Using a Tether on a CR with an Internal Harness
for a Child over 40 Pounds:

•A CR with a harness should not be used above the maximum weight specified by its instructions and labels.

•Lower attachments should not be used above the maximum weight specified by the vehicle manufacturer. If the CR has a high-weight-harness (HWH), disconnect the lower attachments at 40 or 48 pounds (per vehicle manual) and use the safety belt instead, along with the tether.

•If the vehicle manufacturer specifies a maximum tether anchor weight below that allowed by the CR manufacturer, users need to know and base any decision regarding continued use of the tether on these considerations (fully explained in Chapter 5, page 49):

- Most CRs for children with special needs can be used up to a child’s weight of over 100 pounds and require tether use at any weight. Their installation requires special attention (see Chapter 5).

- A tethered restraint allows less head movement in a head-on or front-angle crash compared to a non-tethered CR, greatly reducing the likelihood of head injury due to contacting the vehicle interior or neck injury occurring.

- A tether provides a third point of attachment to the vehicle, which spreads the load to more anchors, thereby reducing the chance of any problem.

- Any CR with a tether must pass a test without the tether fastened (except devices for children with special needs).

- The federal requirements that cover the tether and its anchor were developed with a 65-pound child in mind.

- There is no research published so far that shows that using a tether for a child above the weight limit given for the vehicle anchor is a danger to the CR occupant.

- The vast majority of crashes are at relatively low speed and force, in which case the tether could be very beneficial even for a child heavier than the published maximum anchor weight.

- Even if a tether or its anchor were to fail in a very high impact crash (a rare occurrence), it would have already prevented considerable motion of the child’s head and would have reduced the risk of serious injury.

- If a parent/caregiver is uncomfortable with use of the tether above the recommended weight limit of vehicle anchors, explain that the CRs for children up to 50 pounds must meet federal test requirements without the tether.

     As an alternative, a belt-positioning booster (if the vehicle has rear-seat lap-shoulder belts) does not rely on a tether. There are a few other options for lap-only belts for children over 40 pounds but all require tether use.

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