2013 Acura MDX child seat

Most child seats are LATCH-
compatible (Lower Anchors and
Tethers for CHildren). Some have a
rigid-type connector, while others
have a flexible-type connector. Both
are equally easy to use. Some
existing and previously owned child
seats can only be installed using the
seat belt. Whichever type you
choose, follow the child seat
manufacturer's use and care
instructions as well as the
instructions in this manual. Proper
installation is key to maximizing your
child's safety.In seating positions and vehicles not
equipped with LATCH, a LATCH
compatible child seat can be installed
using the seat belt and a top tether
for added security. This is because
all child seats are required to be
designed so that they can be secured
with a lap belt or the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.
In addition, the child seat
manufacturer may advise that a seat
belt be used to attach a LATCH-
compatible seat once a child reaches
a specified weight. Please read the
child seat owner's manual for proper
installation instructions.Important considerations when
selecting a child seat
Make sure the child seat meets the
following three requirements:
●The child seat is the correct type
and size for the child.●The child seat is the correct type
for the seating position.●The child seat is compliant with
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 or Canadian Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
Selecting a Child Seat4812/07/17 18:10:57 13 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX660 enu

After selecting a proper child seat
and a good place to install the seat,
there are three main steps in
installing the seat:
1.Properly secure the child seat to
the vehicle.
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 for CHildren) system. A
child whose seat is not properly
secured to the vehicle can be
endangered in a crash.
2.
Make sure the child seat is firmly
secured.
After installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.A child seat secured with a seat belt
should be installed as firmly 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
effectiveness.
If the child seat is not secure, try
installing it in a different seating
position, or use a different style of
child seat that can be firmly secured.
3.
Secure the child in the child seat.Make sure the child is properly
strapped in the child seat
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 following pages provide
guidelines on how to properly install
a child seat. A forward-facing child
seat is used in all examples, but the
instructions are the same for a rear-
facing child seat.
Installing a Child Seat
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Installing a Child Seat with
LATCH
Your vehicle is equipped with
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers
for CHildren) at each of the second
row seats.
The lower anchors are located
between the seat-back and seat
bottom, and are to be used only with
a child seat designed for 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
second row seating position, use the
lower anchors as shown in the
illustration. You can install up to
three child seats at a time with
LATCH.
Do not attach two child seat
connectors to a single lower anchor
at a time.
Using the Outer LATCHTo install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in either outer second row seat:
1. Move the seat belt buckle or
tongue away from the lower
anchors.
2. Make sure there are no objects
near the anchors that could
prevent a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors.
MARKS
LOWER ANCHORS
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3. 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.
Other LATCH-compatible seats
have a flexible-type connector as
shown above.
4. Whatever type you have, follow the
child seat maker's instructions for
adjusting or tightening the fit.
5. Lift the head restraint (see page
150), then route the tether strap
through the legs of the head
restraint and over the seat-back,
making sure the strap is not
twisted.
RIGID TYPE
FLEXIBLE TYPE
TETHER STRAP
CONTINUED
Installing a Child Seat
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6. Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchor, then tighten the
strap as instructed by the child
seat maker.
If the tether strap is too long and
cannot be tightened firmly, find a
route where the strap can be
tightened securely.
7. Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.
Using the Center LATCHTo install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in the center seating position on
the second row seat, use the center
lower anchors as shown above.
1. Pull up the cover below the
armrest and find one of the
anchors. The other anchor is
located underneath the flap at the
bottom of the outer seat's inner
bolster.2. Follow step 1 through 4 as
described previously to secure the
child seat.
3. Lower the head restraint first.
Route the tether strap over the
head restraint and seat-back, then
attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
4. Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.
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Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder 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 second
row seat, make sure the detachable
seat belt is securely latched (see
page 155).
1. 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 from
the lap portion of the belt.
2. To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt feed back into the
retractor.
3. After 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
the belt out, it is not locked, and
you will need to repeat these steps.
CONTINUED
Installing a Child Seat
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4. After confirming 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 put
weight on the child seat, or push
on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.
5. Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify 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 fully, then repeat these
steps.
To deactivate the lockable retractor
and remove a child seat, unlatch the
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the second or third row.
Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.
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Second Row InstallationEach second row seat has a tether
anchorage point behind the seat-
back.
1. After properly securing the child
seat (see page 53), lift the head
restraint, then route the tether
strap over the seat-back and
through the head restraint legs.
For the center seat, lower the head
restraint, then route the tether strap
over the head restraint and seat-back.
TETHER ANCHORAGE POINT
TETHER STRAP
Outer Seating Position
CONTINUED
Installing a Child Seat
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