If you’re really concerned about the safety of your baby whenever they travel with you in the car, you can use a 5-point harness car seat. This harness is also recommended by safety experts, so rest assured that this thing really makes your baby safe.
The 5-point harness car seat can have a seamless travel system if you pair it with an adaptive stroller. A stroller from Momcozy is incredibly lightweight, very easy to set up and fold. It is also super compact that it folds easily and only takes little space in a car truck. The adaptive stroller and the 5-point harness car seat are one of the safest options you can give to your little one.
This guide will focus on discussing what is a 5-point harness car seat, its anatomy, as well as how it provides superior crash protection. The advantages of this harness and how you can choose the right harness car seat for your little one.
Defining the 5-Point Harness: The Gold Standard for Safety
A 5-point harness car seat is specifically made to secure your baby at five critical points of their body: two at the shoulders, two at the hips, and one between the legs. These five attachment points work together so they can hold your baby firmly in place. They distribute the crash forces across the strongest parts of the body instead of concentrating pressure on vulnerable areas like the abdomen or neck.
This harness type is considered the gold standard for child car seat safety because it keeps your child properly positioned within the protective shell of the car seat during sudden stops or collisions. Not like the 3-point seat belt, which is made for adult body proportions, a 5-point harness is designed for infants and toddlers whose bodies are still developing.
It spreads the impact forces evenly and minimize the forward movement of your baby when something unexpected happens. The 5-point harness car seat significantly reduces the chance of ejection and fatal injury in a crash. With that being said, this type of harness is usually used in rear-facing and forward-facing car seats. Not to mention that this harness is recommended by safety experts for babies who have not yet reached the size and maturity needed for booster seats.
The Anatomy of the System: Understanding the Five Points of Contact
It is called a 5-point harness because of the five separate points where the harness connects and secures your baby. Each of the points has its designated function in the overall crash protection. All in all, these contact points maintain the position of your baby and help manage crash forces in the safest way.
- Two shoulder straps
One shoulder strap is on your baby’s shoulder, and the other one is across the chest. These two straps protect the head, neck, and upper torso of your baby through controlling how far the body can move during sudden stops.
- Two hip straps
These straps are placed low across the hips of your baby. They are the ones responsible for securing the pelvis, which is one of the strongest parts of a child’s body. When you anchor the lower body of your baby, the hip straps lessen the chance of sliding forward or “submarining” under the harness.
- One crotch strap
This crotch strap is found between the legs of your little one. It connects the upper and lower portions of the harness. This strap also keeps the shoulder and hip straps in their proper position and prevents your child from being ejected upward or forward during impact.
How a 5-Point Harness Provides Superior Crash Protection
- Restraining your child in the best places for optimum safety in a crash
The five attachment points of the 5-point harness are designed to restrain your child at the shoulders and hips, which are the most rigid parts of their body. If there is a crash, the car seat harness transfers the forces of the crash to these rigid points of the body and into the seat.
- Holding your baby securely to keep them in the safest position
Accidents are really scary to think about. There are instances, in some accidents, where a car will roll over. When this happens, your baby could fall out of their car seat by either coming out of the side, under, or over the restraint. With a 5-point harness car seat this makes sure that your baby is held in the car seat, whatever happens. Your baby stays in the safest position within the protective seat shell.
- A 5-point harness car seat adapts to fit your child’s growing body for maximum protection
We’re all aware that babies grow up very fast. The straps in your car seat must be positioned in the right way to ensure that the forces of an accident are transferred to the car seat shell and the rigid shoulder bones of your child. Good things, the 5-point harness is very easy to adjust to different height positions for peace of mind, your baby is as safe as possible.
Key Advantages: Force Distribution and Preventing Ejection
One of the main benefits of the 5-point harness car seat is that it manages, in the most effective way, the crash forces while keeping your child secured in their place at the same time. This harness is made for your baby’s small, developing body.
- Even distribution of crash forces
The 5-point harness car seat distributes the impact energy across the shoulders and hips of your baby. It also reduces stress on delicate areas like the abdomen, neck, and spine.
- Reduced risk of internal injuries
The harness helps in lowering the chance of serious internal harm during a collision because it directs the forces into the car seat shell instead of your baby’s soft tissue.
- Limited forward and side movement
The harness is also in control of how far your baby’ s body moves during sudden stops or crashes. It’s like it helps prevent head and chest injuries.
- Prevention of ejection
Since the harness has multiple attachment points, it will secure your baby in the seat. And this reduces the risk of slipping out from under, over, or around the harness.
- Enhanced protection in complex crashes
With a 5-point harness car seat, you have added protection for the baby if anything happens like car rollovers or side-impact collisions, where movement occurs in multiple directions.
Rear-Facing vs. Forward-Facing: Harness Usage Guidelines
If you have an infant or a toddler, you should get the rear-facing car seats because they provide the highest level of protection for their head, neck, and spine. In the most common type of collision, the frontal crash, the rear-facing seat allows crash forces to be absorbed by the seat shell. And the 5-point harness car seat keeps your baby in the safest position.
When your baby grows and exceeds the rear-facing height or weight limits of their car seat, you can use the forward-facing seat. In the forward-facing seat, the 5-point harness car seat is responsible for limiting the forward movement, restraining the shoulders and hips of your baby.
Knowing When to Transition to a Booster Seat (and Out of the Harness)
Your baby should remain in a harnessed car seat until they exceed the maximum height or weight specified by the manufacturer. But here’s how you can know when to transition to a booster seat.
- Outgrown the harness: Your baby is way past the car seat’s height or weight limit.
- Harness straps are too high: Straps are above their shoulders even on the highest setting.
- Lap belt rides up: Belt tends to sit on the stomach instead of low on the hips.
- Shoudler belt misalignment: Belt crosses the neck or face of your baby instead of their chest and shoulder.
- Can sit properly: Your baby can stay upright and back against the seat for the whole ride.
- Knows safety rules: Your baby won’t unbuckle or lean forward during travel.
Common Mistakes in Harness Adjustment and How to Fix Them
The 5-point harness car seat would be pointless if you don’t know how to adjust the straps correctly. Avoid these common mistakes when adjusting the harness.
- Harness straps are too loose
You need to tighten the straps until you can fit only one finger between the harness and your baby’s chest. The harness should lie flat without twists.
- The chest clip is in the wrong position
Place the chest clip at armpit level, across the center of the chest, so the shoulder straps are aligned properly.
- Harness straps twisted
Twisted straps can make pressure points, so you need to straighten them to lie flat across the shoulders and chest.
- Incorrect strap height
Straps should come at or just below or above the shoulders of your baby, depending on what type of car seat you have.
- Dressing your baby in bulky clothes under the harness
Avoid dressing your baby in bulky clothes, as it prevents the straps from fitting snugly.
- Loose crotch strap
Make sure that the crotch strap is snug and is properly anchored to keep your baby in a safe position.
Choosing the Right 5-Point Harness Car Seat for Your Child’s Needs
Now that you know what is a 5-point harness car seat, you must be asking how to choose the right one for your baby. Here’s what you need to consider:
- Check if it accommodates your baby’s current weight and height
- Decide whether you want a seat that can transition from rear-facing to forward-facing, or just one seat with one position.
- Choose seats with clear instructions, LATCH compatibility, or built-in locking systems.
- Go for a harness car seat with adjustable shoulder heights, tightness, and chest clip positioning so it can adapt to your growing child.
- If you want your baby to be comfortable all the time, pick the ones with padded seats and breathable fabrics.
- It is better if you choose a harness car seat with crash test results and certifications. In this way, you’ll be sure that it meets safety standards.
