There are different sizes and types of
restraints for children from newborn size
to the child almost large enough for an
adult safety belt. Always check the child
seat Owner’s Manual to make sure you
have the correct seat for your child.
Carefully read and follow all the
instructions and warnings in the child
restraint Owner’s Manual and on all the
labels attached to the child restraint.Before buying any restraint system,
make sure that it has a label certifying
that it meets all applicable Safety
Standards. You should also make sure
that you can install it in the vehicle
where you will use it.
Note:
For additional information, refer to
www.safercar.gov/parents/index.htm
or call:
1–888–327–4236
Canadian residents should refer to
Transport Canada’s website for
additional information:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/
motorvehiclesafety/
safedrivers-childsafety-index-53.htm
Summary Of Recommendations For Restraining Children In Vehicles
Child Size, Height, Weight Or Age Recommended Type Of Child Restraint
Infants and Toddlers Childr
en who are two years old or younger
and who have not reached the height or
weight limits of their child restraint Either an Infant Carrier or a Convertible Child
Restraint, facing rearward in the rear seat of
the vehicle
Small Children Children who are at least two years old or
who have out-grown the height or weight limit
of their rear-facing child restraint Forward-Facing Child Restraint with a
five-point Harness, facing forward in the rear
seat of the vehicle
Larger Children Children who have out-grown their
forward-facing child restraint, but are too
small to properly fit the vehicle’s seat belt Belt Positioning Booster Seat and the vehicle
seat belt, seated in the rear seat of the
vehicle
Children Too Large for Child Restraints Children 12 years old or younger, who have
out-grown the height or weight limit of their
booster seat Vehicle Seat Belt, seated in the rear seat of
the vehicle
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SAFETY
Infant And Child Restraints
Safety experts recommend that children
ride rear-facing in the vehicle until they
are two years old or until they reach
either the height or weight limit of their
rear-facing child restraint. Two types of
child restraints can be used rear-facing:
infant carriers and convertible child
seats.
The infant carrier is only used
rear-facing in the vehicle. It is
recommended for children from birth
until they reach the weight or height
limit of the infant carrier. Convertible
child seats can be used either
rear-facing or forward-facing in the
vehicle. Convertible child seats often
have a higher weight limit in the
rear-facing direction than infant carriers
do, so they can be used rear-facing by
children who have outgrown their infant
carrier but are still less than at least two
years old. Children should remain
rear-facing until they reach the highest
weight or height allowed by their
convertible child seat.Warning!
Never place a rear-facing child restraint
in front of an air bag. A deploying
passenger front air bag can cause death or
serious injury to a child 12 years or
younger, including a child in a rear-facing
child restraint.
Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a
vehicle with a rear seat.
Older Children And Child
Restraints
Children who are two years old or who
have outgrown their rear-facing
convertible child seat can ride
forward-facing in the vehicle.
Forward-facing child seats and
convertible child seats used in the
forward-facing direction are for children
who are over two years old or who have
outgrown the rear-facing weight or
height limit of their rear-facing
convertible child seat. Children should
remain in a forward-facing child seat
with a harness for as long as possible,
up to the highest weight or height
allowed by the child seat.
All children whose weight or height is
above the forward-facing limit for the
child seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat
belts fit properly. If the child cannot sit
with knees bent over the vehicle’s seat
cushion while the child’s back is against
the seatback, they should use a
belt-positioning booster seat. The child
and belt-positioning booster seat are
held in the vehicle by the seat belt.
Warning!
Improper installation can lead to failure
of an infant or child restraint. It could come
loose in a collision. The child could be
badly injured or killed. Follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
After a child restraint is installed in the
vehicle, do not move the vehicle seat
forward or rearward because it can loosen
the child restraint attachments. Remove
the child restraint before adjusting the
vehicle seat position. When the vehicle seat
has been adjusted, reinstall the child
restraint.
When your child restraint is not in use,
secure it in the vehicle with the seat belt or
LATCH anchorages, or remove it from the
vehicle. Do not leave it loose in the vehicle.
In a sudden stop or accident, it could strike
the occupants or seatbacks and cause
serious personal injury.
125
Children Too Large For Booster
Seats
Children who are large enough to wear
the shoulder belt comfortably, and
whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their
back is against the seatback, should
use the seat belt in a rear seat. Use this
simple 5-step test to decide whether
the child can use the vehicle’s seat belt
alone:
1. Can the child sit all the way back
against the back of the vehicle seat?
2.
Do the child’s knees bend comfortably
over the front of the vehicle seat – while
they are still sitting all the way back?
3. Does the shoulder belt cross the
child’s shoulder between their neck and
arm?
4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s thighs and
not their stomach?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for
the whole trip?
