What is a No Re-thread Head Restraint?
A no re-thread head restraint is a harness system that allows you to adjust the height of the harness straps and subsequently the head restraint without having to unattach the straps from the metal yoke on the back of the seat, re-thread them through a new slot and reattach them to the metal yoke.
Here is a seat that does not feature a no re-thread harness; when the harness needs to be adjusted you must remove the straps from the harness yoke on the back of the seat and re-thread the straps in the appropriate harness slots.
Where is the No Re-thread Head Restraint located on the car seat?
Depending on the seat that you have, the no re-thread adjustment mechanism could be located either on the side of the seat or the back of the seat.
Some seats, including the Diplomat and Boulevard, feature a knob that allows you to adjust the harness height from the side of the seat.
Other seats, like the Frontier combination Harness-2-Booster seat, allow you to adjust the harness height from the back of the seat.
How do I benefit from the seat having a No Re-thread Head Restraint?
A no re-thread head restraint and harness height adjustment is beneficial for two reasons:
- First of all, the no re-thread mechanism allows for a more accurate harness fit for your child. Ultimately you want the harness straps to be as close to your child’s shoulders as possible. The job of a car seat is to limit injury. One way that a car seat limits injury to your child is by keeping them from moving excessively. If the harness straps are positioned close to your child’s shoulders then they will not move as much during a crash. Remember, harness straps should be at or below your child’s shoulders when they are rear facing, and at or above your child’s shoulders when they are forward facing.
- Secondly, the no re-thread mechanism makes it easier for you to adjust the harness straps; this eliminates the opportunity for the harness to be threaded through the shell incorrectly. Features that are easier to use each and every time have a much better chance of being used correctly each and every time, resulting in a safer environment for your child.
How does the No Re-thread Head Restraint work?
The no re-thread mechanism can be found on Britax convertible car seats as well as other seats such as the Frontier combination Harness-2-Booster seat. The mechanism works differently depending on the seat:
Convertible car seats feature a knob that when turned moves the harness along with the head restraint along a threaded metal bar on the back of the seat as seen here.
Seats like the Frontier feature a lift-lever on the back of the seat that can be slid up and down to adjust both the harness height and head restraint simultaneously.
How long has Britax incorporated the No Re-thread Head Restraint in their seats?
We first began to incorporate the no re-thread head restraint feature into our products in 2001 with the launch of the Britax Advantage convertible car seat.
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