LATCH and Top Tether questions

lovemybabybug

New member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #1

My friend went on a seat check and the police officer told her she can't use the lower anchors if she isn't top tethering the seat. Is that correct? She uses the top tether most of the time but sometimes she unhooks it when she needs to load stuff in the cargo and switches to seatbelt install which is less than ideal because she never tightens it enough.

 

T4K

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #2

Uh no.

 

lovemybabybug

New member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #3

Yeah though so. I though that was weird but since I have no latch in my car and have never had to use it I wanted to make sure.

 

creideamh

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #4

For a FF seat? What that police officer said was what we were taught in our class (Lower Anchors AND Tethers for Children, but TA not required with a SB install)... wouldn't surprise me if we were taught wrong, though.

 

kelkel2090

CPST Instructor

• Aug 20, 2012

• #5

creideamh said:

For a FF seat? What that police officer said was what we were taught in our class (Lower Anchors AND Tethers for Children, but TA not required with a SB install)... wouldn't surprise me if we were taught wrong, though.

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Well if you were then so was I. We were told ALWAYS both when using LATCH, and top tether is encouraged but not required using seatbelt install.

 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants

• Aug 20, 2012

• #6

As always, she needs to read her manual. I think some seats require top tether with lower anchors.

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Aug 20, 2012

• #7

carseatcoach said:

As always, she needs to read her manual. I think some seats require top tether with lower anchors.

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Agreed.

 

cookie123

New member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #8

I thought top tethers were required with lower anchors.

 

MommaKellie

New member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #9

What I'm thinking is that he misunderstood," NEVER use a seat belt AND LATCH together".

*doh*

 

A

alex9179

New member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #10

cookie123 said:

I thought top tethers were required with lower anchors.

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I thought that was true for FF, as well, but I've never taken the classes. The officer told her the same thing that's recommended here.

If the kid is RF, then it's seat dependent as noted by carseatcoach.

Aaaah, there is a lot to learn!

 

creideamh

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #11

cookie123 said:

I thought top tethers were required with lower anchors.

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Yeah, exactly. Our teachers almost beat it into our heads that top tether is INCLUDED in the name "LATCH", so you MUST use it if you choose to install with the lower anchors. If you don't want to use a top tether, you install with the seatbelt.
I've never actually seen it written "REQUIRED!" in any car manual, though. And obviously, I always TT FF seats, so it's very possible I missed the "REQUIRED!" (or not) in car seat manuals.

 

cookie123

New member

• Aug 21, 2012

• #12

cookie123 said:

I thought top tethers were required with lower anchors.

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Just clarifying that I meant with a forward facing seat.

 

KaysKidz

Senior Community Member

• Aug 21, 2012

• #13

I think there are a couple of exceptions (convertible cars) that don't have TT, but have lower anchors. Otherwise, it has always been my understanding that if you use lower anchors, you use a top tether. That's why if you have lower anchors, you always have a TT (except the noted exceptions above) in that seating location, but just because you have a TT, doesn't mean you always have lower anchors (even in a new car). I have 2 TT in my '11, without lower anchors...but my 2 spots with lower anchors have TT.