Safe Child Car Seat Latches
Car Seats can be hard and frustrating to install. The straps and harnesses make it very confusing! However, most vehicles after Sept, 2002 are equipped with a latch system. Latch means Lower Anchors and Tethers for children. It is really the equipment to allow car seats to connect easily and safely inside your vehicles. With a car seat latch system you don’t have to wrestle with a shoulder, lap belt of your car. You just have to clip a couple of hooks and you are done. Unfortunately, 80% of seats are installed incorrectly. The latch system is the safest method to attach the seat to the middle of the back seat and is better than the safety belts. However, latches in most cars before 2008 are not designed to be used in a vehicle in the back seat. In fact, if you look at your car you may notice that the latches are too far apart to be able to place the seat in the middle. The tether is a strap made of the seat belt material with a clip. It attaches to the clips on the seat and secures front facing seats in case of an accident. Rear-facing car seats must have lower Latch attachments. Other seats like forward facing and convertible must have lower Latch attachments and also have a top tether strap. Convertible seats are designed to work in both rear and forward positions. When you are installing your seat makes sure that:-you feed the seat belt through the guides. -pull out the slack. -switch into the retractable mode. The latch system does not recommend a specific brand of safe car seat and you don’t have to get a latch equipped seat in place of an old one. This system is designed as an alternative for parents. However, the U. S. is the first country to adopt the universal, uniform anchor system. The standard includes the Lower Anchors and Tethers system. This is not only great for parents but caregivers too! You can be sure that your seat is installed securely. Make sure you check your vehicle and if you are buying a new car make sure it can take the Latch system. It is important to know that our children are being protected. The U. S. has the right idea and now the rest of the world needs to catch up.
