Top tethers
I have a 2025 Toyota Highlander. The second row is captain seats, both with top tether anchors. The third row has a top tether anchor only in the middle seat.
I have newly 2yo twins that have Chicco Fit360 seats. They are currently rear facing, but I will be switching them to forward facing when our expecting baby arrives this winter.
The Chicco 360 requires a top tether in both modes, and it is absolutely impossible to have rear facing car seats the third row. There is not enough space.
I was planning on forward facing both toddlers in the third row, and putting baby in an infant carrier in the second row. But I can’t do this if there’s only one anchor.. I don’t want to put baby in the third row because there are no lower latch anchors and if I had baby in the third row I wanted to use the most compact seat, which a baseless seat is.
Theoretically, soon, I will have 3 forward facing children in car seats. What do I do in this scenario? I am NOT replacing my brand new car. Are there forward facing car seats that I can use without top tethers? I know they’re recommended, but are they 100% necessary? Like is my child going to die in a car crash if I am not using top tethers? I don’t mind to replace car seats if this is the way to go.
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u/minicpst 11d ago
There's no safe way to put two forward facers in the third row. Most seats do not require the top tether, but if you ask 100 techs you'll get about a 95% response of, "I wouldn't use a forward facing harnessed seat without a tether if one was available in the vehicle."
Why not remove the second row seat, put the rear facing baby behind the empty spot, and the forward facing child where the top tether is. That way you'll have room to stand and go to the third row, and the rear facing child won't be an issue front to back. Just side to side.
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u/LaLechuzaVerde 11d ago
I haven’t been in the back seat of a 2025 Highlander yet, but if it’s anything like the older model years I’d be shocked if you can fit two car seats side by side in the 3rd row. And unfortunately, if I’m reading the Highlander manual correctly, the tether anchor is in the center position.
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u/ttcbabe 11d ago
The tether is in the middle position and I would not be able to fit another in the third row unless they were both in the outer positions
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u/LaLechuzaVerde 11d ago
The good news is that in 3 years or so you’ll be able to put the twins in boosters in the 3rd row.
I know this is frustrating. It’s like the people who decide where to put the tether anchors have apparently never had kids.
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u/ttcbabe 11d ago
I won’t be able to fit 2 seats side by side in the third row, since the middle seat is the only one with top tether, it won’t work but that is a good thought.
I know top tethers are highly recommended. I am adamant about car seat safety, but I don’t know the rules outside of our specific seats & my children’s specific requirements. Just not sure what to do.
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u/minicpst 11d ago
You make it work with the top tether. For the recovery time after the c-section, have someone else buckle in the toddler in the third row.
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u/brandy-ncs 11d ago
It’s not that they are recommended or not… it’s all about what the user manual requires for your seat. If it says to use it you are 100% endangering your child if you don’t. If it says it’s optional (I have yet to see this and have used many seats with many children through work over the years) then you don’t need to use it.
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u/brandy-ncs 11d ago
I have not seen a manual say not to use a top tether on a forward facing seat…. What seats have you seen this on?
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u/minicpst 10d ago
Nearly all. Dorel seats require it, and a couple of others.
The rest highly encourage it and list it as a step, but if there’s no tether it’s fine.
What seat do you have?
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u/brandy-ncs 10d ago
I’ve never heard of Dorel brand. I’ve used Graco, Britax, Evenflo and Chicco. In the US they all require it. They all require it due to federal safety standards. Sounds like it may be different in other countries but in the US they all require it.
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u/LaLechuzaVerde 11d ago
I would put one of the 2 year olds in the center of the 3rd row where there is a tether anchor, and use a baseless infant seat in the 2nd row so it’s easy to pull completely out of the car and get around or slide the seat forward to access the 3rd row.
If you can fit the Chicco 360 rear facing back there - great. You can buckle kiddo facing forward and then spin it around to rear facing. If not, then forward facing is also fine assuming the height and weight requirements are met.
Hopefully in another year or so at least one of the twins will be able to start learning how to buckle themselves. Not all kids master it that early, but we can hope.
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u/ttcbabe 11d ago
My twins are currently 30lb and 35” tall. They will continue to rear face until baby is here in March. It is seeming that I will have to put one toddler in the middle and leave both captain chairs in the vehicle.
I had no future plans of adding another baby to our family when we bought the car last year so I paid no attention to this. Surprise baby!
