2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manuals

1-69 Storing the Built-In Child Restraint
Always properly store the built-in child restraint before
using the vehicle's lap
-shoulder belt.
1. Move both latch plates and both sides of the shoulder
harness clip to the bottom of the harness straps.
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 corners against the
fastener strips on the seatback.5. Rotate the head restraint forward and push it all the
way down.
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
ªChecking Your Restraint Systemsº and ªReplacing Seat
and Restraint System Parts After a Crashº in the Index.

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Child Restraints
Every time infants and young children ride in
vehicles, they should have protection provided by
appropriate restraints.
Q:What are the different types of add-on
child restraints?
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.
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.

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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 frontal 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.

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A booster seat (F) is designed for children who
are about 40 to 60 lbs., or even up to 80 lbs.
(18 to 27 kg, or even up to 36 kg), and about four
to eight years of age. A booster seat is 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 a rear seat. Never put a rear
-facing
child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here's why:

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CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger's air bag inflates. This is because the
back of the rear
-facing child restraint would be
very close to the inflating air bag. Always secure
a rear
-facing 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.
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.
Top Strap
In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be
anchored. In the United States, some child restraints also
have a top strap. If your child restraint has a top strap,
it should be anchored.

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A child restraint with a top strap should only be used in
the second or third row. Don't use a child restraint with
a top strap in the right front passenger's position or in
the center position of a third row seat, because there's no
place to anchor the top strap.
An anchor bar for a top strap is located at the rear of the
seat cushion for each second and third row outboard
seating position, and for the center position of the
second row.
Second Row
Third Row
Anchor the top strap to this bar. Once you have the top
strap anchored, you'll be ready to secure the child
restraint itself.