The importance of the top tether

According to a survey conducted in 2006 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only about half of the child safety seats installed in a vehicle equipped with an upper anchor were actually attached to the vehicle using a top tether, mainly because people didn't know how to use it or didn't think it was important. (See two different tether anchors, pictured below.) We tested all of our convertible seats with and without top tethers in forward-facing orientations, and got significantly lower injury data with the top tether attached.

• Top tethers significantly reduce a child's potential for head and other injuries.
• Top tethers, when available, should always be attached, whether the seat is installed with the seatbelts or LATCH.

If your vehicle is old enough that it didn't come equipped with a top tether anchor (many cars manufactured before 2002 don't have them), inquire with your dealer about getting one installed.