In Australia, car seats are legally required to have a 5-point car seat restraint system nowadays. However, it wasn’t always like that. Before the 5-point system was introduced, there were 3-point systems which were functional but had some flaws. Clearly the 5-point harness system was a better, more efficient and safe design. But, why? What makes it better and how does it protect your child?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 5-point harness system, how it works, and how it protects your child.
What is a 5-point Harness Car Seat?
When an individual or couple has a baby, they’re required to use a car seat to transport them because they provide more safety in case of an accident. The 5-point harness is the restraint system in the car seat that fits over the baby, restraining them to the seat and protecting them if you’re ever in an accident.
How does it work?
The 5-point harness has five connection points that all meet and connect together. Each strap of the harness covers a certain area of your baby’s body, restraining that area from moving. Two straps come over the shoulders and two over the hips, while the fifth is where the connected straps attach to the buckle on the car seat. Essentially, this ensures that all parts of your child’s body are restrained, keeping them safely in their chair if you’re in an accident.
Benefits of the 5-point harness
The 5-point harness system had to be effective otherwise, it wouldn’t have become the standard restraint system for car chairs. Here are some benefits of the 5-point harness that prove its effectiveness even more:
It restrains your child in the best way in case of a crash
We all know that accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, which is precisely why they’re called accidents. Because of this, it’s recommended that we always be prepared for a potential accident, with safety features all over modern-day cars as preventative measures. Well, the 5-point harness is one of these measures for your baby.
The way in which the 5-point harness is positioned allows it to restrain your child perfectly in the event of an accident. If you’re in a crash, instead of the force being directed onto your kid, the harness will redirect it into the car seat. As a result, your child will be kept safe.
It offers safer support than a 3-point harness
Infants are delicate and can be significantly injured in a car accident, more so than adults. Likewise, their softer body parts, like the abdomen, are also more prone to injury than the others, such as the shoulder joint. Older restraints, like the 3-point harness, involve restraining infants at the waist. However, if you had to stop suddenly, the force wouldn’t be mitigated by the harness, rather, it’ll be amplified with the harness pushing into your child’s abdomen, causing severe injuries that could be fatal.
It’s been tested and approved
In Australia, the Child restraint Evaluation Program is used to test car seats and their restraint system over a series of three simulation tests. When being designed, these harnesses are put through several crash tests to check what force is applied on different parts of the baby’s body as well as the maximum amount of force they can handle. From these results, the harnesses are then designed to ensure that the force applied to each part of the body is within safe limits.
It can adapt as your child grows
Another benefit of the 5-point harness is that it is adaptable. We all know just how fast children grow. Sometimes, we can’t even keep track. That said, you don’t want to get them a new car seat for every birthday; rather, you want a car seat that’ll last them until they move to a booster seat. A 5-point harness on your car seat can be adjusted and configured to suit your child’s height, weight, and even girth. By doing this, it ensures longer use and the ability to restrain your child no matter their age or size perfectly.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, the 5-point harness system has become a standard on most car seats, and for good reason! With a 5-point harness, you can rest assured that your child is well-restrained and protected in your car if you’re ever in an accident. The Australian car seat market also has tons of great car chairs with 5-point harnesses to choose from. Doing a little research will help you find a great deal of the best seat for your child. We wish you all the best!
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