rear facing tether question

A

Ava

Guest
rear facing tether question

I have a question on tethering and bracing a rear facing car seat. Is it really safe? I'm confused. I thought an infant seat was supposed to move to protect an infant. If it is tethered and "locked down" how does it "give" or provide ride-down in a crash. I have Britax RA. I hope that makes sense.

Thanks,
Ava
 
ADS
C

Caviller

Guest
Great Question!

It is safe, as long as it is allowed by the carseat owner's manual.

First, in any vehicle in any crash, the ride down time is almost completely provided by the crushing frame of the vehicle. Some may also be provided by airbags or special seatbelt features.

Child restraints themselves provide little ride-down time of their own. The objective is to couple them solidly to the vehicle to take advantage of the crushing frame. If a child seat or harness is loose, the child will be flung into the harness at the same speed as the vehicles in the crash. If the loose install doesn't cause the child to strike something else in the vehicle, it will cause a sudden jolt to the child's internal organs when the harness does suddenly stop their movement. With a very loose install, you loose the benefit of the vehicle's crushing frame on ride-down time almost completely.

In the case of a rear-facing carseat, kids are well cradled in serious frontal crashes by the shell of the carseat. What we want to minimize is the motion of the child's head toward the front of the vehicle. The top of a rear-facing carseat will tend to rotate downward in a crash. If the child slips toward the front of the vehicle beyond the limit of the shell of the carseat, the top of their head could strike a vehicle seat or other object. If they slip way out of the confines of the shell, their heads may bend backward. That will be a risk of whiplash-type injuries as well.

To minimize this risk, you can do a few things. First, less recline is actually safer for kids above 6 months or so, with adequate neck strength and head support. Second, make sure the harness is tight and at or below their shoulders. Finally, bracing against the seat in front will also reduce this downward rotation. Alternately, the same thing can be accomplished with a Britax rear-facing tether in the "Australian" or TRV (Toward the Rear of the Vehicle) method.

Another risk gaining interest is the issue of what happens on the rebound of a rear-facing carseat backward into a vehicle seat. New studies may show that various minor facial injuries can result. While rear-facing carseats are still significantly safer than front-facing carseats, even these injuries can be prevented. Some seats offer a rear-facing tether that can be used "Swedish" style or TFV (Toward the Front of the Vehicle). These will prevent rebound into the vehicle seat. A "rebound bar" found on a few models will accomplish the same thing. TFV tethering can also help get the necessary recline for newborns and small infants. It may also provide more stability and safety in side impacts and rollovers.

I hope this wasn't too confusing:) If you have any followup questions or want more clarification, please ask!

Darren
 
J

Julie

Guest
Thanks for that great explanation.....

I've never read it explained so clearly before. Julie (with Karsten, 5, in a Super Elite, and Sarah, 3, Rearfacing in a Marathon...braced and tethered <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">
 
A

Ava

Guest
thanks and one more ?

Thanks for the answer. It makes perfect sense now. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"> I do have one more question though. Which would you recommend (assuming both installations are just as tight) - putting the seat in the middle un-tethered and unbraced, or on the outboard both tethered and braced? TIA.

Ava
 
C

Caviller

Guest
Not much difference, and it depends-

Any proper installation of a rear-facing carseat is very safe. The differences with tethering and bracing are minor. If your carseat installs solidly in the center, and you make sure the harness is snug and the recline is appropriate, I would prefer the center for my own kids for a small safety improvement. The risk of a severe side impact would outweigh any advantages of tethering and bracing in my opinion. While it may not be possible to brace a rear-facing carseat in the center of many vehicles, it usually is possible to use a tether. Routing it off to the side or back is still acceptable in many cases.

All that said, my daughter is tethered and braced behind the driver in our minivan. This mostly for convenience, and to keep her out of reach of our son and vice versa:)

Really, any properly restrained child in a rear seat is quite safe. Most injuries and deaths are from non-use and misuse. Variations in carseats, features and proper installations can improve safety somewhat, but making sure your seats are installed properly is most important!

Have a safe new year!

Darren
 
A

Ava

Guest
Last question (I think)

How far off to the side can you put a tether? I was told that you could only tether in a straight line, so to speak. If the seat is in the middle rear, can I tether it underneath one of the outboard front seats? Thanks once again and I hope that makes sense.

Ava
 
C

Caviller

Guest
One more answer:)

Usually, this is not critical in a rear-facing situation. You can also call Britax to get their input on this. The main thing is that you don't want a severe tilt or angle in the carseat. In many cases, you can do what you describe using the outboard front seats and still have the carseat installed at the correct angles.

Tethers are always best when the strap is straight and short to the anchor with no angle. This isn't possible in many cars, but usually having angles and longer strap lengths is still much better than no tether at all. Of course there are always exceptions:)

A lot of misunderstanding is caused by the rule-of-thumb that applies to anchor locations for front-facing carseats that are custom installed. On such a custom installation, it is recommended that no more than a 20 degree angle be allowed side to side. This recommendation does not apply to a factory designated front-facing tether anchor for a specific seating position, or to rear-facing tethers.

Many people do tether to the side from a center position as you describe. If it seems to really pull the seat at an angle or lift it up off the vehicle seat because of a tilt, then it would be a good idea to find a technician in your area who is familiar with rear-facing tethering on Britax seats. You can use the resources at www.seatcheck.net to find one, and if you schedule an appointment you might ask for a senior checker or an instructor, too:)

Darren
 
A

Ava

Guest
Thank you thank you thank you!

Thanks Darren for you informative answers. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my many questions. Happy Holidays!

Ava
 
C

Caviller

Guest
We are always glad to help!

Please tell your friends about us, too:)

Have a great new year!

Darren
 

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Forum statistics

Threads
219,655
Messages
2,196,895
Members
13,530
Latest member
onehitko860

You must read your carseat and vehicle owner’s manual and understand any relevant state laws. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. All opinions at Car-Seat.Org are those of the individual author for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of Carseat Media LLC. Car-Seat.Org makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. If you are unsure about information provided to you, please visit a local certified technician. Before posting or using our website you must read and agree to our TERMS.

Graco is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Britax is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Nuna Baby is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org!

Please  Support Car-Seat.Org  with your purchases of infant, convertible, combination and boosters seats from our premier sponsors above.
Shop travel systems, strollers and baby gear from Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Evenflo, First Years, Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Safety 1st, Diono & more! ©2001-2022 Carseat Media LLC

Top