1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Owners Manual

10. Adjust the position of the harness on the child’s shoulders by moving the clip up or down along the
harness. On each side
of the harness, the shoulder
part should be centered on the child’s shoulder. The
harness should be away from the child’s face and
neck, but not falling
off the child’s shoulders.
1. Unfasten the shoulder harness clip.
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2. Unlatch the harness by pushing the button on
3. Move one side of the harness off the child’s
the buckle.
shoulder,
and let the harness go all the way back.
4. Move the other side of the harness off the child’s
shoulder, and let it
go all the way back.
5. Remove the child fiom the child restraint cushion.
Storing the Built-in Child Restraint
Always properly store the built-in child restraint before
using the vehicle’s lap belt
in the center rear seat position.
1.
Buckle the harness and fasten the harness clip.
2. Fold the child restraint cushion and leg rest up
into the seatback.
3. Press the child restraint cushion firmly into
the seatback.
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4. Then press the leg rest firmly into the seatback, and
secure it by pressing the upper comers against the
fastener strips on the seatback.
Just like the other restraint systems in your vehicle, your
built-in child restraint needs to be periodically checked
and may need to have parts replaced
after a crash. See
“Checking Your Restraint Systems” and “Replacing Seat
and Restraint System
Parts After a Crash” in the Index.
Child Restraints
Every time infants and young children ride in
vehicles, they should
have protection provided by
appropriate restraints.
@’ What are the different types of add-on
A: Add-on child restraints are available in four basic
types. When selecting a child restraint, take into
consideration not only the child’s weight and size,
but also whether or not the restraint will be
compatible with the motor vehicle in which it
will be used.
child restraints?
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An infant car bed (A) is a special bed made for use
in a motor vehicle. It’s an infant restraint system designed to restrain
or position a child on a
continuous flat surface. With
an infant car bed,
make sure that the infant’s head rests toward
the
center of the vehicle.
A rear-facing infant restraint (B) positions an infant
to face
the rear of the vehicle. Rear-facing infant
restraints are designed for infants of up to about
20 lbs. (9 kg) and about one year of age. This type
of restraint faces the rear
so that the infant’s head,
neck and body can have the support they need in
a
crash. Some infant seats come in two parts -- the
base stays secured in the vehicle and the seat part
is removable.
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A forward-facing child restraint (C-E) positions a
child upright to face forward in the vehicle. These
forward-facing restraints are designed to help
protect
children who are from 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg) and
about 26
to 40 inches (66 to 102 cm) in height, or up
to around
four years of age. One type, a convertible
restraint, is designed to be used either as a rear-facing
infant seat
or a forward-facing child seat.

A booster seat (F, G) is designed for children who are
about 40 to 60 lbs. (1 8 to 27 kg) and about four to
eight years
of age. It’s designed to improve the fit of
the vehicle’s safety belt system. Booster seats with
shields use lap-only belts; however, booster seats
without shields use lap-shoulder belts. Booster seats
can also help a child to see out the window. When choosing
a child restraint, be sure the child
restraint
is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it
will have
a label saying that it meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards.
Then follow the instructions
for the restraint. You may
find these instructions on the restraint itself
or in a
booklet,
or both. These restraints use the belt system in
your vehicle, but the child
also has to be secured within
the restraint to help reduce the chance
of personal injury.
The instructions that come with the infant or child
restraint will
show you how to do that. Both the owner’s
manual
and the child restraint instructions are important,
so if either one of these is not available, obtain a
replacement copy from
the manufacturer.
Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We at
General Motors therefore recommend that you put your
child restraint in the rear seat.
Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here’s
why:
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I A CAUTION:
A child in a rearfacing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the right front passenger’s air
bag inflates, even though your vehicle has
reduced-force frontal air bags. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating air bag. Always
secure a rearfacing child restraint
in a rear seat.
You may secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, but before you do, always
move the front passenger seat as far back
as it
will go. It’s better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
A CAUTION:
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat
can be badly injured or killed by the right front
passenger air bag if it inflates, even though your
vehicle has reduced-force frontal air bags. Never
secure a child restraint in the center front seat.
It’s always better to secure a child restraint in the
rear seat. You may secure
a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger seat, but
before you do, always move the front passenger
seat
as far back as it will go. It’s better to secure
the child restraint in a rear seat.
Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in
a collision or sudden stop and injure people in
the vehicle. Be sure
to properly secure any child
restraint in your vehicle
-- even when no child is in it.