Carseat How-To: Tethering A Forward-Facing Harnessed Carseat

Top tethers are the least-used safety device on a carseat, yet they can provide an enormous safety benefit in a crash. In most passenger vehicles (pickup trucks are an exception), tethers are exceedingly easy to use, so why don't parents and caregivers use them more?
In this video, I show you how easy it is to connect your forward-facing carseat's tether to a tether anchor. Hopefully it takes some of the mystery out of that strap on the back for you! Still have a question? Ask below ⬇️

[@stefedwards3213]

My car seat does not have a top tether strap ( I live in Asia and regulations are different). Is it possible to buy and add a top tether strap? I cannot find any information on this, I would really appreciate any help 😵‍💫

[@CarSeatSite]

@stefedwards3213 Try contacting the car seat manufacturer and see if they offer a top tether for sale as an accessory. Also make sure your vehicle has a top tether anchor since cargo hooks/rings aren’t capable of withstanding the crash forces a tether would put on them. You may be able to retrofit an anchor if the vehicle manufacturer allows it. Good luck!

[@alanmcdonald6272]

Legal dad sent me to help you. I also need help with car seats so win win.

[@CarSeatSite]

Awesome! Welcome!

[@michellecoffey7410]

Legaldad sent me! I actually keep a phillips head screwdriver in my car for loosening it when I remove my car seats to make it easier (i’m an auntie, not a mom)

[@CarSeatSite]

Thanks for coming! Loosening what up?

[@jjmcwill2007]

Have you seen tether points in the car's ceiling behind the rear seat? My older Rav4 seemed to have this.

[@CarSeatSite]

I have! They're not terribly common, but they are in some wagons and smaller SUVs, usually for the center seating position. You should check your owner's manual (online if you don't have a book version anymore) to see how to attach the tether because in some vehicles, you may have to give the tether a half twist before attaching it.

[@honeybadgerslayer8858]

How do you lose that strap? I’m having a hard time

[@CarSeatSite]

@Honeybadgerslayer On most car seats, the tether strap is loosened by pressing down and away from the strap on the metal thumb piece on the latchplate that’s on the tether. If the tether is really tight, this will be harder to do.

[@genevarena]

I’ve never ever been able to pull a tether strap that easily. 😮 they don’t slide that easily

[@CarSeatSite]

@Rena Brown I wonder if it has to do with the angle the latchplate on the tether is at? I've had some that are harder to pull when they're at an odd angle to the carseat.

[@AllisonGreenheartswax]

Yeah how in the world is that easy? It doesn’t tighten easily whatsoever. Pulled with all our might literally moving the parked car and it doesn’t get tight enough

[@CarSeatSite]

@@AllisonGreenheartswax What type of vehicle and which carseat? I've had harder tethers with shorter distances, such as with sedans. Trucks can be difficult to pull tethers tight in as well.