Are chest clips on car seats safe?
The REAL danger of a too low clip is that it might allow the harness to be too widely spaced at the shoulders. This could lead to increased head excursion, spinal, internal, and brain injuries, or even ejection from the car seat. So, yes, a too-low chest clip isn’t safe, but not for the reasons many seem to think.
Are car seat safety clips illegal?
A child car seat has one primary role, to protect the child in the event of a collision whilst travelling in the car. Child car seats, that are homologated to UN ECE R44 regulations, are prevented from using the chest clip.
Are car seat chest clips safe UK?
Chest clips It is currently illegal to sell a child car seat in the UK, with a chest clip as part of the child seat. That the clip safely and securely fits to the harness straps – it must not interfere with the placement of the chest pads on your child’s car seat.
Why does the UK not use chest clips?
European car seats, by regulation, require that the child can be removed from the car seat in a single motion; so having both a crotch buckle and chest clip would breach the European regulation. That’s one reason that European car seats don’t have a chest clip.
Are chest clips required?
Despite chest clips not being mandated, including once has become such common practice that almost all North American car seat manufacturers include one and recommend its use. Simply put, if your seat includes a chest clip, use it! Just because it’s not required by law doesn’t mean that you should ignore it.
Are chest clips designed to break?
It’s completely normal for a chest clip to break during a collision. A simplified reason why chest clips exist is because many parents don’t tighten the harness properly. It’s usually too loose which affect safety negatively in a collision.
How do I stop my child from getting car seat straps?
Take some toys or games for them to play with in the car. Make sure you take off any puffy jackets, snowsuits or thick tops, as these types of clothing can cause gaps between the harness and your little one, making it easier to wriggle out of. Check the height of the harness – eg where the straps emerge from the seat.
Where do you put a chest clip on a car seat?
Or more precisely, in the middle of the sternum. The retainer clip is designed to keep the straps parallel over the torso in a crash. Too low and the child could be ejected from the seat in a crash; too high and the child could suffer a neck injury.
Why do some car seats not have chest clips?
A simplified reason why chest clips exist is because many parents don’t tighten the harness properly. It’s usually too loose which affect safety negatively in a collision. Swedish car seats often have harness placed more narrow across the shoulders which means no chest clips are necessary (or allowed).
Is rigid latch safer?
True rigid LATCH is safer than both flexible LATCH and semi-rigid LATCH because true rigid LATCH offers the most secure installation possible. Please note that flexible LATCH and seat belt installations are still VERY safe means of securing your child’s car seat to the vehicle.
Are Houdini Straps illegal UK?
Once your child has stopped doing this dangerous practice, please stop using the Houdini Stop The Houdini Stop is a legal aftermarket accessory. It is not illegal to add this to your car seat harness.
Why do US car seats have chest clips?
An American seat uses the chest clip to keep the straps properly placed on the shoulders: if the chest clip is too low the straps can be too wide on the shoulders.
Is it safe to use a low chest clip in a car seat?
The REAL danger of a too low clip is that it might allow the harness to be too widely spaced at the shoulders. This could lead to increased head excursion, spinal, internal, and brain injuries, or even ejection from the car seat. So, yes, a too-low chest clip isn’t safe, but not for the reasons many seem to think. Throat clip! Myth #5.
Can a child be ejected from a chest clip?
It cannot physically hold a child in the event of a crash. The crotch buckle does the hard work. If you are in a crash where the chest clip is fastened and the crotch buckle is undone, the chest clip will separate, your child can be ejected and possibly severely injured or even killed.
Can you hook a key to a car seat?
It comes with 2 keys for the carseat so you can hook one onto the car seat (using a clip on the keychain ring) and have access to it in an emergency. People have mentioned the safety of this during an accident.
Where do you put a chest clip on a newborn?
These are good landmarks to use with a newborn, as the chest clip will usually hit the nipples and armpits and sit on the sternum all at once. As the Little gets bigger, though, there is leeway. The chest clip should be on the sternum still, but that bone is now several inches long.