Child Safety Seats and LATCH Weight Limits

Federal rules for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system set a limit on how much weight the lower anchors in your vehicle can safely hold. Knowing that limit helps parents decide when to stop using the lower anchors and install a forward-facing seat with the vehicle seat belt instead.

Most vehicles have two lower anchors and one top tether anchor. Under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rules, the lower anchors are rated for a combined child-plus-seat weight of 65 pounds. Once your child and the car seat together exceed that weight, install the seat with the vehicle seat belt and continue to use the top tether. Always check the weight limits printed on your car seat label and in your vehicle owner’s manual.

In Texas, kids eight years old or younger and those under four feet, nine inches tall are required to sit in a child safety seat in a vehicle. Rear-facing seats for children under one year, 35 pounds or both are recommended by the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure maximum safety. Kids from one to four years and up to 40 pounds can use a forward-facing safety seat.

Children over four must continue to use a safety seat until they are more than 40 pounds, and may use a booster seat until they are eight or reach four feet, nine inches tall.

Safety belts can sometimes be uncomfortable for kids who are tall enough or old enough to sit with a seatbelt only. Try moving children closer to the center of the seat, towards the buckle, to prevent the shoulder harness from rubbing their necks.

It’s important for parents and guardians to make sure that their car seats, safety seats and seatbelts conform to state and federal guidelines designed to keep kids safe. Airbags in vehicles are designed to protect adults and, when deployed in an accident, can harm children. Failure to follow Texas child restraint laws carries a traffic ticket with a $25 fine for the first offense. After that, fines are up to $250 for each violation.