Glossary of Terms

Belt Positioning Booster:
A booster seat used for an older child to position the vehicle's adult seat belt safely and correctly over the child's shoulder and lap. There is typically a clip or band on a tether, or a back with a seatbelt guide, that guides the shoulder belt over the child's shoulder. This style of seat may either rest without attaching on the vehicle seat OR in some cases, may be attached with LATCH to the vehicle while securing the child with the seatbelt. Consult your vehicle manual.

Booster:
A forward-facing only seat for toddlers and older children, used either with a built-in harness or as a guide for an adult seat belt.

Combination Seat:
A forward facing only seat that can be used with a built-in harness, typically to 40 or more pounds, and will thereafter be used as a belt positioning booster. (see Belt Positioning Booster in this glossary) The harness is removed when the child reaches the weight restriction for the harness. Typically 40 lbs, but the trend is toward higherweight harnesses, some as much as 80 pounds.

Convertible seat:
A seat that can be used rear facing or forward facing. Usually good from 5 lbs to at least 30 pounds rear facing. Most models rearface to 35 pounds. They can be used forward facing from 20/22 lbs through 40 pounds. (Check your seat to make sure of requirements for FF) These seats are designed for use from Birth to Toddler years, with a 5 point harness or overhead shield. A five point harness is preferred and overhead shields are being phased out. (see T-Shield or Over-the-head/tray shield in this glossary for additional information)

Energy Absorbing Foam:
A Styrofoam-like substance molded to the plastic frame of a car seat to act as a shock absorber and energy displacer in the event of a crash. If your child's body is in contact with any hard plastic (other than the chest clip, crotch buckle or harness straps) that does not have a coating of this foam, there is a real danger of an impact injury in a crash.

Five Point Harness:
A harness built into a seat that has 5 points of connection to the seat: over the shoulders, from either side of the hips, and between the legs. The shoulder straps are clipped to each other at the breastbone. This is the safest harness available.

Harness:
Straps made of strong webbing, attached directly to the car seat, which holds your child in place in the seat.

Height Limits:
The upper or lower height your child can be before requiring a new seat. These are clearly listed in the car seat's manual and can vary widely from seat to seat. Check carefully before buying.

Infant seat/baby bucket:
A rear-facing only child seat. This seat has a handle that makes it easy to carry. It is designed for small infants up to a certain weight and height that is listed on each seat, usually between 22 and 35 pounds. Usually has a detachable base that the seat can be used with or without.

LATCH:
"Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children", or LATCH, is a system now required by the government of both child safety seat manufacturers and auto makers. Cars are required to have a top tether anchorage and two bottom tether anchorages which correspond with permanent hooks or buckles on most car seats manufactured after September 1, 1999. Some vehicles manufactured after September 1, 1999 have LATCH systems installed, and all vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002 are required to have two LATCH systems installed standard in the rear seat. The LATCH system does not need to use the seat belt to fasten into the car- the anchorages and hooks/buckles do it all.

Locking Clip:
A metal clip used to lock the vehicle's seat belt in position by attaching directly to the lap belt and shoulder belt sandwiched together. All vehicles manufactured after MY 1996 are required by law to have a built-in locking mechanism. With some exceptions, locking clips are only needed for automobiles earlier than 1997. Many seats now some with built in locking clips that the vehicle's seat belt can be threaded through to prevent it slipping or loosening.

Over-the-head/tray shield:
A form of child seat which has an 'arm' or 'tray' that descends over the child's head and is attached to the seat at the sides of the child and also to the harness. This is a seat that can be actively dangerous in a crash. It is a style of 3-point harness that does not fit snugly enough to a child to halt forward momentum. The resulting impact on the hard arm (which is inadequately padded) can result in serious head and abdominal injuries. At least one death has resulted as a direct result of the arm position of this seat.

Paperclip style chest clip:
A one-piece style of clip that fastens the shoulder straps together, typically at the breastbone or at arm-pit level. Only one of the shoulder straps will have this kind of one-piece clip permanently attached to it; the other strap must be hooked into the other side of the clip to fasten the straps together.

T-Shield
A style of harness built into a car seat with 3 points of connection with the car seat: over the shoulders and between the legs. It is missing the hip connections of a 5 point harness and therefore does not provide stability for the pelvis. This is not as safe a harness as the 5-point and could potentially cause harm to your child in the event of a wreck because it does not stop forward momentum as efficiently as a 5 point harness. T-shields have not been manufactured in quite some time. Any T-shield still in existence is almost certainly expired and should be disposed of.

Tether:
A strap that is either attached to or built into the top of a car seat (either forward or rear facing) which attaches to the frame of your vehicle. In the event of a crash, a tether can stop forward motion of the head up to 8 inches, and reducing side motion overall, reducing or eliminating the risk of head injury. All forward facing seats in the US have top tethers. Some seats require their use after a certain weight is reached.

Tether Bolt:
An anchorage, attached in some manner to the frame of your vehicle, which you fasten a tether strap to. Check you car's owner manual for proper placement of the teather bolt. These should be installed by your dealership for free if they do not come standard in your car; check your vehicle manual for information.

Three Point Harness:
A harness built into a seat that has 3 points of contact with the seat: over the shoulders and between the legs. This harness is only appropriate for a rear-facing infant, and is no longer being manufactured at the commercial level. Some industrial 'give-aways' such as the Graco Assura still come with a three point harness.

Two Piece chest clip:
A two-piece style of clip that fastens the shoulder straps together, typically at the breastbone or at arm-pit level, which have the straps permanently threaded through each side separately and simply clip together lock-and-key style. The chest clip is designed to make sure the harness is positioned correctly prior to a crash and is not a key element of crash resistance in and of itself.

Weight Limits:
The upper or lower weight your child can be before needing a new seat. These are clearly listed in the car seat's manual and can vary widely from seat to seat. Check carefully before buying.