What is your opinion on rf tethering?

jenfrogmom

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #1

I notice some people wouldn't buy a seat that couldn't be tethered rear facing, while others don't mind if it is tethered or not. What is your opinion?

 

KaysKidz

Senior Community Member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #2

I definitely prefer it. But, one of Kaylee's seats (Evenflo Tribute) doesn't, and I was/am fine with it. BUT, it depends on what vehicle. We have an extra cab truck without head rests and I am personally not comfortable using a seat that doesn't have some form of anti-rebound. I would not want my child rebounding into glass. So in that vehicle, it's a must for me. In others, I still prefer it and will get one if it's at all feasible. Rebounding was not something that was desired when they designed the rear facing seat. It was a side effect, and one that was deemed 'acceptable'.

JMHO.

 

M

mylittlet

Senior Community Member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #3

We have owned both kinds. I perfer tethering in pickup trucks where our kids are close to the rear glass. Otherwise I don't have a preference.

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Aug 24, 2011

• #4

I don't really care either way. We used to have a Wizard that I think we tethered. I haven't bothered RF tethering my Radian.

 

BabyKaykes

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #5

I won't discount a seat that doesn't have one. But my stance is no RF tether for noobs, RF tether, if available, for over 4-6mths.

 

jenfrogmom

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #6

I prefer it. Like pp said, especially in a truck w/ no headrests (like we own.)

 

B

bnsnyde

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #7

I RF tether and only get the ones that do.
But I won't do it for a newborn.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #8

I'm in favor of it when allowed, and will even do it for a newborn in most circumstances.

It's not an absolute deal-breaker when buying a seat, but some form of rebound control is definitely something I prefer strongly.

 

hrice

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #9

I prefer it but own a variety of seats without that capability. If I limited myself to only seats that RF tether that wouldn't leave me many options.

 

rxmommy

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #10

BabyKaykes said:

I won't discount a seat that doesn't have one. But my stance is no RF tether for noobs, RF tether, if available, for over 4-6mths.

Click to expand...

Why not for newborns? Not being at all snarky, just I've seen that on the board a few times and am not sure I know the whole explanation why some people feel that way.

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Aug 24, 2011

• #11

rxmommy said:

Why not for newborns? Not being at all snarky, just I've seen that on the board a few times and am not sure I know the whole explanation why some people feel that way.

Click to expand...

There's some thought that it increases neck loads. (The seat doesn't rebound, but the baby's head does.)

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #12

Whereas some of us are of the opinion that the neck load increase does not outweigh the benefit of the tether. Since we have no actual numbers, it's another of those "everyone draws the line differently" areas.

 

christineka

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #13

After seeing the crash videos, I strongly prefer seats with arb devices. Yes, an untethered rfing seat is very safe, but I think the arb makes the seat safer. It's just my own belief, though. I have used seats that don't have arb because they work. I also do not rf tether in dh's car. I have all of my d-rings installed in my van (That way I need not move them around.), so I don't have any left to keep in dh's car. I'm okay with it.

 

cowgirlsmommy

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #14

I prefer some sort of anti rebound. Whether it's a tether or something like the tfp boot.

 

mamakc

Active member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #15

I prefer it, but it's not a deal breaker. Priority goes to better fit for the child, how it fits in my car, etc. So currently my only RF seat with a tether is being used FF because my non-tether seats work better for our situation.

 

honeydew

Active member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #16

I tether rear facing if the seat allows it. All of my current seats allow for RF tethering, but they weren't purchased because of that feature.

 

mama d

New member

• Aug 24, 2011

• #17

I have one of each, I prefer to have my tetherable seat in the truck in the event of rebound into the back glass.

 

M

mumof2

New member

• Aug 25, 2011

• #18

back when my daughter was born I was given a carseat (australian safe n sound) which only RF to 26lbs.....another carseat I was looking (and did eventually get) was the cosco scenera.

the aussie seat does tether but has a low RF weight limit
the cosco doesnt tether RF but has a RF weight limit of 35lbs.

if we hadnt of been given the aussie seat I likely would have bought the cosco earlier simply because at the time it was only the higher RF carseats that was within our budget