Car seat top tether: what it does, where the anchor is
The strap at the top of a forward-facing seat is the step most often left dangling. It takes a minute to clip in, and both the AAP and seat makers say to use it.
A top tether is a strap that runs from the top of a forward-facing car seat to an anchor in your vehicle. It keeps the seat and your child's head from moving too far forward in a crash or sudden stop. Use it every time the seat faces forward, with the seat belt or the lower anchors.
What does a car seat top tether do?
The American Academy of Pediatrics describes it plainly on HealthyChildren.org: a tether is a strap attached to the top part of a car safety seat that holds the seat tightly by connecting to an anchor point in your vehicle. The AAP says tethers give important extra protection by keeping the seat and your child's head from moving too far forward. Chicco says the same thing in fewer words: the top tether reduces forward movement in a collision.
It is a separate piece from the lower anchors. Britax points out that the tether is not considered part of the lower anchor system, and that unlike the lower anchor attachments, the tether may be used when the seat is installed with the vehicle seat belt. Lower anchors are one way to hold the seat down. The tether is an extra on top of either method.
| Question | Top tether | Lower anchors |
|---|---|---|
| Where it attaches on the seat | Upper back of the car seat | Base of the seat, at the belt path |
| Where it attaches in the car | Behind the seat, roof, floor or rear shelf | Where the seat cushions meet |
| Used with a seat belt install? | Yes | No, unless both manuals allow it |
| Forward-facing harnessed seat | Always, per the AAP | One of two install options |
| Weight cap | Tether anchor limit in your manuals | See LATCH weight limits |
Do you need to use the top tether on a forward-facing car seat?
Yes. The AAP says the top tether should always be used with a forward-facing seat, whether you use the seat belt or lower anchors to secure it. Chicco says to always use it when installing a forward-facing seat. Britax strongly recommends it for its forward-facing harnessed seats in the U.S., and notes it is required in Canada.
What if your seating position has no tether anchor at all? Britax says some manufacturers strongly recommend tether use while others require it, so check your seat's user guide to confirm whether it can be used in a spot without one. If the manual says no, move the seat.
Where is the tether anchor in my car?
Behind the seat you are installing in, but the exact spot depends on the body style. The AAP's installation page says tether anchors sit on the panel behind the seat in sedans, and on the back of the seat, ceiling or floor in most minivans, SUVs, hatchbacks and pickup trucks. Britax lists the shelf behind the rear seat, the back of the vehicle seat or the roof. Both point you to the vehicle owner's manual for your car's exact locations.
Age of the car matters too. The AAP says all new cars, minivans and light trucks have been required to have tether anchors since September 2000, and all forward-facing car seats have tethers or tether connectors that fasten to them. On the seat itself, Britax says the tether lives on the upper back part of the seat.
How do you attach and tighten a top tether?
Chicco's steps are short. Locate the tether anchor using your vehicle's manual, attach the tether hook, and tighten the strap to remove slack. Do it with either install method. A tether left loose is not doing its job.
When the seat is rear-facing and the tether is not in use, Britax says to store the excess webbing in the attached elastic strap so it stays out of the way and ready for later.
Can you use a top tether rear-facing?
Only if your seat's manual says so. Britax is specific about its own line: the Galaxy360 is the only Britax seat that permits tether use rear-facing, and on its other convertible and all-in-one seats the top tether is not designed to be used rear-facing. Other brands set their own rules, so read your manual rather than borrowing a friend's routine.
When do you stop using the top tether?
When your child reaches the tether anchor's top weight limit. The AAP says a tether should always be used as long as your child has not reached that limit, and to check both the car seat instructions and the vehicle owner's manual for it. The vehicle manual lists the highest child weight allowed for the top tether. Once a child moves to a booster, things change. The AAP says most boosters simply rest on the vehicle seat, though some can be secured with lower anchors and a tether; if yours has them, follow its manual. The harness-to-booster timing is covered in when to switch to a booster.
Two manuals, every time. Your car seat manual says whether and how to tether. Your vehicle manual says where the anchors are and their weight limit. If they seem to disagree, call the manufacturers. Our disclaimer explains why the label and manual outrank any guide, ours included.
The rest of the install, from locking the belt to the one-inch test, is in LATCH vs seat belt. And before you tighten anything, run the seat through the SeatCheck checker to confirm it has not expired.