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| Home > General > Child Safety: LATCH & What You Need To Know |
| Child Safety: LATCH & What You Need To Know | | Date Created: Jan 01, 2007, 11:12 PM |
What is the LATCH system?
The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system is standard equipment at certain seating positions on all General Motors passenger vehicles manufactured after August 2002. The LATCH system is designed to simplify child safety seat installation by making it unnecessary to use the vehicle?s seat belts to secure the restraint. Instead, it uses vehicle anchors and child restraint attachments to do this. The LATCH system is required on all child seats (except car beds, booster seats and vests) and vehicles manufactured after August 2002.
How does LATCH work?
LATCH-equipped vehicles have three anchors. One of these is the top tether anchor. The other two anchors are between the vehicle?s seat cushion and seatback. LATCH-equipped child seats have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child seats also have a top strap, or tether, that attaches to a top tether anchor.
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 How do I install a LATCH-equipped child seat?
Rear-facing LATCH seat (Fig 1) Always read and follow your child safety seat and vehicle owner?s manuals for proper use and installation.
The following steps are typical ones, but they may or may not apply to your child restraint and your particular vehicle. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your restraint and vehicle.
1 Check to ensure that the harness straps are in the lower slots (they should be at or below baby?s shoulders)
2 Adjust seat to most reclined position
3 Locate the lower LATCH attachments
4 Hook the LATCH attachments to the vehicle anchors
5 Push to assure that the child seat is pressed against the vehicle seat back
6 Put your body weight into the child safety seat, then pull the excess webbing from the attachment straps
7 Check for secure fit by placing your hands on the child safety seat, near the base of the child safety seat (near the LATCH attachment), and pull. The child safety seat should not move more than an inch forward or sideways
8 Recline the rear-facing child safety seat enough so your child's head rests flat against the child safety seat's shell, according to manufacturer's instructions
9 Some child safety seats have built-in recline adjusters. If not, a firmly rolled towel or other soft material may help achieve the correct angle
10 Remember, once the seat is properly installed, the child must be secured properly within the restraint itself. Refer to the vehicle and child restraint owner?s manuals |
 Forward-facing LATCH seat (Fig 2)
Always read and follow your child safety seat and vehicle owner?s manuals for proper use and installation. The following steps are typical ones, but they may or may not apply to your child restraint and your particular vehicle. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your restraint and vehicle.
1 Check to ensure that harness straps are at or above child?s shoulders (for most convertible seats harness straps should be in uppermost slots ? read manufacturer?s instructions)
2 Adjust seat to upright or semi-reclined position according to manufacturer?s instructions
3 Locate the lower LATCH attachments
4 Hook the LATCH attachments to the vehicle anchors
5 Put your body weight into the child safety seat, then pull the excess webbing from the attachment straps
6 Attach child safety seat tether strap to the vehicle?s top tether anchor, located on the window shelf, floor or back of the vehicle seat, and pull excess webbing to tighten
7 Check for secure fit by placing your hands on the child safety seat, near the base of the child safety seat (near the LATCH attachments), and pull. The child safety seat should not move more than an inch forward or sideways
8 Remember, once the seat is properly installed, the child must be secured properly within the restraint itself. Refer to the vehicle and child restraint owner?s manuals |
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child seat isn?t LATCH-equipped?
Some child seats are able to use a retrofit kit. If your child seat does not have either the LATCH system or a retrofit kit, then it must be secured using seat belts, even in a LATCH-equipped vehicle.
What if my vehicle isn?t LATCH-equipped?
All child seats, even those with LATCH, can be secured using the vehicle?s seat belts and, if available, a top anchor, following the vehicle owner's manual and child seat instructions. All vehicles and most child restraints manufactured after August 2002 are required to have the LATCH system.
Where can I find information on using the LATCH system?
Both the vehicle owner?s manual and the instructions that come with the child restraint contain specific information about securing the restraint to the vehicle. Each is important, so if either one is not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Also, a description and illustration of the system are available
at www.gmability.com or in English and Spanish at www.ourpreciouscargo.com
Do GM vehicles have features to help secure older children?
Most GM vehicles have a Comfort Guide in the rear-outboard seating positions. The Comfort Guide is a clip-on elastic tether that pulls the shoulder portion of the seat belt away from the neck of smaller occupants sitting in the rear, outboard seating positions. The Comfort Guide better positions the shoulder belt away from the neck and head.
Which restraint is appropriate for children?
Rear-facing child restraints are designed for infants up to at least 20 pounds, around 19 to 26 inches in height and up to at least one year of age. Forward-facing child seats are designed to help protect children at least one year of age, who weigh between 20 and 40 pounds or more and are about 26 to 40 inches in height, or up to around four years of age. Booster seats are designed for use by children who are about 40 to 80 pounds or more and about four to eight years of age. Older children who have outgrown booster seats should properly wear the vehicle?s safety belts. |
Please Remember
Crash statistics show that children are safer if they are properly restrained in a rear seat. Children in a rear-facing child restraint must NEVER ride in front of an active frontal air bag. If a forward-facing child seat must be secured in a vehicle?s right front seat, the seat should be moved back as far as possible, but it is better to secure the restraint in a rear seat. GM urges everyone to buckle up ? every time on every trip. It?s the right thing to do because it saves lives. |
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