Check your carseat installation

I just thought I would remind everyone to check the weight limit on the LATCH anchors in their cars. We just switched from LATCH installation to seat belt installation because Ryan weighs more than the LATCH in our car is rated for. You can usually find the information in your car manual.

 

Thank you so much for this! I had no idea there was a weight limit on them. I'm sure my girls are nowhere near it, but I'll be sure the check the manual.

 

I believe for most cars the standard weight limit is 40 pounds??

 

Just curious what the weight limit is in your car.

 

My carseats (all of them) say 48 lbs (I use the belt at 40). My car manual says "see carseat manufacturer information". I prefer to err on the side of caution.

 

Does anyone use both LATCH & the seat belt? I can't see how it could hurt but I am always leery of not following the exact instructions.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I will be going to read my manual on my Odyssey this afternoon. The boy is definitely 40 lbs. At the rate my daughter is going, she won't hit 40 lbs until she is 9 or 10.

 

I have a Honda CRV and I think the LATCH limit is 40 lbs. I think that is the limit on all Hondas.

 

Thanks! YAY! One more task for this weekend!

 

QUOTE(BellaRissa @ Jan 29 2009, 02:29 PM) [snapback]1167884[/snapback]
Does anyone use both LATCH & the seat belt? I can't see how it could hurt but I am always leery of not following the exact instructions.


Actually, instructions say to ONLY use one or the other. Using both can cause stress fractures in the plastic, because the stress isn't distributed properly.

 

48 for my seats, but they're all on belt ... no LATCH in this pretty old car?!

 

QUOTE(Mom2SofieAndTwins @ Jan 29 2009, 05:34 PM) [snapback]1168289[/snapback]
48 for my seats, but they're all on belt ... no LATCH in this pretty old car?!


I just want to clarify that this isn't related to the weight limit on the car seats, but rather the LATCH anchors on the specific car.

 

Thanks for posting this! What a good reminder to keep current with our kids' weights and car seat "rules"!

We have a Toyota Sienna - and from what I've researched, Toyota refers to the car seat safety manual - so for a Britax, you are supposed to quit using LATCH at 48lbs.

 

I had NO idea there was a limit! Thanks. I will check ours out, since Ben is over 40 pounds.

 

Thanks for posting this, mine aren't near the weight limit yet but we will be sure to check it out!

 

Honda latch limits are 40 lbs.

 

Good to know. We're not in LATCH any more either because they are in the rear of the Odyssey that only has one LATCH. But, it's always good to get that info for the future.

 

This is a good point about the weight limit on lower latch anchors.

Just wanted to also reminder people that that you should ALWAYS use the car seat's tether (the T in "LATCH") -- whether you are installing the seat with the lower latch anchors or the seat belt.

 

This is precisely why I dislike the you tube video floating out there about keeping your child in a 5-pt harness until they are able to use just the belt (without a booster). It stems from a young boy being thrown from the vehicle after the seatbelt holding him into his booster failed. But it's all irrelevant if you can't use the LATCH past 48 lbs anyways. Does that make sense?