This page describes and instructs on the use of "Swedish Tethering" for American rear-facing convertible child restraints. The pictures and information on this page are for informational and demonstrational purposes only. If you are still unsure of how to tether your restraint rear-facing or are not 100% confident please do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer of your restraint or a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

American style "Swedish Tethering"

The seats listed on this page have been tested and approved for use of the upper tether when rear-facing. It's important to remember that not all seats have been tested/approved for use of the tether while rear-facing so unless the manufacturer explicitly states that your restraint can do this, don't.  Using the tether when rear-facing with a seat that hasn't been tested or approved doing so, could put your child at risk of seriously catastrophic injuries in an accident and/or cause the restraint to become defective.

The following are the only confirmed (as of June 2007) child restraints in the US that tether rear-facing:

Britax Boulevard
Britax Decathlon
Britax Marathon
Britax Roundabout
Sunshine Kids Radian 65
Sunshine Kids Radian 80

Britax
Toll-free: 1-888-4Britax, or 1-888-427-4829,
Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. or Friday 8:30 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Website:  www.britaxusa.net

Sunshine Kids
Toll-free: 888-336-7909
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (PST)
Website: www.skjp.com

Please read your car seats user manual before attempting to install/tether your restraint rear-facing. If you have any queries, ring one of the above numbers (whoever has manufactured your restraint) for more info.

The D-Ring Tether Connector Strap

To tether your car seat rear-facing you need a "D-Ring Tether Connector Strap" as pictured to the left.

The D-Ring Tether Connector Strap helps connect the car seats tether to the front of the vehicle seat frame when the vehicle seat frame is too large for the hook on the end of the tether strap and you can't find a suitable anchor to attach it to. The tether connector strap is used to assist in creating an "anchor point" to tether to.

IMPORTANT: Only use the tether connector strap for rear-facing tethering, not forward-facing tethering.

All of the above Britax convertible car seats come with the tether connector strap although replacement straps can be purchased at cost from the manufacture (details above).

The D-Ring is a short length of webbing with a loop of webbing at one end and a metal d-ring (hence the name "D-Ring") on the other. This piece is used to loop around an approved spot in your car towards the front of the vehicle/car seat.

"Approved" spots:

• Fixed vehicle seat-belt anchor that is bolted to the floor
  
• Seat frame bar that the tether connector strap can be wrapped around
• Seat mounting rail that is bolted to the floor of the vehicle
• Vehicle seat leg that is bolted to the floor
• 
  

An anchorage point in front of the restraint is one that is any structural metal part of the vehicle that does not move.

It is very important that you read your car seats manual and find the right spot to anchor your seat. If you cannot find an appropriate anchor point, do not use thet tether connector strap until such time you can contact the manufacturer of your restraint for more information.

For a video instructing on how to use the D-Ring Tether Connector Strap please visit http://www.carseatsite.com/videos.htm  and scroll down to "Installing a Britax Tether Connector Strap (D-Ring)."

Example of "Swedish Tethering" with and without th D-Ring Tether Connector Strap 

2005 Toyota Sienna -  Tethered to drivers side.

2007 Acura MDX - Tethered to the drivers seat & Tethered to the front passenger seat.

Hyundai Santa Fe 2003 - Drivers side seat anchor.

2004 VW Passat - Plastic covering removed to expose small hole that a Britax tether can fit through.

1999 Chevrolet Suburban - D-ring wrapped around the seatbelt anchor for the front passenger bench.