How to release a Nuna car seat LATCH connector
The short answer
To release a Nuna LATCH connector, first take the tension off it. Loosen the LATCH strap at its adjuster, or press the seat or base firmly back into the vehicle seat. Then press the connector's release button or lever, and pull the connector off the vehicle's lower anchor bar. Most connectors that seem stuck are still under load. Once the tension is gone, they usually release easily.
LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is the US system of metal anchor bars built into the vehicle seat crease, plus a top tether anchor used mainly for forward-facing seats. The connectors on the car seat clip onto these bars.
The exact release control depends on your Nuna model and the type of connector it uses. The main types are:
Connectors on a flexible strap, released with a button or tab on the connector body; Rigid LATCH arms built into the seat or base, often released with a button or handle on the seat itself; A separate top tether hook, released by loosening the tether and unhooking it
No model-specific details were provided for this guide, so it does not state which Nuna seats use which connector type. Check your seat's manual and the labels on the seat or base to identify the release control on your model.
Before you start
Have the Nuna instruction manual for your exact seat or base. Use the model name and date of manufacture on the seat's label to confirm it is the right one. Check your vehicle owner's manual for where the lower anchors and top tether anchors are. Take the child out of the seat. If it is an infant carrier, lift the carrier off its base first. Park on level ground with the parking brake set. Open the door fully so you can see and reach the seat crease. You need no tools. Do not pry with screwdrivers or other tools. They can damage the connector, the anchor or the vehicle upholstery.
Step-by-step: releasing the connectors
1) If a top tether is attached, loosen it at its adjuster and unhook it from the vehicle anchor. Doing this first stops it from pulling the seat back while you work on the lower connectors. 2) Find the release for the lower LATCH strap. It is usually a button or lever on the adjuster or belt path. Press it and pull slack into the strap. If your model has rigid LATCH arms, skip this step. 3) Press down and back on the seat or base, toward the seat crease. This takes the load off the connector so its latch can open. 4) While holding that pressure, press the release button or tab on one connector. Rigid systems may use a button or handle on the seat instead. 5) Pull the connector straight off the anchor bar and away from the crease. Don't twist it sideways, because that can bind it on the bar. 6) Repeat for the connector on the other side. 7) Retract or stow the connectors and straps as your manual describes. Some Nuna seats have storage spots for unused connectors.
Stop if a connector will not release after you have relieved the tension and pressed the release fully. Do not keep pulling hard or try to force it open, because you could damage the latch mechanism. Check your manual again for that model's release method. If it still won't come free, contact Nuna customer support or a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).
Check that it worked
Both lower connectors, and the top tether if used, are fully off their anchors. The seat or base lifts away freely. The connector housings are not cracked or bent, and their release buttons spring back on their own. The straps are not frayed, cut or twisted. The vehicle's anchor bars are not bent and have no debris around them.
If any connector, strap or rigid arm is damaged, do not use the seat until Nuna has confirmed whether it is safe or needs a replacement part. After a vehicle crash, follow Nuna's guidance on whether the seat must be replaced. Do not judge that from how the seat looks.
Reinstalling later
When you install the seat again, follow the Nuna manual for its weight limits on LATCH use, and the vehicle manual for which seating positions have lower anchors. Neither limit is given in this guide because they vary by seat and vehicle. After installing, check that the seat or base is tight. A CPST can check the installation for you if you are unsure.