2001 GMC SONOMA child seat

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A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for
the child's body with the harness and also sometimes
with surfaces such as T
-shaped or shelf-like shields.
A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
improve the fit of the vehicle's safety belt system. Some
booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some
high
-back booster seats have a five-point harness. A
booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.

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Q:How do child restraints work?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built
-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add
-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which is
purchased by the vehicle's owner.
For many years, add
-on child restraints have used
the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help reduce
the chance of injury, the child also has to be
secured within the restraint. The vehicle's belt
system secures the add
-on child restraint in the
vehicle, and the add
-on child restraint's harness
system holds the child in place within the restraint.
One system, the three
-point harness, has straps that
come down over each of the infant's shoulders and
buckle together at the crotch. The five
-point
harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip
straps and a crotch strap. A shield may take the
place of hip straps. A T
-shaped shield has shoulder
straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low
against the child's body. A shelf
- or armrest-type
shield has straps that are attached to a wide,
shelf
-like shield that swings up or to the side.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.
When securing an add
-on child restraint, refer to the
instructions that come with the restraint which may be
on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this
manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so
if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from
the manufacturer.

1-44 Where to Put the Restraint
(Regular Cab and Extended Cab Pickup)
The child restraint must be secured properly in the right
front passenger seat. If you want to secure a rear
-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger's seat, turn off
the passenger's air bag. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº and
ªSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
Positionº in the Index for more on this, including
important safety information.
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. Be sure to turn
off the air bag before using a rear
-facing child
restraint in the right front seat position.
Where to Put the Restraint (Crew Cab Pickup)
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors, therefore, recommends that child
restraints be secured in a rear seat outside position,
including an infant riding in a rear
-facing infant seat, a
child riding in a forward
-facing child seat an older child
riding in a booster seat. Never put a rear
-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger's seat. Here's why:
CAUTION:
A child riding 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.

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There is limited space in the rear seating area of a crew
cab pickup model. If you want to secure a child restraint
in a rear outside seating position of a crew cab model, be
sure to study the instructions that came with your child
restraint to see if there is enough room to secure your
seat properly. Don't secure a child restraint in the
center rear seating position, because the restraints won't
work properly.
If a forward
-facing child seat must be secured in the
vehicle's right front seat, the seat should be moved back
as far as possible. However, it is better to secure the
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
Some child restraints have a top strap, or ªtop tether.º
It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.
For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to
the vehicle.
If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one
can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit
is available.

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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.
Anchor the top strap to this bracket (regular or extended
cab). Once you have the top strap anchored, you'll be
ready to secure the child restraint.
The three anchor points for the rear seat child restraint
positions in the Crew Cab are located on the back wall
behind the rear passenger's seat.
Anchor the top strap to one of these anchor points.
Be sure to use an anchor point located on the same side
of the vehicle as the seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.

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When using a top strap-equipped child restraint in a rear
outboard seating position of a crew cab model, route the
top strap through the opening in the head restraint. Then,
attach it to the anchor point for that seating position.
Once you have the top strap anchored, you'll be ready to
secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top strap
when and as the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions say.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position (Crew Cab Models)
You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one. Be sure
to follow the instructions that came with the child
restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and
as the instructions say.
1. Put the restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle's safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child's face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.

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5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint. If
you're using a forward
-facing child restraint, you may
find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the
child restraint as you tighten the belt.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position (Regular Cab &
Extended Cab Models) and in the Center
Rear Seat Position (Crew Cab Models)
Don't use child restraints in these positions.
The restraints won't work properly.

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Jump Seats (Extended Cab)
Don't use child restraints in these positions.
The restraints won't work properly.
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a passenger air bag. If your vehicle is a
regular cab pickup or an extended cab pickup, there's a
switch on the instrument panel that you can use to turn
off the right front passenger's air bag when you want
to secure a rear
-facing child restraint at the right front
passenger's position. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in
the Index for more on this, including important
safety information.