[ruthann8]

I like my Chicco Key Fit car seat, it is very easy to install with the LATCH anchors, you can do it one handed. So I have been looking for a bigger car seat. I want one that goes to a higher weight limit with 5 point harness. I am thinking of going with the Britax Boulevard or the Frontier.

But.....I have been warned that a vehicles LATCH anchor system has weight limits and you have to include both the weight of your child and the car seat. So you need to check your car manual for the weight limit. But it is not listed in my car manual. So I called my vehicles consumer assistance. At first the idiot guy had no idea what I was talking about. Once he figured out what I was trying to ask he said "the LATCH anchor system meets all minimum requirements"

Well what ARE the minimum requirements? Does anybody know? I am going to to an internet search to see if I can find the minimum requirements set by the US.

I wonder how many children are sitting in car seats that the LATCH anchor system may fail in an accident because of the weight.

[ruthann8]

Ok that was a little easier to find than I thought...Here is what I found

Most vehicle manufacturers state a 40- to 48-pound weight limit on the lower anchors and a 40 to 60 pound limit on the tether anchor.

That is not much. Think about how much a car seat weighs and then add a child!!!! This is very disappointing. What is the use of the LATCH anchor systems?

[LovingJesusinAZ]

Our car seats are installed using the LATCH and using the "traditional" method with the seatbelt, so they're basically installed twice.

You're right, though, it is a little disconcerting to find out that the LATCH system is rated for such a low weight when you consider the weight of the seat, in addition to the weight of the child.

[purelegance]

wow, and kids are supposed to be in a carseat/booster until 80 lbs and/or 8 years old. off to google to find out my weight limit..

[KR258]

That is strange! Kate's is also double installed though cause I am a spazz.

[Samual]

It is to keep the car seat more stationary, not intended to hold the entire weight of the seat and baby. Just as sometimes you slip about a little bit in a car seat when wearing a seatbelt, sometimes child seats can as well, so they are designed to stop that, there are only something like 70-80 cars in the UK that are allowed to use isofix/latch. Our old car had one, but we never used it as it seemed a really flimsy system in ours.

[ruthann8]

I was more upset that the weight limit on the LATCH system is not common knowledge. Manuals to install car seats will show you how to install with the LATCH system OR using the seatbelt. Lots of times the car seat manual will state that you get a better fit using the LATCH system. When I have been shopping for car seats the sales associates have never told me of the LATCH weight limit. When I looked in my vehicles manual it said NOTHING about a weight limit and when I called they had no idea what the weight limit was. When we purchased our vehicle the LATCH system was one of the features I asked about and the sales associate never mentioned anything about a weight limit. Car seats and vehicles are advertised as safer because the LATCH system. It is considered a safety feature. This weight limit should be common knowledge.

[kalhayd2]

Our seat was done with both and when inspected the guy failed the seat because of it. It can be top teethered and LATCHed but not LATCHed and a seatbelt. I have NO idea why, though.

[kalhayd2]

And my gosh, Ella Mae looks 3 in your siggy picture! How tall is she, do you know?

[ruthann8]

At her 9 month appointment she was 28.5 inches. She really isn't that tall compared her weight or head circumference. She just looks older b/c you can’t see her bald head!