Choosing and Using Child Restraints
Importance of Harnesses
 
updated 10-03--03

The second step in the three-step process of providing maximum protection to a child in the car is to be sure that he or she is snugly and correctly secured within the child restraint with the harness and/or shield provided. For children in belt positioning boosters or seat belts, it is extremely important that both the lap belt and the shoulder belt are snug and properly positioned.

Types of Harnesses
Appropriate Clothing
Harness Strap Slots
Harness Adjustment
Is any model of seat or type of harness escape-proof?

Types of Harnesses
The harnesses found in most child restraints are very important since they are designed to keep the child within the child restraint and vehicle and to effectively distribute crash forces. Harnesses may be configured as a V-harness (on many rear-facing only seats), 5-point harness, or as a harness-shield combination.

• The V-harness found on many rear-facing only restraints works very well for the rear-facing position. The semi-reclined padded back of the rear-facing restraint is what provides most of the crash protection for the infant but a snug and properly positioned harness is needed to keep the infant in place in the restraint.
  
• A 5-point harness has two shoulder straps, two upper thigh straps and a crotch strap while a harness shield combination has two shoulder straps attached to a shield with an integral buckle. A properly adjusted 5-point harness is generally considered to provide the best protection in severe crashes because they can be readily adjusted to fit any size child and load crash forces across the shoulders, chest, and hips.
  
  Some models of rear-facing infant-only restraints have 5-point harnesses. While not necessary for a rear-facing restraint, a 5-point harness may be more readily adjustable to very small infants and may help to contain the infant in the restraint better in the event of a rollover.
  
  5-point harnesses are most suited for newborns and small infants since they can be adjusted more readily to fit different sizes and shapes of children than harness/shield combinations.

  A disadvantage of many of many 5-point harnesses is that the straps tend to become twisted and tangled over time and require constant attention to keep them in good condition.

• A harness shield combination system can have either a T-shield (attached to the shoulder straps) or a tray-shield (swings down over the child s head). Harness/shield combinations were marketed as being more convenient than a 5-point harness to use and the shield does help to keep the straps flat.
  
  The big padded bar of the swing-down tray-shield looks safer to some parents, but in fact is no safer than a 5-point harness or T-shield. In fact, the tray shields are generally more difficult to adjust to the correct snugness on many children and no type of shield is recommended for very small infants. In a small vehicle, the tray-shield may not be able to swing all of the way up to get the child in and out of easily. In addition, children tend to get too big for the tray-shield before they reach the seat's upper limit and they do not allow as much freedom of movement for the child to read books or play with toys.
  
  For very small babies, a seat with either type of harness/shield system should not be used. This is because it will not allow for as snug a fit as a 5-point harness and the infant's face or chest could possibly contact the shield.

Appropriate Clothing
First, try to dress the child in clothes that allow for a proper fit of the harness. Dress a baby in clothes that allow the harness straps to go between his or her legs and try not to let children wear thick coats that can interfere with the fit and adjustment of the harness. For babies, blankets may be placed over the child and harness straps after the harness is fastened and adjusted.

Harness Strap Slots
When harnessing your child in a child restraint, be sure that the correct harness slots are being used. Unless instructed otherwise by the CRD manufacturer:

• Use the set of slots at or below the shoulders for a rear-facing restraint.
• Use the top slots for a front-facing convertible restraint (the lower slots may not be strong enough for the front-facing position),
• Use the set of slots at or above the shoulders for a front-facing only restraint (all sets of slots are designed for the front-facing position).

Harness Adjustment
Recent innovations have made most newer child restraint systems easier to adjust. Harness adjusting and locking hardware can include retractors, "A-locks" (adjuster device on front of many convertibles), metal adjuster slides, or rod/slot systems (a rod is inserted in appropriate fabric loops at the end of the harness).

A snug harness is important for good crash protection, but it should not cause discomfort to the child. A good way to determine if the harness is snug enough is to first adjust it so that it is comfortable, then try to take a "tuck" in the shoulder strap by pinching the webbing. If you can hold onto the tuck, the belt is too loose. When testing a 5-point harness, pull all of the slack from the lap part up into the shoulder straps before checking for tightness.

Once the harness is adjusted, use the plastic harness retainer clip, if provided, at armpit level to hold shoulder straps in place. After adjusting the harness, make sure the straps lie flat and are not twisted and that the harness adjustment is locked in place.

If there is a gap between the crotch strap and the infant's crotch, a rolled diaper or washcloth may be placed in this gap to help prevent slumping. You can also pad the sides of the seat and between the crotch with rolled up diapers or receiving blankets. If your infant's head flops forward, tilt the seat back until it is level by wedging firm padding, such as a rolled towel, under the front of the base of the seat.

Is any model of seat or type of harness escape-proof?
Not completely. Some children seem to be able to get out of anything. This usually occurs during the natural stage when they are becoming more active and independent and learning to stand and manipulate things with their hands. 

What can you do? If you are buying a seat, look for one which a buckle that is very hard for a child to reach. Otherwise, keep the harness system adjusted for a snug fit and use the shoulder strap retainer clip over the child's chest. 

You also must be patient, firm and consistent, letting your child know that the car doesn't go unless he is in his Seat. Do not start the car until he settles down, and stop at a safe spot along the roadside if he gets out when the car is underway. Positive reinforcement is also crucial, such as small rewards for good behavior; short "training" trips to favorite spots; and dramatic play in which he buckles up a favorite doll or stuffed animal for a real or "pretend" car ride. 

You must be prepared to enforce your rules on every trip in the car. Parents have to be aware that they may be in a battle over this issue, and it can last for several weeks, but it is one that must be fought and won by the parents. Allowing a child to do it his way "just this once" makes it that much harder to get him to do it your way the next time.

Parents may find it helpful to consult with their pediatrician or a child psychologist to come up with a behavior modification plan that will work best for a particular child.

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