Tether requirements

sb518 · May 7, 2013

If a tether isn't required until the child reaches 65lbs, is that because the seat won't pass without it? Is tethering the same seat for a 35lb kiddo still significantly beneficial?

I just ask because I ordered a Frontier 90 for DD who is ~31lbs. It's going to be uninstalled/reinstalled in another car quite a bit during the summer. I was going to put her in a booster as a spare as I couldn't fathom continually uninstalling/reinstalling her seat in the heat (which significantly disables me)

So anyway, then this brilliant seat came out and solved my problems!!! Just wondering if it I need to tether the seat every single time, or is it not a big deal for a smaller child who is just riding a few blocks? I will attach it if I have the energy to do it, simply because its habit. But in the case I can't. It's not going to be a huge risk factor is it?

ketchupqueen · May 7, 2013

I would do it whenever possible, but at a higher weight you have more force which leads to higher excursion. And, a heavier child is usually taller, leading to more torque. A smaller, lighter child, THEORETICALLY, is not at as much risk for excessive head excursion when a tether is not available. When accessible, I would ALWAYS use it, if it's not accessible, for a few blocks I might not sweat it with a child that size. At her age it's way safer than a booster with or without tether, but a tether is always safER.

I do feel better with a seat with the SafeCell untethered than one without. I've seen their crash test videos and they are impressive.

joolsplus3 · May 7, 2013

Looks like that seat came out at just the right time for the wee bug

sb518 · May 7, 2013

joolsplus3 said:
Looks like that seat came out at just the right time for the wee bug

Yes! Thanks, ladies! I will tether majority of the time and always in my own car, but good to know.

safeinthecar · May 8, 2013

the 65# thing is because the car seat standards cover kids up to 65#. The standards prohibit making a tether mandatory and have to allow for tetherless installation. At 65#, the standard no longer applies, so they can make it mandatory.

Brigala · May 8, 2013

^^ To clarify, they are both correct. Part of it is the "standards" which don't apply above 65 lbs, and part of it is the fact that the heavier the child is, the more important the tether becomes.

I would also make a serious effort to tether whenever a tether anchor is available. At the same time, I'd be comfortable with a 35 lb child using the seat if no tether anchor is available, and I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

safeinthecar · May 8, 2013

Brigala said:
^^ To clarify, they are both correct. Part of it is the "standards" which don't apply above 65 lbs, and part of it is the fact that the heavier the child is, the more important the tether becomes.

I was explaining why the tether is optional at lower weights, not commenting on the level of importance at any weight. Tether use at all weights is equally important, to the point where even babies as young as 6 months have remarkably high survival rates in ffing seats as long as they are tethered. (See Australia stats) Chances of head contact do increase as the size of the child increases, but serious head injury occurs even without head contact, and the younger the child (and presumably this means smaller also) the greater the chance of serious head injury without contact-due to skeletal maturity.

Brigala · May 9, 2013

In no way do I mean to imply that it's unimportant for smaller children.

I was just pointing out that there were two different answers to the question, and both answers are valid.

Tether requirements

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