If you have a vehicle made after September 1, 2002, it’s safe to assume that it includes the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system for installing a child safety seat (or car seat). It’s been mandatory in all passenger vehicles made since then, other than convertible sports cars and school buses. For simplicity’s sake, we will assume you have a regular vehicle made for child passengers sometime in the last 22 years. The LATCH system was designed to make the installation of car seats in vehicles simple and straightforward, though there are still plenty of important things you need to know when installing such a seat. We’re going to look at what the LATCH system is, how it makes things simple, and some points to keep in mind when choosing the right child safety seat for your little bundle of joy.
What Is the LATCH System?
The LATCH system was designed to create a new, simple standard for installing child safety seats into vehicles. Before this, seats were installed by connecting to the seat belts. While that’s still an option, the LATCH system creates something that is often simpler to get right. This system consists of two main elements in a vehicle:
- Lower Anchors: The “LA” in LATCH refers to lower anchor points installed in vehicles when they are manufactured. These are found at the base of the seat where the seat cushion and back meet, and look like small metal bars. Passenger vehicles must have these for at least two positions in the rear seats, typically one set for the left seat and separate anchors for the right.
- Top Tether Anchors: The “T” in LATCH refers to a top tether anchor point that can be located in many positions, depending on your vehicle. You’ll find the top tether anchor point behind the back seat under your rear window if you have a sedan. Other vehicles like SUVs can have them in different locations, including on the back of the rear seats, on the floor behind the seats, and even on the ceiling of your vehicle.
Along with these main parts of the LATCH system, the other important element is that child safety seats have straps designed to connect to these points. You’ll find lower anchor straps with a hook or buckle on each side of a car seat. These connect to a lower anchor point, one on each side. Then a top tether strap connects to the top anchor point. This one is absolutely vital because it keeps the car seat from flying forward under sudden braking or in a collision. You should check the manual for your vehicle and car seat to see exactly how it installs, but you’ll essentially get the seat in place, pushed down and back into the seat, and then secure the lower straps and top tether to their corresponding anchors in the vehicle.
When done properly, there should be a little bit of give or wiggle in the seat from side to side and front to back, but not much. The seat should not be able to move more than an inch in any direction if installed correctly. Another key thing to note is that only one child seat should ever be attached to one anchor. They are not for sharing. Forward-facing seats should always have that top tether attached, though you won’t typically find them on rear-facing seats. Also, please note that rear-facing seats should never be installed in the front seat. They should only be installed in the rear. Forward-facing seats and booster seats are also best kept in the back seat.
Does the LATCH System Replace Seat Belt Installation?
While the LATCH system is designed to replace the old method of using a seat belt to install them, you can still typically install a child seat safely into a vehicle using the available seat belt connections. There might be some car seats out there that only use the LATCH system, but all the ones I’ve seen allow for both. The key, however, is that you should only use one system when installing the seat. Choose to utilize the LATCH anchors and system or the seat belts, but not both. Finally, if you are even a little bit uncertain about whether you’ve installed a child seat correctly, please have a certified technician inspect it to be sure everything is good. You’ll find certified folks at most children’s hospitals, fire departments, and even police departments. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a simple tool to find someone in your area.
How Do You Choose the Right Child Safety Seat?
There are three setups for child safety seats available. The right one depends on your child’s size, including their height and weight. Your child’s age is a good general guideline, but the actual rules come down to safe height and weight limits, so check the manual and information for your child seat. The three types and guidelines to keep in mind are:
- Rear-Facing Car Seat: This is the starter position and should always be used throughout the first year of a child’s life. In general, it is a good idea to keep your child in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible. A convertible or all-in-one seat in a rear-facing position is ideal for children between one and three years old.
- Forward-Facing Car Seat: Typically your best choice for a child older than one until the age of seven, forward-facing seats ensure your little one is secure. Convertible, all-in-one, and combination seats are ideal and let you use one seat in different configurations for as long as possible.
- Booster Seat: Once a child grows beyond height and weight limits for a forward-facing seat, a booster seat is the right choice until they are 12. A booster seat in the back is the best choice to protect your young one until they grow enough that a seat belt properly fits across their lap, not their stomach, and then they can ditch the booster.
Please be careful and ensure you have the right kind of safety seat for your child. I know it can seem silly to have a kid in a booster seat at a certain point as they get older, especially if they start complaining about having to sit in it. But your child’s safety is far more important than whether or not they got the rizz when you’re on the road.
Keep Your Child Safe on the Road
The LATCH system is ultimately just one more tool available to you designed to help keep your children safer. More than anything else, what’s essential is that you choose the right type of child safety seat, configure it properly for your child’s height and weight, and install it correctly, whether you use the LATCH system or the seat belts. No one likes to think about or imagine getting into a crash, particularly the idea of a collision when you have a small child in your vehicle. But being prepared and doing everything you can to keep your child safe and secure within your vehicle is far better than simply hoping for the best. If you are unsure how to properly install a seat in your vehicle, please get help from a certified technician who is more than happy to ensure your child is as safe as possible.
