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CONT INUED
Many states, Canadian provinces and
territories allow a child one year of
age or older who also meets the
minimum size and weight
requirements to transition f rom a
rear-f acing child seat to a f orward
f acing seat. Know the requirements
where you are driving and f ollow the
child seat instructions. Many experts
recommend use of a rear-f acing seat
up to age two, if the child’s heightand weight are appropriate f or a
rear-f acing seat.
Of the different seats available, we
recommend those that have a f ive-
point harness system as shown.
We also recommend that a small
child use the child seat until the child
reaches the weight or height limit
for the seat.
We strongly recommend placing a
forward-facing child seat in a back
seat, not the f ront.
Even with advanced front airbags
that automatically turn the
passenger’s front airbag off (see
page ), a back seat is the saf est
place f or a small child.If the vehicle seat is too
f ar f orward, or the child’s head is
thrown f orward during a collision, an
inf lating airbag can strike the child
with enough f orce to cause very
serious or f atal injuries.
33
Protecting Inf ants and Small Children
Protecting Small Children
Child Seat T ype Child Seat Placement
Placing a f orward-f acing child seat int he f ront seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger’s airbag can behazardous.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
41
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In seating positions and vehicles not
equipped with LATCH, a LATCH-
compatible child seat can be installed
using a seat belt.
Whatever type of seat you choose, to
provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:Look f or FMVSS 213 or CMVSS
213 on the box.
Since LATCH-compatible child seats
are easier to install and reduce the
possibility of improper installation,
we recommend selecting this style.
When buying a child seat, you need
to choose either a conventional child
seat, or one designed f or use with
the Lower Anchors and Tethers f or
CHildren (LATCH) system.
Conventional child seats must be
secured to a vehicle with a seat belt,
whereas LATCH-compatible seats
are secured by attaching the seat to
hardware built into each rear seating
position in the back seat.
Rear-facing for infants, forward-
f acing f or small children.
If it is necessary to put a f orward-
f acing child seat in the f ront, move
the vehicle seat as far to the rear as
possible, and be sure the child seat is
f irmly secured to the vehicle and the
child is properly strapped in the seat.
T he child seat should meet
Federal Mot or Vehicle Saf et ySt andard 213 or Canadian Mot or
Vehicle Saf et y St andard 213.
T he child seat should be of theproper t ype and size t o f it t he child.
1.
2.
Selecting a Child Seat
Protecting Inf ants and Small Children, Selecting a Child Seat
42
Placing a forward-facing child
seat in the front seat can result
in serious injury or death if the
front airbag inflates.
Ifyoumustplaceaforward-
facing child seat in front, move
the vehicle seat as far back as
possible, and properly restrain
the child.
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Af ter selecting a proper child seat
and a good place to install the seat,
there are three main steps in
installing the seat:Af ter installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verif y that it is secure.
A child seat secured with a seat belt
should be installed as f irmly as
possible. However, it does not need
to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ Some side-to-side movement can be expected and
should not reduce the child seat’s
ef f ectiveness.
If the child seat is not secure, try
installing it in a dif f erent seating
position, or use a dif f erent style of
child seat that can be f irmly secured.
Make sure the child is properly
strappedinthechildseat
according to the child seat maker’s
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
can be seriously injured in a crash.
The f ollowing pages provide
guidelines on how to properly install
a child seat. A f orward-f acing child
seat is used in all examples, but the
instructions are the same f or rear-
f acing child seats.
All child seats must be
secured to the vehicle with the lap
part of a lap/shoulder belt or with
the LATCH (Lower Anchors and
Tethers f or CHildren) system. A
child whose seat is not properly
secured to the vehicle can be
endangered in a crash.
Bef ore purchasing a conventional
child seat, or using a previously
purchased one, we recommend that
you test the seat in the specif ic
vehicle seating position or positions
where the seat will be used.
Installing a Child Seat
Make sure t he child seat is f irmly
secured. Secure t he child in t he child seat .
Properly secure t he child seat t o
the vehicle.
