Ah, the joys of learning baby gear lingo! As you delve into the world of researching car seats, you will quickly come across the term "LATCH". It's a term that's as casually used in the baby gear world as "OMG" is used in the texting teen world. ...but maybe we're not ready for that yet.
Anyway, LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. Basically, it's two small metal bars hidden between the backrest and cushion of your back seats that makes installing car seats a breeze. Only cars made after September 2002 have them however, so if yours' is of the older variety, either skip this article or consider buying a new car! My dad's car doesn't have the LATCH system and believe me, it's such a pain to install the car seats when we are visiting him. It makes me appreciate those little metal bars in our car! Instead of using your vehicle's seat belt, car seats attach to two anchor bars installed in the lower seatback. The LATCH system will save you from having to thread the seatbelt through that impossibly small and never-ending tunnel that your hand and arm can't quite fit through to the other side. True, you can safely and effectively install a car seat without the LATCH system, but I always feel my car seats aren't quite as snug to the seat as when using the LATCH. There always seems to be a bit more wiggle room in the car seat when I've threaded the seatbelt through myself.
So when you're searching for a new car seat, you will undoubtedly come across this LATCH term. Don't worry about making sure the car seat you're considering has it - they all do. It's just a matter of if your car has it - and as long as your car was made post-September 2002, it does too.
I hope this helps!
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