Do You Have to Use Top Tether with ISOFIX?

Regarding the safety of travel by car, one has to understand every given type of child car seat and its various functions. Many parents have been known to ask themselves if they have to use a top tether together with an ISOFIX system or not.

Read the following content! Let's look at each system, how they are meant to work with each other.

What Is ISOFIX?

ISOFIX is an internationally accepted and popular system of installing the car seat of a child safely in vehicles. It makes installation easier as it allows car seats to be installed directly to the car chassis. It does not require seat belts for installation. This system is considered safe since there is minimal chance of incorrect installation.

Components of the ISOFIX System

1. ISOFIX Anchors: These are the metal or plastic brackets sitting at the base of the car seat and integrated into the frame of the vehicle seat. They can be found between the backrest and the seat cushion.
2. ISOFIX Connectors: These attach to the ISOFIX anchors in the car for attaching a child car seat.
3. Top Tether: Part of the ISOFIX system, it connects the third point of anchorage to keep the upper part of the child car seat anchored inside the vehicle and avoid any possibility of the seat tipping over toward the front in the case of an accident.

ISOFIX allows the car seat to be in a more rigid connection with the car for much safer installation by minimizing the motion of the car seat around in the event of a collision. This keeps it stable and secure, further protecting your child.

The Purpose of ISOFIX System

The main purpose of the ISOFIX is to make the installation faster and more reliable as well. Besides, classical seat belt installations are occasionally hard to install properly and their wrong installations are leading causes for reduced safety during travel. ISOFIX tries to provide an easier and much securer alternative which will help lower the possibilities of making a mistake during the installation of a car seat.

What Is the Top Tether?

The top tether is an additional safety feature in the ISOFIX system. It consists of a strap with a hook that attaches to an anchor point in your car, most often located at the back of the isofix car seat, on the back shelf, or behind the seat.

Functions of the Top Tether

• Prevents Forward Movement: During a sudden stop or collision, the top tether reduces the forward movement; hence, it keeps the child seat more secure and limits the risk of injury.
• Stabilises the Seat: The top tether does stabilize the child car seat, preventing excessive tilting or rotation of the seat, which is particularly important for rear-facing seats.
• Safety: The top tether makes the seat has limited movement, adding to making the child seat much safer by reducing the various internal forces that could be brought to bear on your child in an impact.

With the top tether in the ISOFIX system, an ISOFIX baby car seat provides added stability, especially in frontal collisions.

The Top Tether in ISOFIX: Why It’s So Important

The top tether is one of the most important accessories that contributed most to the development and increase in the safety feature in child restraint systems, however, despite this, it remains one of the lowest used and highly incorrectly applied parts of the ISOFIX system. Some parents and caregivers have been observed not using the top tether or attaching it ineffectively.

Consequences of Incorrect Application

Increased Injury Risk: A poorly fitted top tether has an easy tendency for the seat to tip forward in a crash-between 10-15 cm. This may present a serious risk of head injuries and other serious, often fatal, injuries to the child.

Compromised ISOFIX Protection: The ability of ISOFIX to install safely and be very stable seems compromised without the top tether, which is less stable and less protective for a child.

Do You Have to Use Top Tether with ISOFIX?

Yes, you should use the top tether as part of the ISOFIX system.

The top tether, in conjunction with the ISOFIX anchors and connectors, provides the base for a safe, stable child car seat installation. Depending on the use of only the ISOFIX connectors without the top tether hinders much-needed stability and safety of the car seat in any form of collision.

Manufacturer Instructions

Always follow the car seat manufacturer's instructions for your model. These instructions will cover how to correctly use the top tether in conjunction with the ISOFIX system. These must be followed as incorrect fitting will reduce the effectiveness of the car seat with ISOFIX.

Car Seat Variations

Variation in design and build for different car seats means that their requirements for a top tether are different:

1. Rear-Facing Seats: Most rear-facing ISOFIX seats depend on the top tether to prevent them from extreme movements for the child not to move around.
2. Forward-Face Seats: Even in forward-facing ISOFIX seats with their high backs, the top tether is also required for maximum stability and safety of the seat.

In all cases, the top tether is designed to be used with the ISOFIX system in general protection.

Common Mistakes in Top Tether Application

Despite its importance, the top tether is frequently used in error or not at all. The most common errors include:

Not Using the Top Tether: Many parents do not even attach the top tether, depending on the ISOFIX connectors alone.

Incorrect Attachment: Even when used, the top tether is sometimes attached incorrectly, such as leaving slack in the strap or not securing it tightly to the anchor point.

Not tight tether: If the top tether is not tightened hard enough, this can provide too much movement of a car seat in a crash and affect its performance.

Use the Top Tether with ISOFIX Correctly

If your car seat does require the top tether, it's really important it's used properly to offer optimum safety.

1. Locate the Anchor Point: First, find in your car where the top tether anchor point is. It could be at the back of the seat of the vehicle, on the boot floor, or even on the ceiling of the car. Refer to your car manual for confirmation of where it is.
2. Secure the Tether: The tether strap needs to be stretched over the seat in an attempt to attach with an anchor point. The strap should not be twisted at all, and no slack should be there on that strap.
3. Buckle the Tether for Tension: The strap needs to be so tugged at that there is just tension enough to prevent seat jolting but in the same way not to tip the car seat up or forward. Once top tether has been attached it must never be able to pull it forward or sideways at all.
4. Check for Movement: After having tightened the tether, jiggle the car seat to gauge for play. If it does, the installation probably needs readjustment, or the tightness of the tether is not yet correct.

Final Thoughts

Although the ISOFIX system allows a very secure way of installation of the car seat, the top tether offers further advantages in safety. With ISOFIX, depending on the particular car seat, use of a top tether may or may not be required, always left to the discretion of the manufacturer. This always requires consulting the car seat and vehicle manuals for proper installation and subsequent safety of the child.

This would, in turn, be of immense help in ensuring the child's safety during travel since, with a top tether applied correctly, he could stay in his seat and remain upright in case of an abrupt stop or a collision.

Guaranteed Safety: Jovikids Baby Car Seats

At Jovikids, the safety of your child is of essence. Our design for the baby car seat incorporates state-of-the-art features in safety, namely ISOFIX connectors and top tether compatibility. For a range of car seats, visit our website to explore more.

FAQ

Can I use ISOFIX without the top tether?

No, the top tether is part of the ISOFIX system and shall be used to offer the maximum stability for the car seat.

What if I don’t use the top tether?

In case it is a car seat intended to use the top tether, failing to do that then means that the seat is less stable; this increases the possibility of injuries in case there is an accident.

Can I install an ISOFIX car seat without the tether if my car doesn’t have an anchor point?

No, the top tether is a requisite feature of the ISOFIX. If your vehicle does not have this anchoring point for the upper top tether, you would be advised to look into using a different installation method via your car seat manual or another car seat that might fit your vehicle compatibility.

How would I know if my car has the top tether anchor point?

Refer to the vehicle's manual to find which are the top tether anchor points. They are generally at the back of a seat, in the boot area or along the ceiling of the vehicle.