incoming....

I climb in my carseat....:giggle to make sure it wont move once I buckle it.

I use the latch and tether. Pretty soon I'll probably add the seat belt since ds is getting bigger.

I climb in my carseat....:giggle to make sure it wont move once I buckle it.

ROFL!!! :lmao

Latch and Tether most of the time, if not, LATCH and Seatbelt.. and I too crawl in and put my weight on the seat while I tighten the straps.

I use the latch and tether. Pretty soon I'll probably add the seat belt since ds is getting bigger.

At the seat checks I've done, one of the certified checkers would put her knee in the seat and a little of her weight on it to make sure it was snug. Also they'd use pieces of swimming noodles as wedges to help get a snugger/better fit.

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I use the latch and tether. Pretty soon I'll probably add the seat belt since ds is getting bigger.


Same here.

Seatbelt and top tether. And I push my knee down in the middle of the seat to make sure that it is as tight as it can get. That thing doesn't budge.

(ETA: My car doesn't have the latch system or I'd probably be using that too! :))

I chose other because I don't currently have any children in carseats, but when I did I used seatbelt and tether. I didn't have a latch carseat back then. And I would also sit my rear in it to get it super tight. :lol

Seatbelt

Due the my little mastermind and knowing how to unbuckle the seatbelt, I'm going to have to start using the LATCH system plus top tether for both cars. Guess I'd better start reading the manual because it looks confusing as heck!

He keeps on unbuckling the main seatbelt once the car has parked and he unbuckles himself to reach it...

Latch and seatbelt, i used to also use top tether but my new car doesn't have it.

we have mini van, the latch carseat is in the middle back and I don't know how to use the tether on that seat, if anyone knows please tell me.

Latch and seatbelt, i used to also use top tether but my new car doesn't have it.

Your new car doesn't have a top tether? What kind is it?!

LATCH (which is total PIA in my car) and top tether.

Your new car doesn't have a top tether? What kind is it?!

Can you believe that? Some don't now. When dh was looking at cars we came across more than one that didn't. We looked at so many I can't remember which ones they were for the life of me, but it just seemed so strange that they wouldn't have it.

My son is in a booster seat now, which uses the seat belt only.
When he was smaller and in a carseat, I used both the seat belt and the Latch tether (the top one).

Can you believe that? Some don't now. When dh was looking at cars we came across more than one that didn't. We looked at so many I can't remember which ones they were for the life of me, but it just seemed so strange that they wouldn't have it.

I think it's crazy too!!!

We use a seatbelt and the top tether.

Latch and top tether. I'm pretty sure the manual for our car seats ( Britax Marathons) say to use either seat belt or latch but not both at the same time.

Latch and top tether. I'm pretty sure the manual for our car seats ( Britax Marathons) say to use either seat belt or latch but not both at the same time.

Thats what I have too, and I just use the latch on bith sides.

I know our carseat/booster thing says seatbelt or tether.....we use the tether. they feel sturdier and safer in there. We also use the latch on the floor of the explorer behind the seat. That booster seat won't move!!! It's buckled in tight! I really hate taking it out if we ride with other people.......I usually drive everywhere.

LATCH and seatbelt

LATCH and the top tether.

In our car, latch, seat, and top hook. In the truck just a seat belt. Pretty soon we will not be able to drive the truck as a family anymore.

just the LATCH.


FYI FOR THOSE USING THE LATCH AND SEATBELT UNDO ONE OR THE OTHER...it is NOT safe to have both done at the same time...here's a link
http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/f/LATCH_SB.htm

in the van i used the latch and tether.

At the seat checks I've done, one of the certified checkers would put her knee in the seat and a little of her weight on it to make sure it was snug. Also they'd use pieces of swimming noodles as wedges to help get a snugger/better fit.

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Thats what we did with Jerron's baby seat to get it to fit better in our car when he was a baby. I got alot of funny looks with my noodle in the car! :lol
Now since he is almost 5, he is just in the booster that buckles. He is getting so big!

Seatbelt *I too do the knee in the seat to make sure it's tight*....what is the top tether? When we had the latch system in our other car I used it then but our van doesn't have it.