T he child seat should f it the
vehicle seat ing posit ion (or posit ions) where it will be used.
3.
1.
2. 3.
Selecting a Child Seat, Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
43
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Your vehicle is equipped with
LATCH (Lower Anchors and
Tethers f or CHildren) at the rear
seats to secure a child seat in any
seating position: one in each outer
seating position, or one in the center.
Thefiveloweranchorsarelocated
between the seat-back and seat
bottom, and are to be used only with
a child seat designed f or use with
LATCH.
The location of each lower anchor is
indicated by a small button above the
anchor point.When you install a child seat in the
rear center seating position, use the
center lower anchors as shown in the
illustration. To install a child seat in
either outer seating position, use the
outer lower anchors. You can install
up to two child seats at a time using
the outer lower anchors.
Do not attach two child seat
connectors to a single lower anchor
at a time.
Make sure there are no objects
near the anchors that could
prevent a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors.
Store the seat belt buckle or
tongue in the storage pockets.
To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in either of the rear outer seats: 1. 2.
Installing a Child Seat with
LATCH
Using t he Out er L A T CH
Inst alling a Child Seat
44
LOWER ANCHORS FOR OUTER LATCH
BUTTON
LOWER ANCHORS FOR
CENTER LATCH
OUTER LOWER ANCHORS
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Place the child seat on the vehicle
seat, then attach the seat to the
lower anchors according to the
child seat maker’s instructions.
Some LATCH-compatible seats have
a rigid-type connector as shown
above. Whatever type you have, f ollow
the child seat maker’s instructions
f or adjusting or tightening the f it.
Remove the dual deck cargo shelf
(see page ).
Other LATCH-compatible seats have
a f lexible-type connector as shown
above.
Route the tether strap over the
seat-back and through the legs of
the head restraint, then attach the
tether strap hook to the anchor,
making sure the tether strap is not
twisted.
5.
4.
3.
6.
117
CONT INUED
If equipped
Inst alling a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
45
Flexible type
Rigid type TETHER
ANCHOR
TETHER STRAP HOOK
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To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in the rear center seating
position, use the center lower
anchorsasshownabove.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verif y that it is secure.
Reinstall the dual deck cargo shelf .
Pull down the cover to access the
tether anchor.
Follow step 1 through 4 as
described previously to secure the
child seat.
Remove the head restraint (see
page ). Make sure the
removed head restraint is secured
in the cargo area. Reinstall the
head restraint when the child seat
is removed.
1.
8. 9.
7.
2.3.
102
Using t he Cent er L A T CH
Inst alling a Child Seat
46
TETHER ANCHOR
CENTER LOWER ANCHORS COVER
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CONT INUED
With the child seat in the desired
seating position, route the belt
through the child seat according
to the seat maker’s instructions,
then insert the latch plate into the
buckle and remove any slack f rom
the lap portion of the belt.
When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.
In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
all seating positions except the
driver’s have a lockable retractor
that must be activated to secure a
child seat.
If you intend to install a child seat in
the center seating position of the
rear seat, make sure the detachable
seat belt anchor is securely latched
(see page ).
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verif y that it is secure.
Route the tether strap over the
seat-back, then attach the tether
strap hook to the tether anchor in
the ceiling, making sure the strap
is not twisted. Tighten the strap
according to the seat maker’s
instructions.
1.
4. 5. 109
Inst alling a Child Seat
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
47
TETHER STRAP HOOKTETHER ANCHOR
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To deactivate the lockable retractor
and remove a child seat, unlatch the
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.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. If the child seat is not
secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to
retract f ully, then repeat these
steps.
Af ter conf irming that the belt is
locked, grab the shoulder part of
the belt near the buckle, and pull
up to remove any slack from the
lap part of the belt. Remember, if
the lap part of the belt is not tight,
the child seat will not be secure.
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.
To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt f eed back into the
retractor.
Af ter the belt has retracted, tug on
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and
you will need to repeat these steps.
4.
5.
2. 3.
Inst alling a Child Seat
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