car seat questions

Ok, we have a 2004 Ford Explorer that has LATCH, but only in the two outside seats. The middle seat is not LATCH equipped. We have 3 carseats. 2 convertible, and right now one infant, soon to be 3 convertible all the way across...

All 3 will remain rear facing for a good while longer, so we don't have to worry about the Tether, YET..... But here's my question: When we do turn them forward facing, the LATCH says that you must use the tether for it to wor properly. How will we do that with the seat that's in the middle??? Do we have to have that seat retro-fitted, or how do you properly install the carseat w/o using LATCH??

I will most likely take it by the Fire Department and have them look at it, I was just curious what you all thought or how you installed your carseat w/o using the LATCH system...

 

I would use the seat belts as your safety net (which is the point of the tether).

 

Since the middle seat is not latch, there is no anchor (tether) spot in the back. I would just use the seat belt. We have installed car seats in almost every car we have used the seats in using a seat belt due to wanting to get another person in the car with them. (including in the mini-van, since the third row only has latch in the middle)

 

Our car (97 Subaru wagon) does not have LATCH at all, and we just use the seatbelts. I think the instructions mean that if you are using LATCH, then you must use the tether. But if your car doesn't have LATCH (or doesn't have it in that seat), it doesn't have a tether either -- therefore, that instruction doesn't apply, and you follow the instructions for using seatbelts instead.

 

I agree with the PP... also remember that the LATCH system has a weight limit (on my Britax seats it is 48 lbs). I didn't check how old your twins are, my son is almost 4 and too big to use latch anymore. JAT for you.

 

We use latch in our car in the second row but we dont have a spot for the tether.
I also had NO IDEA that latch had a weight limit....
I read my manual and NEVER saw that in there.

Also didnt see anything that said if you use latch you have to use a tether.

I do know you are not supposed to use latch and a seat belt at the same time though.

 

QUOTE(nikki_0724 @ Nov 23 2008, 08:50 AM) [snapback]1083197[/snapback]
We use latch in our car in the second row but we dont have a spot for the tether.
I also had NO IDEA that latch had a weight limit....
I read my manual and NEVER saw that in there.

Also didnt see anything that said if you use latch you have to use a tether.

I do know you are not supposed to use latch and a seat belt at the same time though.


The LATCH warning I am speaking of is printed on the side of my Britax carseats (and in the manual).

LATCH and the tether are for forward facing so the carseat doesn't flop/fall face down in an accident.

 

I would def take it by the fire dept....ours is great with seatbelts/carseats.

My 2002 truck doesn't have LATCH (we thought it did) but it does have a place for tethers. So we just use the seatbelts and the tether anchor.....they're pretty secure.