https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 27 Jun 2026 18:01:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2769098 Tue, 22 Aug 2017 05:35:48 +0000 catgirl 2769098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maddyz: you can contact Jeep to possibly have top tether anchors retrofitted. If you are interested in doing that I would do so as soon as possible because many car manufacturers are running out of the pieces. Although, 2001 was when top tethers were required so I'm suprised you don't have them. Lower anchors weren't required until 2002.</p> <p>Most car seat brands encourage tether usage in the manual, and some require it for certain weight brackets. But there is no across the board legal requirement for tether usage in the US. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2769085 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 22:43:02 +0000 maddyz 2769085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought the top tether was required on all forward facing car seats made after 2003 which is when cars started to have them. We often drive by 2001 Jeep with no latch and ds1 is rear facing on that car because there are no tethers. I don't mind letting him rear facing but or two kids have to be right next to each other and they poke at each other too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2769039 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 17:26:07 +0000 Foodnerd81 2769039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: I was really surprised when I saw it wasn't required on our Britax seat until 65 lbs! But I will continue to do it since it's safer and it's there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2769036 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 16:34:26 +0000 birdofafeather 2769036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always top tether. Install instructions include it and don't think it's optional. If I'm going to use the seat, I'm going to use every safety feature included. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768912 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 09:48:35 +0000 Jennibenni 2768912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Good to know, thanks! My seat is out of the car right now so I will do a better job when putting it back in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768899 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 08:53:10 +0000 Alivoo01 2768899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Our seat is pretty secure sans tether, but didn't know you didn't have to tighten the tether strap like crazy. We do to ours and it's leaving not so nice indentation marks in our leather seats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768875 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 05:38:43 +0000 catgirl 2768875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just want to add though - the tether shouldn't help get a more secure fit. The seat should be properly installed before attaching the tether. Once the tether is attached you only have to remove the slack from it, not tighten it to an extreme. If you feel the seat is only in securely because of the tether I would double check your install. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768874 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 05:36:03 +0000 catgirl 2768874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While it is not legally required on all seats in the US it is highly recommended. (It is legally required in Canada.) It helps keep the seat 4-6 inches back in a crash - which can generally prevent the seat and child from hitting the back of the front seat. </p> <p><a href="https://csftl.org/why-tethering-is-so-important/" rel="nofollow">https://csftl.org/why-tethering-is-so-important/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768872 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 04:25:02 +0000 Jennibenni 2768872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The tether is required for forward facing in the seat we have. I agree that it definitely makes the seat fit better and fee more secure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768868 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 23:34:51 +0000 PinkElephant 2768868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: if you release the seat from LATCH or the vehicle belt first, it should make undoing the tether a lot easier bc you'll get more slack in the tether strap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768865 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 23:26:23 +0000 Foodnerd81 2768865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: the only reason I wouldn't use it is it's annoying when we switch the seats to another car. Not really a big deal just an extra annoyance. As long as it is in fact safer I will keep doing it though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768863 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 23:17:34 +0000 Kemma 2768863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>as far as I understand the tether is highly recommended and I would use one if it was available. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768859 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 22:58:57 +0000 PinkElephant 2768859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I've always used it. Like you, I've never even considered that it might be optional. Personally, I feel like our Maxi Cosi Pria gets a much tighter fit in the car with the tether. I can't think of any reason not to use it - it doesn't inconvenience me in any way or obstruct anything else in the car, since it tethers to the back of the seat it rests on. Maybe if it had to tether to the floor to f the trunk so that the strap was in the way, I wouldn't want to? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ff-car-seat-and-tether#post-2768857 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 22:02:11 +0000 Foodnerd81 2768857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you use the tether for your FF convertible or harness to booster? </p> <p>I always thought it was required for forward facing seats, but was talking to some friends who have never. Looked it up and got our Britax combo seat it's not required until the child reaches 65 lbs- which won't be for years! </p> <p>Are there added safety benefits well below that weight? Or can I just tuck it away until she's bigger? </p>