If the answer to any of these questions
was “no,” then the child still needs to
use a booster seat in this vehicle. If the
child is using the lap/shoulder belt,
check seat belt fit periodically and make
sure the seat belt buckle is latched. A
child’s squirming or slouching can move
the belt out of position. If the shoulder
belt contacts the face or neck, move the child closer to the center of the
vehicle, or use a booster seat to
position the seat belt on the child
correctly.
Warning!
Never allow a child to put the shoulder belt
under an arm or behind their back. In a
crash, the shoulder belt will not protect a
child properly, which may result in serious
injury or death. A child must always wear
both the lap and shoulder portions of the
seat belt correctly.
Recommendations For Attaching Child Restraints
Restraint Type
Combined Weight
of the Child + Child Restraint Use any attachment method shown with an “X” Below
LATCH – Lower Anchors Only Seat Belt OnlyLATCH – Lower
Anchors + TopTether Anchor Seat Belt + Top
Tether Anchor
Rear-Facing Child Restraint Up
to 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) XX
Rear-Facing Child Restraint More than 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) X
Forward-Facing Child Restraint Up to 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) XX
Forward-Facing Child Restraint More than 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) X
126
SAFETY
Lower Anchors And Tethers For
CHildren (LATCH) Restraint
System
Your vehicle is equipped with the child
restraint anchorage system called
LATCH, which stands for Lower
Anchors and Tethers for CHildren.The LATCH system has three vehicle
anchor points for installing
LATCH-equipped child seats. There are
two lower anchorages located at the
back of the seat cushion where it meets
the seatback and one top tether
anchorage located behind the seating
position. These anchorages are used to
install LATCH-equipped child seats
without using the vehicle’s seat belts.
Some seating positions may have a
top tether anchorage but no lower
anchorages.
In these seating positions, the seat belt
must be used with the top tether
anchorage to install the child restraint.
Please see the following table for more
information.
LATCH Positions For Installing
Child Restraints In This Vehicle
Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH
What is the weight limit (child’s weight + weight of
the child restraint) for using the LATCH anchorage
system to attach the child restraint? 65 lbs (29.5 kg)Use the LATCH anchorage system until the combined weight
of the child and the child restraint is 65 lbs (29.5 kg). Use the
seat belt and tether anchor instead of the LATCH system once
the combined weight is more than 65 lbs (29.5 kg).
Can the LATCH anchorages and the seat belt be
used together to attach a rear-facing or
forward-facing child restraint? No
Do not use the seat belt when you use the LATCH anchorage
system to attach a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint.
Can a child seat be installed in the center position
using the inner LATCH lower anchorage? NoUse the seat belt and tether anchor to install a child seat in the
center seating position.
GUID-022668173LATCH Label
GUID-06086S0101NALATCH Positions
Lower Anchorage Symbol
(2 Anchorages Per Seating Position)
Top Tether Anchorage Symbol
127
Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH
Can two child restraints be attached using a
common lower LATCH anchorage? NoNever “share” a LATCH anchorage with two or more child
restraints. If the center position does not have dedicated
LATCH lower anchorages, use the seat belt to install a child
seat in the center position next to a child seat using the LATCH
anchorages in an outboard position.
Can the rear-facing child restraint touch the back of
the front passenger seat? Ye sThe child seat may touch the back of the front passenger seat
if the child restraint manufacturer also allows contact. See your
child restraint owner’s manual for more information.
Can the head restraints be removed? Yes The head restraints may be removed in Rear Right and Left
outboard positions.
Locating The LATCH
Anchorages
The lower anchorages
are round bars that are
found at the rear of the
seat cushion where it
meets the seatback,
below the anchorage
symbols on the
seatback. They are just
visible when you lean into the rear seat
to install the child restraint. You will
easily feel them if you run your finger
along the gap between the seatback
and seat cushion.
Locating The Upper Tether
Anchorages
There are tether strap
anchorages behind
each rear seating
position located in the
panel between the rear
seatback and the rear
window. They are
found under a plastic
cover with the tether anchorage symbol
on it.
GUID-06086S0009EMLATCH Anchorage Locations
1 — LATCH Anchorage Bar
2 — LATCH Anchorage Locations
128
SAFETY
LATCH-compatible child restraint
systems will be equipped with a rigid
bar or a flexible strap on each side.
Each will have a hook or connector to
attach to the lower anchorage and a
way to tighten the connection to the
anchorage. Forward-facing child
restraints and some rear-facing child
restraints will also be equipped with a
tether strap. The tether strap will have a
hook at the end to attach to the top
tether anchorage and a way to tighten
the strap after it is attached to the
anchorage.
Center Seat LATCH
Warning!
