Plastic harness straps

[adbourgoin]

The plastic things on the straps of the Marathon are getting in my way of tightening the straps for a snug fit. They reach the top of the buckle all the way to the strap covers for her neck (Came with the seat). The top of the plastic piece is right by her chin and she chews on them making them push down causing the chest clip to move down also. My question is can I take the plastic straps off? Is that safe?

[TerisBoys]

Those are HUGS - they're optional RF but required once she turns FF.

SO yes, you can take them off NOW. But don't misplace them because you'll need them down the road.

[Jeanum]

Do you mean the HUGS, the rubber parts on the harness straps? Those can be removed for a rear facing child but keep track of where you store them (the pouch on the back of the seat cover, or the glove compartment are suggestions) because the HUGS are required for forward facing.

[adbourgoin]

Ah! I was wondering what they were talking about when they mentioned HUGS! :D I get it now!

Is it safe to leave them there? I just don't want to mess with the safety.

[Jeanum]

If the HUGS are preventing you from properly tightening the harness (and it sounds that way from your first post) or if she's going to chew them and possibly choke, I'd remove them. It will not compromise her safety to remove the HUGS so long as she's rear facing.

[adbourgoin]

If the HUGS are preventing you from properly tightening the harness (and it sounds that way from your first post) or if she's going to chew them and possibly choke, I'd remove them. It will not compromise her safety to remove the HUGS so long as she's rear facing.


Thanks! I will remove them then!

What are they there for? Why must you have them FF but not RF?

[joolsplus3]

Here's Britax' Official answer...

HUGS™: Britax HUGS, Harness Ultra Guard System, are soft pads that gently cushion the child's neck and chest and work to reduce forward head movement in the event of impact.

But if you know what it's like to carry a heavy bag on your shoulder, if the strap is thin it cuts into your shoulder and hurts...the HUGS spread the forces so the straps don't cut into the shoulders in a crash so injury risk is lessened. For rearfacing, the whole shell of the seat and the padding will take most of the force, not just the thin little harness as in forward facing, so they really aren't needed for RF at all.

[Jeanum]

Rear facing is inherently different in that the rear facing carseat's shell absorbs a great deal of crash forces compared to forward facing which has the potential to transfer more crash forces directly to the child. My understanding is the HUGS distribute crash forces over a wider area, and they reduce head excursion, the amount a forward facing child's head moves forward and/or outside of the carseat's protective shell during a crash. The seat needs the HUGS in place for forward facing in order to comply with government standards for head excursion.

[adbourgoin]

Thanks! :)

[skaterbabscpst]

Rear facing is inherently different in that the rear facing carseat's shell absorbs a great deal of crash forces compared to forward facing which has the potential to transfer more crash forces directly to the child.

This is also why we recommend rear-facing long past the legal minimum of one year and twenty pounds. That recommendation is extremely outdated. We now know that children are significantly safer rear-facing, and that under two the injury rate for children forward facing is just too high.