Britax Knowledge Center

Safe & Secure: Infant Car Seats Safe & Secure

Tightening the Harness

Britax Carry Long System

WHAT

All Britax infant, convertible and harness-2-booster car seats have harnesses used to help keep a child safe and secure while sitting in a car seat.

WHY

A study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that nearly 60% of child harnesses were too loose. Loose harness straps leave your child vulnerable to injury during a crash because they may allow your child to move out of position. They can even lead to ejection from the car seat during a crash.

HOW

How snug should a harness be?
NHTSA states that, “a snug strap should not allow any slack. It lies in a relatively straight line without sagging. It does not press on the child’s flesh or push the child’s body into an un-natural position.”

How can I tell if the harness is snug enough?
To tell if your child’s harness is snug enough, perform the simple Pinch Test:

  • Secure your child in the car seat, buckle the harness, and tighten the harness by pulling on the harness adjuster strap.
  • Using your thumb and pointer finger, try to pinch one of the harness straps at your child's collar bone level.
  • If you’re able to pinch the strap, the harness is too loose. You should not be able to pinch any excess webbing.

Click & Safe for Extra Assurance
Select Britax car seats feature the Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator that provides an audible click to indicate when the harness is within range of appropriate tightness. Learn more about Click & Safe.