You are not supposed to use the LATCH and seatbelt that can be just as dangerous as using neither. When you get in a wreck and have both you have no give and can break your child's neck.

I use my DH, so I dunno LOL

I chose other because I don't have kids yet, but when I had my friends car seat while I was watching her daughter for a while, I went to the fire station and had them hook it up. I honestly am not completely sure how they did it other than using the seatbelt but it worked well.

You are not supposed to use the LATCH and seatbelt that can be just as dangerous as using neither. When you get in a wreck and have both you have no give and can break your child's neck.

the britax instruction manual gives instructions to use both as an installation method

My Britax Marathon says NEVER use the LATCH system and the seat belt together.

I also found this
http://www.choa.org/default.aspx?id=464#9
Is LATCH safer than installing my child safety seat with a seat belt?
A properly installed car seat and a LATCH system, without the use of the tether, offer the same levels of protection in a crash. LATCH was developed for improved ease-of-use and correct installation without using vehicle seat belts. You should not use the LATCH and seat belt together.

duct tape and chicken wire (LATCH for 13 mo and seatbelt for the other one)

My Britax Marathon says NEVER use the LATCH system and the seat belt together.

I also found this
http://www.choa.org/default.aspx?id=464#9
Is LATCH safer than installing my child safety seat with a seat belt?
A properly installed car seat and a LATCH system, without the use of the tether, offer the same levels of protection in a crash. LATCH was developed for improved ease-of-use and correct installation without using vehicle seat belts. You should not use the LATCH and seat belt together.

hmm thanks. we have the blvd and dh installed it per the instructions for both :shrug i'll check out that link

When DD was in an infant seat I used both latch and seatbelt for the infant carrier base thing. I had a carseat tech look at it and she told me never to use both so I went to just latch.

In our current seat it depends on the vehicle. I've used it in three different ones. I try tether first and if that doesn't get it tight enough, we do seatbelt because I have a Graco Toddler Safe Seat which has an awesome seatbelt lock off thing so it's actually easier to get it tight using that.

I test both and go with whichever is tighter. I always use top-tether.

I've never heard of using the seat belt and the latch. I thought latch was supposed to replace the use of the seat belt when installing it in the car.

Cory uses only the seat belt and sits in a backless booster.
Lilys car seat is attached using the latch system and she buckles with the seatbelt. I've considered using the tether but John put her seat in the car and its so tight I can't unhook it. I didn't know my car even had tethers until 6 or so weeks ago.

What are the top tethers?

Seatbelt and top tether.

FYI FOR THOSE USING THE LATCH AND SEATBELT UNDO ONE OR THE OTHER...it is NOT safe to have both done at the same time...here's a link
http://babyproducts.about.com/od/car...f/LATCH_SB.htm

I had heard this before but couldn't figure out why. I was actually going to ask in this thread what will happen if you do use both, but that site answered my question. Thanks. Here's why that site says not to use both:

Putting two installation belts through the same belt path could put stress on the car seat shell from two different angles during a crash, causing breakage. Using two installation belts could also concentrate more crash force on a small area of the car seat.

We use the seatbelt. When we're visiting family or have a rental car that's equipped with LATCH, we use LATCH and the top tether.

Latch including the top tether. Like Sarah, I also climb in it to make sure it won't move:lol

I climb in my carseat....:giggle to make sure it wont move once I buckle it.

I do the same thing! I put all my weight in it while I tighten the latch system, so I can get it as tight as possible. That sucker doesn't move one inch when I'm done with it!

seatbelt, tether & latch. I jerk it from side to side to make sure its secure

Seatbelt and top tether. And I push my knee down in the middle of the seat to make sure that it is as tight as it can get. That thing doesn't budge.

(ETA: My car doesn't have the latch system or I'd probably be using that too! :))

i do the exact same thing!!

hmm thanks. we have the blvd and dh installed it per the instructions for both :shrug i'll check out that link

you should NEVER use both together...I'm sure it had instructions on how to do both of them, but didn't mean for them to be used together.

This video shows both kinds of instalation but none with both...if they say to use both I'd like to know because I'll personally make a phone call asking them why they're telling people incorrect information.

I use the latches and the top tether. I kneel in it when I'm tightening the latches to be sure it won't give, then I tighten the top tether from the back.