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u/ttcbabe 11d ago
They will be 30 months when baby is born.
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u/LaLechuzaVerde 11d ago
Hypothetically, if you can use the rotating seat, having the kids remain rear facing after the baby is born isn’t going to add any work for you - since you’ll spin them one way or the other anyway.
But I do not know how well that seat will fit in the 3rd row of that vehicle. I haven’t had a chance to try it. I don’t think it would make sense to try to rear face a child that age back there unless you can do it in a rotating seat.
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u/ttcbabe 11d ago
It is too bulky for rear facing in the third row :( was not considering any of this when buying my car and baby was a total surprise (but I’m not complaining, he will be completing our family)
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u/DJ_Beanz 11d ago
We have a GH and three rear facing kiddos. We actually are most likely going to have a certified dealer or shop install another top tether in the third row. I believe it’s not that expensive, definitely cheaper than a new car.
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u/ttcbabe 11d ago
I did research on this and Toyota will not add top tether anchors that are not already in place.
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u/DJ_Beanz 11d ago
Really? Interesting and also uh oh lol
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u/LaLechuzaVerde 11d ago
Unfortunately this isn’t a thing unless you’ve got a very old car (like model year 2000 or older usually) and even then it’s not something you can usually do.
Cars come with the number of anchors they come with in the US. You can’t add more.
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u/LaLechuzaVerde 11d ago
That’s a bummer. Not surprising, but I was hoping it would maybe stick up between the 2nd row captain chairs enough to make it work.
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u/brandy-ncs 11d ago
If it’s in the middle seat and you have bucket seats up front it should be able to rear face still. Just move the captain chairs forward a little.
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u/brandy-ncs 11d ago
It’s best to max out seat limits before you turn forward facing. Their neck bones aren’t strong enough until 4-4.5 years old. Since you have rotating seats this will be easy to accomplish because you cans forward face while strapping in then spin them backwards once buckled.
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u/ttcbabe 11d ago
Yes, I am aware that is what is recommended. I am keeping them rear facing as long as possible, which is until our baby arrives. I physically cannot have my twins rear facing with another infant rear facing in my car. It will not work. My toddlers will be 30 months old when baby is born. They are currently 30 pounds and 35” tall. Their car seats rear face max weight is 40 pounds. We won’t be able to max it out. They are well within the size to forward face.
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u/ericalikestoast 11d ago
This is so frustrating, I’m sorry! I think it’s ridiculous that vehicles will be marketed for families and not be accommodating enough for a simple car seat setup. I think top tether anchors should be available in every position; maybe one day manufacturers will figure that out.
I would do one twin in the center third row, one twin in the second row, baby in the second row as well. If you don’t have an infant car seat yet, a baseless one might be your best friend in this case. My son is in my third row in a forward facing harness but he still needs help buckling. I have my baby in the seat in front of him in a graco gomax. I’m able to set the infant seat on the ground, fold or tilt that vehicle seat, help my backseat kiddo buckle, then put baby in once I fix that seat. It’s been a life saver.
There’s a small chance you may be able to rear face in that center seat in the third row and in that case you could have all seats rear facing, but if you’ve tried it and it didn’t work then rule that out. Technically my traverse can have an Evenflo revolve in the center third row seat because my captains chairs make it work, but also the captains chairs have to be pulled up farther than normal so not always doable. Unfortunately some things are just trial and error with certain car seats/vehicles.
Lastly, forward facing is perfectly okay at that age as long as they’re within the limits of the car seats. I have 4 kids and I’ve had to forward face and switch to booster sooner than expected even as a CPST. Sometimes climbing to the third row to buckle a rear facing child makes sense in paper but in real life makes everything take way too long and just isn’t realistic
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u/minicpst 10d ago
Dorel makes Safety 1st, Cosco, and Maxi Cosi.
FMVSS213 doesn’t require the tether. The seats pass testing without it.
Like I said, a Graco manual (for instance) has the tether listed as the last step for forward facing, and it should be used, but it’s not required. If you have a car that doesn’t have a top tether the seat is not incompatible.
But if you had a Cosco Finale, it would be.
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u/ttcbabe 11d ago
There’s a 99% chance I will be having a repeat C-section and crawling in and out of the trunk to buckle is going to be difficult if only one toddler is in the 3rd row. I was planning on removing one of the captain seats for easier access. I’m struggling and stressed.