LATCH questions about LATCH+seatbelt, LATCH weight limits & Hyundai LATCH limit/was Re: Common Misuse List - Info Sheet

LATCH questions about LATCH+seatbelt, LATCH weight limits & Hyundai LATCH limit/was Re: Common Misuse List - Info Sheet

Will someone care to explain why LATCH + Seat Belt is a misuse?

Also, the LATCH weight limit - is that car seat + child, or just the child?

Finally, the LATCH weight limit is missing from my 06 Hyundai Sonata and 05 Hyundai Elantra. Would someone with better resources care to find the numbers for me please?

Re: LATCH questions about LATCH+seatbelt, LATCH weight limits & Hyundai LATCH limit/was Re: Common Misuse List - Info Sh

Using lower LATCH anchors plus the vehicle seatbelt to install a harnessed carseat is considered misuse in that the carseat is certified to perform properly in a crash when it's installed using one or the other installation method, but not both methods simultaneously. This is either because the carseat manufacturer tested when both methods were used and found it adversely affected crash performance/ride down of crash forces in some way, perhaps canceling each other out and transferring more crash forces to the test dummy, or it wasn't tested using both methods simultaneously and would therefore be an unknown as to how it would affect crash performance.

LATCH installation weight limits are typically the child's weight only, with a few vehicle manufacturer exceptions, such as Subaru for example which currently states its 60 lb. lower LATCH anchor installation weight limit is the child's weight combined with the weight of the carseat.

Hyundai doesn't specify/didn't provide a weight limit for a lower LATCH anchor installation according to the LATCH manual. You would need to abide by the LATCH installation weight limit stated by the carseat manufacturer in the instructions for the carseat(s) you're using in your Hyundais.

Re: LATCH questions about LATCH+seatbelt, LATCH weight limits & Hyundai LATCH limit/was Re: Common Misuse List - Info Sh

Hyundai defers to the child restraint manufacturer. What child restraint are you using?

Re: LATCH questions about LATCH+seatbelt, LATCH weight limits & Hyundai LATCH limit/was Re: Common Misuse List - Info Sh

Maedze said:

Hyundai defers to the child restraint manufacturer. What child restraint are you using?

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Thank you for the response.

I have a Graco Nautilus in each car. The manual says 48lbs. So does that mean I could use the LATCH + Top Tether until my son is 48lbs, or is it my sons weight + car seat's weight = 48lbs?

Re: LATCH questions about LATCH+seatbelt, LATCH weight limits & Hyundai LATCH limit/was Re: Common Misuse List - Info Sh

The LATCH installation weight limit in your scenario is the child's weight only, 48 lbs., per the instructions for your Nautilus. (Only Subaru as previously mentioned, and maybe one other car manufacturer, Bentley, IIRC, use the child's weight combined with the weight of the carseat for their stated lower LATCH anchor installation weight limits). Beyond 48 lbs. you would use the seatbelt instead of the lower LATCH anchors to install the Nautilus in harnessed mode, and it's highly recommended to continue to use the top tether with the seatbelt installation because top tethering serves to reduce head excursion during a crash.

Re: LATCH questions about LATCH+seatbelt, LATCH weight limits & Hyundai LATCH limit/was Re: Common Misuse List - Info Sh

spex said:

Thank you for the response.

I have a Graco Nautilus in each car. The manual says 48lbs. So does that mean I could use the LATCH + Top Tether until my son is 48lbs, or is it my sons weight + car seat's weight = 48lbs?

Click to expand...

You use lower anchors and top tether until your son is 48 pounds.


Then, you use seatbelt and top tether until your son is either 65 pounds or his shoulders reach the top harness position, whichever comes first.


LATCH limits are for your purposes the child's weight alone.

Re: LATCH questions about LATCH+seatbelt, LATCH weight limits & Hyundai LATCH limit/was Re: Common Misuse List - Info Sh

Thanks guys!! Your input is much appreciated