Car Seat Tethers

[G]

So my new E550 Cabriolet does not have any top tether anchors for a forward facing car seat but it does have the LATCH system. Is it mandatory to tether all forward facing car seats? I read on some sites that convertibles are exempt from needing tether anchors but I cannot find a definitive answer any where for Alberta. I think my car doesn't have the anchors because the head rest moves and is used as a roll bar. You would think Mercedes would have worked around the design to put them in if it was required by law? Does anyone know the exact rules? I have a MDX that we use majority of the time but it would be nice to be able to drive over to grandma's house for dinner with the roof down in the summer and not break any laws. Thanks in advance.

[blitz]

Any option to tether to the seat frame behind the seat? My B200 has anchors halfway down the back of the seat, but lacking that looping it over the the floor (if you can access it) should work.

[Thaco]

yes the tether is required for forward facing when using the carseat harness.

talk to the dealer, they should be able to install one or give you some direction on installing it.

[ExtraSlow]

sometimes the tether anchor is hidden. Talk to your dealer, the car will have one or be able to have one fitted, that's a requirement to sell the car in this country.

[clem24]

Interesting that there really is no top tether in the car:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...at-check-.html

And according to Transport Canada, tethers aren't required in a convertibles:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/acts-regulat...h-iv-210.1.htm

There are no clear guidelines on what to do, so here's my take given the facts:

- Transport Canada says the tether MUST be used in all forward facing seats
- Transport Canada says convertibles are exempt from having tethers
- It is against the law to install an FF seat without a tether

Therefore it is illegal to install an FF seat in your car without a tether and you can be stopped and charged, unless the seat is being used as a booster. I'd also worry about the implications of being in an accident and insurance denying coverage on issues in the event something happens to the kid. I personally doubt safety is a huge issue since I believe seats are tested by manufacturers without the tether but that's just me talking out my ass.

An RF seat would have no issues in the car.

[G]

Thanks clem24. I found the information available very contradicting as well. I guess the little guy has to wait until he's in a booster....better safe than sorry.

[cycosis]

Certified car seat technician here, your convertible must be anchored by the top tether if you are using a 5 point harness. If it is a convertible highback booster, and the 5 point harness is not being used, then you disengage the top anchor.

Your vehicle's instruction manual will point out the locations of your anchors and it has been law that vehicle's must have them coming from the manufacturer for quite sometime.

Convertible vehicles pose a problem for anchors as the room immediately behind the vehicle's seat most likely moves to accommodate the drop roof. Thus you cannot install a convertible car seat in a convertible car properly.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[blairtruck]

at least ya got the convertible for 2 months of the year. kids dont need no tether.

[benyl]

Can't you just use the seat belt instead of the anchors?

[G]

Originally posted by cycosis
Certified car seat technician here, your convertible must be anchored by the top tether if you are using a 5 point harness. If it is a convertible highback booster, and the 5 point harness is not being used, then you disengage the top anchor.

Your vehicle's instruction manual will point out the locations of your anchors and it has been law that vehicle's must have them coming from the manufacturer for quite sometime.

Convertible vehicles pose a problem for anchors as the room immediately behind the vehicle's seat most likely moves to accommodate the drop roof. Thus you cannot install a convertible car seat in a convertible car properly.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks this is the answer I am finding most often.

[clem24]

Originally posted by benyl
Can't you just use the seat belt instead of the anchors?

You need to tether the top of the seat regardless of whether you use seatbelts or LATCH points.

[Thaco]

Originally posted by benyl
Can't you just use the seat belt instead of the anchors?

the tether is the one that goes up over the back of the seat and usually clips on to a spot on the rear deck, back of the seat, or floor behind the seat, that's required reguardless of if you use a seatbelt or the latches in the seats.

[benyl]

good to know. I always use Latch, but I know that you can use the seatbelt if the car doesn't have the latch points. Manual just says to use the seatbelt and thread it through the back.

[clem24]

Originally posted by benyl
good to know. I always use Latch, but I know that you can use the seatbelt if the car doesn't have the latch points. Manual just says to use the seatbelt and thread it through the back.

Some other things to keep in mind is that once your kid exceeds a certain weight (65lbs I think?) you have to use the Seatbelt to secure the seat as that exceeds the LATCH limit. I actually find the car seat belts are more convenient to use and provides just as tight a fitment as LATCH when done properly.

[rage2]

You guys put 65lb+ kids in a car seat? Wouldn't you use booster seats for a kid that big?

[G]

hahah over protective parenting.

[jonnycat]

Originally posted by rage2
You guys put 65lb+ kids in a car seat? Wouldn't you use booster seats for a kid that big?

Yeah I don't know how a 65lb kid and his legs would even fit comfortably in a FF car seat unless you have the new s class. Once my kid cracked the minimum booster seat requirement the FF's got tossed in the shed.

[rage2]

Alberta laws are nice in that it lets parents decide what to do after 40lbs. In other provinces such as BC, kids have to be in booster seats until they're 9 years old lol.

Booster seats are obviously necessary after FF car seats, but 9 years old is ridiculous.

[btimbit]

Originally posted by rage2
Alberta laws are nice in that it lets parents decide what to do after 40lbs. In other provinces such as BC, kids have to be in booster seats until they're 9 years old lol.

Booster seats are obviously necessary after FF car seats, but 9 years old is ridiculous.

Holy crap really? I don't think I was in one past the age of 4. 9 seems ridiculous.

[clem24]

Originally posted by G
hahah over protective parenting.

? I don't really consider SAFETY issues to be parenting.. If research shows RF is best for a kid right until they can't sit RF anymore, than that's what I will do (vs. AB laws that says kids can sit FF when they turn 1). Same with child seats.. If my kid fits in an FF, still adheres to guidelines set forth by the manufacturer, then yes, I will keep him in FF with a 5 point harness until I no longer can since it's the safest. How is that over-protective parenting?

Originally posted by rage2
Booster seats are obviously necessary after FF car seats, but 9 years old is ridiculous.

Yeah but if your kid still fits, the 5 point harness is still proven to be safest.. Why wouldn't you want that? Is there something that's socially or morally wrong or unacceptable with keeping a kid in FF seat for as long as possible?