2014 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Infants and Small ChildrenAn infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the
infant reaches the seat maker’s weight or height limit for the seat, and the infant is
at least one year old.
■Positioning a rear-facing child seat
Child seats must be placed and secured in a
rear seating position.
When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front
passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back
in the desired position.
It can also interfere with proper operation of the passenger’s advanced front airbag
system.
2Airbags P. 39If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front
passenger’s seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied.
Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.■Protecting Infants
1Protecting Infants
Rear-facing child seats should never be installed in a
forward facing position.
Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions before installation.
3
WARNING
Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front
seat can result in serious injury or death
during a crash.
Always place a rear-facing child seat in the
rear seat, not the front.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
If a child is at least one year old and within the weight range indicated by the child
seat manufacturer, the child should be properly restrained in a firmly secured
forward-facing child seat.
■Forward-facing child seat placement
We strongly recommend placing a forward-
facing child seat in a rear seating position.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can be hazardous, even with
advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passenger’s front airbag off. A
rear seat is the safest place for a child.
■Protecting Smaller Children
1Protecting Smaller Children
Educate yourself about the laws and regulations
regarding child seat use where you are driving, and
follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Many experts recommend use of a rear-facing seat
for a child up to two years old if the child’s height and
weight are appropriate for a rear-facing seat.
3
WARNING
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the
front seat can result in serious injury or
death if the front airbag inflates.
If you must place a forward-facing child
seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, and properly restrain the
child.

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
58Safe Driving
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 consideration 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 Seat
1Selecting a Child Seat
Installation of a LATCH-compatible child seat is
simple.
LATCH-compatible child seats have been developed
to simplify the installation process and reduce the
likelihood of injuries caused by incorrect installation.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Continued
Safe Driving
A LATCH-compatible child seat can be installed in the second row seats. A child seat
is attached to the lower anchors with either the rigid or flexible type of connectors.
1.Locate the lower anchors under the marks.
2.Place the child seat on the vehicle seat then
attach the child seat to the lower anchors
according to the instructions that came
with the child seat.
uWhen installing the child seat, make sure
that the lower anchors are not
obstructed by the seat belt or any other
object.■Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child SeatMarks
Rigid Type Lower Anchors

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
60Safe Driving
3.Put the outer head restraint to it’s upper-
most position, then route the tether strap
between the head restraint legs, and secure
the tether strap hook onto the anchor.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
3.Put the center head restraint to it’s lowest
position, then route the tether strap over
the top of the head restraint and secure the
tether strap hook onto the anchor. Make
sure the strap is not twisted.
4.Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat manufacturer.
5.Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.
6.Make sure any unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted
and locked.
2Protecting Child Passengers P. 54
Flexible Type
Outer positions
1Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
For your child’s safety, when using a child seat
installed using the LATCH system, make sure that the
child seat is properly secured to the vehicle. A child
seat that is not properly secured will not adequately
protect a child in a crash and may cause injury to the
child or other vehicle occupants.
Tether Strap Hook
Anchor
Center positionAll positions

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
1.Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.
2.Route the seat belt through the child seat
according to the seat maker’s instructions,
and insert the latch plate into the buckle.
uInsert the latch plate fully until it clicks.
3.Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all
the way out until it stops. This activates the
lockable retractor.
4.Let the seat belt completely wind up into
the retractor, then try to pull it out to make
sure the retractor is locked.
uIf you are able to pull the shoulder belt
out, the lockable retractor is not
activated. Pull the seat belt all the way
out, and repeat steps 3 – 4.
5.Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near
the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack
from the lap part of the belt.
uWhen doing this, place your weight on
the child seat and push it into the vehicle
seat.
■Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
A child seat that is not properly secured will not
adequately protect a child in a crash and may cause
injury to the child or other vehicle occupants.

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
62Safe Driving
6.Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.
7.Make sure any unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted
and locked.
2Protecting Child Passengers P. 54
A tether anchorage point is provided behind
each second and third row seating position. A
child seat that is installed with a seat belt and
comes with a tether can use the tether for
additional security.
1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
■Adding Security with a TetherTether Anchorage PointsSecond row seat
1Adding Security with a Tether
Since a tether can provide additional security to the
lap/shoulder seat belt installation, we recommend
using a tether whenever one is available.
Tether Anchorage PointsThird row seat

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
■Using a second row anchor
1.Put the outer head restraint to it’s upper-
most position, then route the tether strap
between the head restraint legs, and secure
the tether strap hook onto the anchor.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
1.Put the center head restraint to it’s lowest
position, then route the tether strap over
the top of the head restraint and secure the
tether strap hook onto the anchor. Make
sure the strap is not twisted.
2.Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat manufacturer.■Using a third row anchor
1.Pull up the head restraint and push
rearwards until it latches, then route the
tether strap through the head restraint legs.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
2.Open the anchor cover.
3.Secure the tether strap hook onto the
anchor.
4.Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat manufacturer.
AnchorSecond row seat
Tether Strap Hook
Outer positionsCenter positionAll positions
Tether Strap Hook
Anchor
Third row seat