LATCH vs seatbelt

Kachinque · Feb 4, 2005

I have been asked by a friend whether a carseat attached with a LATCH tether etc is substantially safer than the same seat attached with the seatbelt?

Does anyone have comparitive crash test footage or something?

Thanks!

Victorious4 · Feb 4, 2005

I believe LATCH is an ease-of-use feature, simply meant to help create a more secure fit if doing so with the belt is difficult. At least 1 carseat I know of says that LATCH can only be used for up to 40 pounds, after which the seat must be installed using the belt....

Victorious4 · Feb 4, 2005

I think that might be true about using the top tether? But the lower anchor clips aren't necessarily safer than the seatbelt.... I have seen info about how a seat without the top tether hooked up can move forward more in a crash, causing whiplash to be worse, but I didn't save it, sorry

murphydog77 · Feb 4, 2005

A car seat properly installed with a seat belt is just as safe as a seat properly installed with LATCH. Properly installed means that the seat belt must be locked. If it's not locked, then it won't lock onto the seat until it "catches" in a sudden stop (this is technically called the emergency locking retractor). Some seat belts lock by being pulled out all the way slowly, other lock right at the latchplate. A car seat with a locked seat belt that moves less than 1" at the belt path is connected to the vehicle and will ride down the crash forces with the vehicle.

joolsplus3 · Feb 4, 2005

Do you think she saw this video/page? http://www.babytrend.com/physics101 2/Physics101.htm

It's pretty convincing that rigid latch is the only safe option, but since the company now sells flexible latch infant seats, clearly that's not the case.

Anyway, Heather's description was perfect, but your question made me think of this babytrend page....

Kachinque · Feb 5, 2005

Thanks for your responses! I'll ask her if that's where she got it from- it certainly seems to be exactly what she was saying. I suppose that LATCH is perhaps just better because you are more likely to install it properly. I certainly found it easier!

Thanks, again.

LATCH vs seatbelt

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