Do not install a child restraint in the
center position using the LATCH system.
This position is not approved for installing
child seats using the LATCH attachments.
You must use the seat belt and tether
anchor to install a child seat in the center
seating position.
Never use the same lower anchorage to
attach more than one child restraint. Please
refer to “Installing The LATCH-Compatible
Child Restraint System” for typical
installation instructions.
Always follow the directions of the child
restraint manufacturer when installing
your child restraint. Not all child restraint
systems will be installed as described
here.
To Install A LATCH-Compatible
Child Restraint
If the selected seating position has a
Switchable Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR) seat belt, stow the seat
belt, following the instructions below.
See the section “Installing Child
Restraints Using The Vehicle Seat Belt”
to check what type of seat belt each
seating position has. 1. Loosen the adjusters on the lower
straps and on the tether strap of the
child seat so that you can more easily
attach the hooks or connectors to the
vehicle anchorages.
2. Place the child seat between the
lower anchorages for that seating
position. For some second row seats,
you may need to recline the seat and /
or raise the head restraint to get a
better fit. If the rear seat can be moved
forward and rearward in the vehicle, you
may wish to move it to its rear-most
position to make room for the child
seat. You may also move the front seat
forward to allow more room for the child
seat.
3. Attach the lower hooks or
connectors of the child restraint to the
lower anchorages in the selected
seating position.
4. If the child restraint has a tether
strap, connect it to the top tether
anchorage. See the section “Installing
Child Restraints Using The Top Tether
Anchorage” for directions to attach a
tether anchor.
5. Tighten all of the straps as you push
the child restraint rearward and
downward into the seat. Remove slack
in the straps according to the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
GUID-06086S0104NAUpper Tether Anchorage Location
129
6. Test that the child restraint is
installed tightly by pulling back and forth
on the child seat at the belt path. It
should not move more than 1 inch
(25.4 mm) in any direction.
How To Stow An Unused
Switchable-ALR (ALR) Seat Belt
When using the LATCH attaching
system to install a child restraint, stow
all ALR seat belts that are not being
used by other occupants or being used
to secure child restraints. An unused
belt could injure a child if they play with
it and accidentally lock the seat belt
retractor. Before installing a child
restraint using the LATCH system,
buckle the seat belt behind the child
restraint and out of the child’s reach.
If the buckled seat belt interferes with
the child restraint installation, instead of
buckling it behind the child restraint,
route the seat belt through the child
restraint belt path and then buckle it.
Do not lock the seat belt. Remind all
children in the vehicle that the seat belts
are not toys and that they should not
play with them.
Warning!
Improper installation of a child restraint
to the LATCH anchorages can lead to
failure of the restraint. The child could be
badly injured or killed. Follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
Child restraint anchorages are designed
to withstand only those loads imposed by
correctly-fitted child restraints. Under no
circumstances are they to be used for adult
seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching other
items or equipment to the vehicle.
Installing Child Restraints Using
The Vehicle Seat Belt
Child restraint systems are designed to
be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts
or the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder
belt.
Warning!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure of
the restraint. The child could be badly injured
or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant
or child restraint.
The seat belts in the passenger seating
positions are equipped with a
Switchable Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR) that is designed to
keep the lap portion of the seat belt
tight around the child restraint so that it
is not necessary to use a locking clip.
The ALR retractor can be “switched”
into a locked mode by pulling all of the
webbing out of the retractor and then
letting the webbing retract back into the
retractor. If it is locked, the ALR will
make a clicking noise while the
webbing is pulled back into the
retractor. Refer to the “Automatic
Locking Mode” description in
“Switchable Automatic Locking
Retractors (ALR)” under “Occupant
Restraint Systems” for additional
information on ALR.
Please see the table below and the
following sections for more information.
130
SAFETY
Lap/Shoulder Belt Systems For
Installing Child Restraints In
This Vehicle
Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With Seat Belts
What is the weight limit (child’s weight +
weight of the child restraint) for using the
Tether Anchor with the seat belt to attach a
forward facing child restraint? Weight limit of the Child RestraintAlways use the tether anchor when using the
seat belt to install a forward facing child
restraint, up to the recommended weight limit
of the child restraint.
Can the rear-facing child restraint touch the
back of the front passenger seat? Ye sContact between the front passenger seat
and the child restraint is allowed, if the child
restraint manufacturer also allows contact.
Can the head restraints be removed? Yes All can be removed.
Can the buckle stalk be twisted to tighten the
seat belt against the belt path of the child
restraint? No
Do not twist the buckle stalk in a seating
position with an ALR retractor.
GUID-06086S0102NAAutomatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
Locations
ALR = Switchable Automatic Locking
Retractor
Top Tether Anchorage Symbol
131