BABY CAR SEAT...3 or 5 POINTS HARNESS SYSTEM?

Question

We need to buy a baby car seat for our baby due early next year. With so many choices, we've finally decided which brand of Carseat to purchase. We are still faced, however, with the choice between three or five points harness system. Which is better? What are some pros and cons of each option. Please answer only if you have reasonable knowledge or experience with both carseat system. Thank you.

Answer 1

5 points are definitely safer... 3 aren't allowed in some places anymore... also 5 is easier because you don't have to put anything over your baby's head to get them into it, just over their arms.

I haven't used 3-point recently (just back in my babysitting days)... For our baby we just bought the 5-point... I don't think you can still buy 3-points in Canada - except used ones (and I'd never buy a used carseat because you don't know if it's been in an accident and it's just that much closer to the expiry date... yes carseats expire.) Also, our prenatal class recommended 5-point and I don't think the hospital here let's you leave with a 3-point one..., but friends who have used 3-point ones told me that over the head straps can be a bit of a pain in the winter if you live in a cold climate and the baby's wearing a hat/hood etc.

I know you said you'd already picked, and I don't know if you're getting a travel system or not, but another couple considerations for your baby carseat/stroller system...

1. We bought an evenflo carseat/travel system (stroller) at Wal-Mart and I love it. The 'z' handle on the evenflo is much more ergonomic and comfortable to carry... more like a grocery bag. Your arm/wrist isn't all twisted.

2. Additional bases were available for ours (online through Toys-r-us)... we only have one car, but I've been going out with my parents lots while on mat leave so I got a 2nd base for their car... it's super convenient.

3. Our stroller has a built in bug-screen that pulls down from under the canopy... it's black so it's easier for baby to see through, and I didn't just use it for bugs... I also put it down to stop toys from getting thrown out all the time. All the other Moms in my mommy's group love it and wish theirs had one too.

4. Most do now, but make sure the stroller is easy to unfold and stands unsupported when folded up. Try before you buy if you have the chance! (i.e. go push them around in the store, take the carrier on and off, fold and unfold etc.)

The only other carseat tip I got was for later when you buy a forward facing one (for after 1 year)... make sure all the adjustments can be made at the front without having to take the seat out and flip it over.

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

They are illegal and unsafe. The roadcar is made to work with the original, three point seatbelts. The car has three mountings for each seatbelt and each of them is supposed to hold so much of a load. When you apply a four, five, six of seven-point harness, at least some of the straps will be bolted onto parts of the chassis which cannot support the necessary loads. Furthermore, the shoulder strap of the belt, mounted unto the original mounting, will put too much of a strain onto that point, since it will now support a wider, stiffer, tighter straps or even a pair of straps that support the whole upper body, and in a completly different angle than intended for the original belt. Also, when you increase the upper body support so much, you increase the risk of diving under the lapbelt (which is the main part of any seatbelt/harness), so that without a full harness/bucket seat/roll cage design you have only increased the problem. Another reason: The SEAT itself will not support the harness so that it may crush the back of the seat or slide besides it and off of it and off of your shoulder. Racing harnesses work together with a racing seat and vice versa, never apart! So why don't the manufacturers use harnesses and bucket seats from the start? It's simply a matter of design, investment and the comfort in using the original belts and the more adjustable seat. Keep in mind that racing harnesses fit very snuggly, where in road driving one might need to move around to bend forward to have a better view of a junction/corner/etc...

Answer 3

I don't think they even make the 3 point harness car seats in the USA anymore, but I could be wrong. If I were you I would go with a five harness carseat. I would just buy a convertible car seat that faces the rear or the front. My son is only five months old and is already outgrowing his infant carrier. The infant carriers are really nice to have, but your baby will probably outgrow it really fast.

Answer 4

The 5 point is definitely safer - I personally found the 3 point a lot easier and faster to put on, as you just put the baby in, pull the strap over the head, and buckle. The 5 point is a pain to use in comparison, as the straps are in the back of the seat and you have to pull them out from under the baby, put his arms in them, click two separate buckles into the bottom, and then fasten the chest strap. But it holds the baby in place so much better than the 3 point - my baby slid around in that seat a lot more, I had to use blankets to keep him propped in place. When they are only 8 pounds the 5 point harness is so much better for keeping them positioned properly. My son did not slouch in the seat anywhere near as much as he did with the 3 point harness. They are so little that the extra straps on the 5 point harness really help keep them in place. So I would go with the 5 point - not nearly as convenient, but a lot more secure.

Also, depending on the style of seat, some are easier to get in and out of the car than others. If you live near a Babies R Us, they will let you try out the store models in your car to see how they fit. Proper fit is important - not all seats are created equal. Some seats will not work as well as others in your car. Older cars are not fitted for LATCH, so you have to use the seatbelt system in your car. This can affect how the seat fits your specific vehicle. I have two car seats - one of them works in my car, and the other one doesn't. It wobbles way too much when the seatbelt is as tight as it will go.

Answer 5

5 point is definately safer. it's what racecar drivers use! With a 5 point the belts go around the hips and the pressure from a jolt is distributed acroos the hipbones as well as the sternum. Three points are less safe because of the pressure only being dstributed between the shoulders and the crotch (oww!)

We started my DD in a 5 pt convertible carseat as we were broke ;-( She did fine. and used the seat until she was 3.
With our son we had a 3-point baby bucket, but he outgrew it in 4 months. Now he has a 5 point Graco Comfort sport with EPS foam. I wish we could afford a Britax though.


This website is an excellent resource for making sure your carseat is being used appropriately. http://www.seatcheck.org/

Answer 6

5 point harness is better. It will keep your baby centered in the seat unlike the 3 point harness. When I used a 3 point with my first baby she would always end up scooted over to the side and in a very unsafe position. We only use a 5 point harness now.

Answer 7

5 points are always better with all babies and childrens items. a 3 harness only has between the legs and over the shoulders. while a 5 has between the legs, under both arms and over the shoulders.

i also think in aus 3 point is illegal, as it doesnt meet safety standards

Answer 8

5 points of attachment theoretically enables a much stronger seat. Make sure you attach it to your car securely and use all the straps that should be used to hold the seat and your baby. Safety seats can be unsafe if they're not used correctly. That's my opinion but I'm not an expert.