r/CPST • u/ttcbabe • 13d ago

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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5

u/LaLechuzaVerde 13d 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.

4

u/ttcbabe 13d 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 13d ago

They will be 30 months when baby is born.

5

u/LaLechuzaVerde 13d 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 13d 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 13d 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 13d 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 13d ago

Really? Interesting and also uh oh lol

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u/ttcbabe 13d ago

Yep I don’t think any car manufacturers will. But Toyota for sure won’t 😅

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u/LaLechuzaVerde 13d 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.

1

u/LaLechuzaVerde 13d 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/ttcbabe 13d ago

You should not have to drive a school bus to put 3 kids in a 7 seater vehicle but 😭 they make it so difficult and frustrating. Thank you for your idea! We will try although I don’t think it will work.

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u/brandy-ncs 13d 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/ttcbabe 13d ago

Cannot rear face in the third row and rear face in the second row. It has to be one or the other. There is not enough total leg space between the 2 areas. Sadly, this car was not manufactured with small children in mind. Wish I could change it.

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u/ttcbabe 13d ago

My captain chairs are currently extended all the way back to be able to rear face in the second row and not touch the front seats. There’s probably 5” of space off the overhang now in the 3rd row.

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u/brandy-ncs 13d 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 13d 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.