Automotive Safety Program

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)

Correct Installation of Rear Facing Convertible Seat with LATCH

Correct Installation of Convertible Seat with LATCH

LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is a new way of installing child safety seats without using vehicle seat belts. As of September 2002, all new rear and forward facing child safety seats with harnesses and all new passenger vehicles are required to have LATCH. Child safety seats with LATCH have flexible or rigid anchors that attach to rigid anchors in the vehicle. The rigid anchors are located at the junction of the vehicle seat back and bottom.

Close up of flexible anchor on Child Safety Seat attached to rigid anchor in vehicle between the vehicle seat back and bottom.

Even if child safety seats are equipped with LATCH anchors, they must still be able to be installed with vehicle seat belts.

When installing most rear facing seats with LATCH, the lower anchors on the child safety seats are attached to the rigid anchors in the vehicles. When installing forward facing child safety seats with LATCH, the lower anchors on the child safety seats are attached to the rigid anchors in the vehicles and top tethers are attached to tether anchors in the vehicles.

Click on www.nhtsa.dot.gov for more information about tethers and LATCH. The resource manual “LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.2007” is a comprehensive resource on tethers and LATCH and provides details about specific child safety seats and vehicle manufacturers. For more information on the manual, contact 800-403-1424 or www.saferidenews.com.