Top Tether is an integral safety component in ISOFIX child car seats. It provides a third anchorage point, securing the top part of the car seat to the vehicle and preventing it from tipping forward during a collision.
However, Top Tether remains a persistent issue — it is one of the critical car seat features that has not evolved significantly over time. In many cases, it is misused or completely neglected. Failing to use it or attaching it incorrectly can lead to catastrophic consequences in the event of an accident, potentially causing the seat to detach and be thrust forward. This may result in the child’s head hitting the front seat, another passenger, or hard elements of the car.
In a study conducted jointly with one of Sparco Kids’ retailers, it was found that over 60% of participants — including parents and caregivers attending training on forward-facing car seat installation — were not using the Top Tether strap.
A key takeaway from this study was that those who initially didn’t understand how to use Top Tether properly left the session with the knowledge and skills to do so correctly in the future. This highlights the importance of broadly sharing this information, ensuring all parents know how to use it effectively.
Correct use of the Top Tether can make the difference between a child walking away from an accident unharmed and suffering from head trauma or other serious, potentially fatal injuries. Without a properly installed Top Tether, the seat can tilt forward by 10–15 cm, posing a serious threat to the child’s safety.
However, Top Tether remains a persistent issue — it is one of the critical car seat features that has not evolved significantly over time. In many cases, it is misused or completely neglected. Failing to use it or attaching it incorrectly can lead to catastrophic consequences in the event of an accident, potentially causing the seat to detach and be thrust forward. This may result in the child’s head hitting the front seat, another passenger, or hard elements of the car.
In a study conducted jointly with one of Sparco Kids’ retailers, it was found that over 60% of participants — including parents and caregivers attending training on forward-facing car seat installation — were not using the Top Tether strap.
A key takeaway from this study was that those who initially didn’t understand how to use Top Tether properly left the session with the knowledge and skills to do so correctly in the future. This highlights the importance of broadly sharing this information, ensuring all parents know how to use it effectively.
Correct use of the Top Tether can make the difference between a child walking away from an accident unharmed and suffering from head trauma or other serious, potentially fatal injuries. Without a properly installed Top Tether, the seat can tilt forward by 10–15 cm, posing a serious threat to the child’s safety.
In the context of ISOFIX car seats, there’s significantly less room for human error during installation — that is, unless the third anchorage point, the Top Tether, is overlooked.
If the Top Tether is not properly adjusted, the safety benefits provided by the ISOFIX seat may become ineffective. That’s why it’s crucial to locate this third anchorage point and understand how to adjust it correctly.
Be sure to read the car seat’s installation manual to learn how to do this properly. Also, identify the anchorage point in your car to which the Top Tether should be attached (refer to our illustration showing where the Top Tether can be anchored). Once you’ve located it, simply adjust and tighten the strap to ensure optimal protection for your child.
If the Top Tether is not properly adjusted, the safety benefits provided by the ISOFIX seat may become ineffective. That’s why it’s crucial to locate this third anchorage point and understand how to adjust it correctly.
Be sure to read the car seat’s installation manual to learn how to do this properly. Also, identify the anchorage point in your car to which the Top Tether should be attached (refer to our illustration showing where the Top Tether can be anchored). Once you’ve located it, simply adjust and tighten the strap to ensure optimal protection for your child.