2003 HONDA ELEMENT child seat

When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in the back seat on a
booster and wear a lap/shoulder belt.
We recommend that the child use a
booster seat until the child is tall
enough to use the seat belt without a
booster.To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly f its a child, have the child
sit in the rear seat, all the way back
against the seat, and put on the seat
belt. Follow the instructions on page. Then check how the belt f its.
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must sit in the f ront seat.
17
Protecting L arger Children
Checking Seat Belt Fit
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety42
Allowing a larger child to sit
improperly in the front seat can
result in injury or death if the
passenger’s front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must sit in front,
make sure the child moves the
seat as far back as possible,
uses a booster seat if needed,
and wears the seat belt properly.

Whichever style you select, f ollow
the booster seat maker’s instructions.
If the shoulder part of the belt rests
over the child’s collarbone and
against the center of the chest, and
the lap belt rests over the child’s
hipbones and touches the tops of
their thighs as shown, the child is
probably big enough to wear the seat
belt.
However, if the shoulder belt
touchesorcrossesthechild’sneck,
or if the lap belt crosses the child’s
stomach, the child needs to use a
booster seat.
This could result in serious neck and
internal injuries during a crash.
If they do, they could
be very seriously injured in a crash. Devices intended to improve
occupant comf ort or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt, severely
compromise the protective capability
of the seat belt and increase the
chance of serious injury in a crash. This could cause
very serious injuries during a crash.
It also increases the chance that the
child will slide under the belt in a
crash and be injured.
If a child needs a booster seat, we
recommend choosing a high or low-
back style that allows the child to be
directly secured with the lap/
shoulder belt.
CONT INUED
Using a Boost er Seat
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across t he neck or over t he st omach.
T wo children should never use t hesame seat belt .
Do not put any accessories on a seat
belt.
Do not let a child put the shoulder
part of a seat belt behind t he back orunder t he arm.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety43

The back seat is the saf est place f or
a child of any age or size. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properly
restrained in the back seat.
In addition, the passenger’s f ront
airbag poses serious risks to children.
If the seat is too f ar f orward, or the
child’s head is thrown f orward
during a collision, or the child is
unrestrained or out of position, an
inf lating f ront airbag can kill or
seriously injure the child.Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in the
f ront, there are other important
f actors you should consider.
If a child who uses a booster must
ride in f ront, move the vehicle seat
as far to the rear as possible, and be
sure the child is wearing the seat
belt properly.
A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of the ears are
even with the top of the seat-back. A
child of this height should be tall
enough to use the lap/shoulder belt
without a booster.
Even then, the child may still need to
use a booster seat. Note that some
states now require children to use
boosters until they reach a certain
ageand/orweight.Besuretocheck
current laws in the state or states
where you intend to drive.
On models with side airbags, the
side airbag also poses risks. If any
part of a larger child’s body is in the
path of a deploying airbag, the child
could receive possibly serious
injuries.
When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety44

If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride up f ront, be sure to:Caref ully read the owner’s manual
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the f loor.
Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly positioned and secured.
Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it over the hips, chest, and
shoulder (see pages and ). If
the seat belt does not f it properly,
the child should not sit in the f ront.
To saf ely ride in f ront, a child must
be able to f ollow the rules, including
sitting properly and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
On models with side airbags,
remind the child not to lean
toward the door because of the
side airbag.Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
17 42Physical Size
Maturity
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety45

Since a tether can provide additional
security, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available. (Tethers are required in
Canada.)Remove the head restraint where
you want to place the child seat.
Your vehicle has two tether
anchorage points on the ceiling near
the hatch opening f or securing a
tether-style child seat to the vehicle. The tether anchorage points are
located under plastic covers. Select
the anchorage point you want to use,
and slide the cover to open it. You can remove the head restraint
by pressing the release button.
Using Child Seats with T ethers
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety46
COVERS
TETHER ANCHORAGE POINT

Make sure the removed head
restraints are secured in the cargo
area. Reinstall the head restraints
when the child seat is removed.Attach the attaching clip to the
tether anchorage point as shown in
the illustration, then tighten the
strap according to the child seat
maker’s instructions. Make sure the
strap is not twisted.Your vehicle is equipped with
LATCH (Lower Anchors and
Tethers f or Children) at the rear
seats. The lower anchors are located
between the seat-back and seat
bottom and are to be used only with
a child seat designed f or use with
LATCH.
The exact location of each lower
anchorage is marked with a small
button above the lower anchorage
point.
CONT INUED
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting Children
Using L A T CH
47
LOWER ANCHORSMARKS

To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat:Remove the plastic cover by
pulling it f orward.
Make sure there are no f oreign
objects around the anchors.
Foreign objects could get in the
way of a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors. Put the child seat in the rear lef t
or right vehicle seat and attach the
child seat to the lower anchors
according to the child seat maker’s
instructions.
Follow the child seat maker’s
instructions f or any additional
advice on adjusting or tightening
the fit.
1.
2. 3.
4.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety48
Flexible type
Rigid type

Remove the head restraint (see
page ).
Make sure the removed head
restraints are secured in the cargo
area. Reinstall the head restraints
when the child seat is removed. Attach the attaching clip to the
tether anchor fitting and tighten
the strap according to the child
seat maker’s instructions. Make
sure the strap is not twisted.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side to side to
verif y that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers.This symbol on rear or f orward
f acing child seats or booster
cushions indicates the presence of
LATCH compatible hardware.
5.
6.
7.
94
Canadian model only
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
L ower Universal Anchorage
System Symbol
49