the best thing you can do for all your kids IMO. 90+% of people are using their seats wrong so why risk it? I generally don't prefer one over the other, it often depends on the car and the carseat as to which way is easier. If you have a Graco Snugride, LATCH will probably be easier for you, while I find the seatbelt super easy on the Graco Safeseat. Whatever works for you, for that seat, in that seating position.

 

[dhardawa]

I'm a Child Passenger Safety Technician and, yes, you are correct, you use either LATCH or the seatbelt but never both. There are also a few things to remember when using LATCH down the road. First, the tether is part of the LATCH system so when installing a forward facing seat, you MUST use the tether if you install with LATCH (and should with a seatbelt install, but it is not mandatory in the US yet). Also, the tether anchors in cars have a maximum weight limit of 40 or 48 lbs so if you use a higher weight seat like a Britax Marathon, Britax Decathlon, Britax Boulevard, Britax Regent, Evenflo Triumph Advance, Cosco Apex, etc. you will need to change to the seatbelt install before the seat is outgrown by weight.

I highly recommend finding a tech in your area to check your seat as well. I have been a tech for over five years and have seen ONE correctly installed seat and that was a high back booster which is pretty hard to mess up! All police stations and fire station don't have techs and if you just stop by, you run the risk of someone with no training thinking, "How hard can it be?" and installing your seats all wrong. You can find a tech here:

https://ssl13.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbza...tegory1=TAB9_CERTSEARCH&Webid=safekidscertSQL

The AAP has updated their car seat guide as well and it is pretty good now. If you haven't had a baby in over 8 years it would be beneficial to read through it. Things have changed a lot.

http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!