LATCH is an attachment system for  car safety seats. Lower anchors can be used instead of the seat belt to install the seat, and many parents find them easier to use in some cars. The top tether improves the safety provided by the seat and is important to use for all forward-facing seats, even those installed using  the vehicle seat belt. These systems are equally safe, but in some cases, it may be easier to install the car safety seat using the lower anchors rather than the seat belt.

All lower anchors are rated for a maximum weight  of 65 pounds(total weight of car safety seat plus the child). Parents should check the car seat manufacturer’s recommendations for the maximum weight the child can be to use the lower anchors. New car seats have the maximum weight of the child allowed for use of the lower anchors printed on the label.

Vehicles with the LATCH system have lower anchors located in the back seat, where the seat cushions meet. Tether anchors are located behind the seat, either on the panel behind the seat (in sedans) or on the back of the seat, ceiling, or floor (in most minivans, SUVs, and hatchbacks). All car safety seats have attachments that fasten to these anchors. Nearly all passenger vehicles and all car safety seats made on or after September 1, 2002, are equipped to use LATCH. 

Seat belts: If you install the car safety seat using your vehicle’s seat belt, check the vehicle owner’s manual to see if you need a locking clip to keep the belt locked into position. Locking clips are not needed in most newer vehicles, but you may need to fully extend the seat belt first and then allow it to retract in order to keep the seat belt tight around the car safety seat. Many car safety seats have built-in lock-offs to lock the belt.

The safest place for all children younger than 13 years to ride is the back seat. If possible, it may be best to ride in the middle of the back seat. However, it is sometimes difficult to install a car safety seat tightly in the middle if the vehicle seat is narrow or uneven. Also, most vehicles do not have lower anchors for the middle seating position. It is safest to put the car safety seat in  a position where you can install it tightly with either the lower anchor system or the seat belt; in some cases, this may be on either side of the back seat rather than the middle. A child passenger safety technician (CPST) can help you decide which place is best to install your child’s car safety seat in your vehicle.