child is added to the child restraint. It alsohelps to achieve the proper snugness ofthe child restraint to your vehicle.Sometimes, a slight lean toward thebuckle provides extra help to removeremaining slack from the belt.
9. Attach the tether strap (if the childrestraint is equipped).
10. Before placing the child in the seat,forcibly move the seat forward and backto make sure the seat is securely heldin place. To check this, grab the seat atthe belt path and attempt to move itside to side and forward and back.There should be no more than 1 in(2.5 cm) of movement for properinstallation.
We recommend checking with a NHTSACertified Child Passenger Safety Technicianto make certain the child restraint is properlyinstalled. In Canada, check with TransportCanada for referral to a Child Car Seat Clinic.
Inflatable seatbelts
1. Position the child safety seat in a seatwith a combination lap and shoulder belt.
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2. After positioning the child safety seat inthe proper seating position, grasp theshoulder belt and lap belt togetherbehind the belt tongue.
3. While holding the shoulder and lap beltportions together, route the tonguethrough the child restraint according tothe child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions. Be sure the belt webbing isnot twisted.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the properbuckle (the buckle closest to the directionthe tongue is coming from) for thatseating position until you hear a snap andfeel the latch engage. Make sure thetongue is latched securely by pulling onit.
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5. To put the retractor in the automaticlocking mode, grasp the lap portion ofthe inflatable seatbelt and pull upwarduntil you pull all of the belt out.
Note:The automatic locking mode isavailable on the front passenger and rearseats.
Note:Unlike the standard seatbelt, theinflatable seatbelt's unique lap portion locksthe child restraint for installation. The abilityfor the shoulder portion of the belt to movefreely is normal, even after the lap belt hasbeen put into the automatic locking mode.
Note:The lock-off device on some childrestraints may not accommodate theshoulder portion of the inflatable seatbelt.Follow all instructions provided by themanufacturer of the child restraint regardingthe necessary and proper use of the lock-offdevice. In some instances, these deviceshave been provided only for use in vehicleswith seatbelt systems that would otherwiserequire a locking clip.
6.Allow the belt to retract to remove slack.The belt clicks as it retracts to indicate itis in the automatic locking mode.
7.Try to pull the belt out of the retractor tomake sure the retractor is in theautomatic locking mode (you should notbe able to pull more belt out). If theretractor is not locked, unbuckle the beltand repeat Steps 5 and 6.
8. Remove remaining slack from the belt.Force the seat down with extra weight,for example, by pressing down orkneeling on the child restraint whilepulling down on the lap belt in order toforce slack from the belt. This isnecessary to remove the remaining slackthat will exist once the extra weight ofthe child is added to the child restraint.It also helps to achieve the propersnugness of the child restraint to yourvehicle. Sometimes, a slight lean towardthe buckle will additionally help toremove remaining slack from the belt.
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9. Attach the tether strap (if the childrestraint is equipped).
10. Before placing the child in the seat,forcibly move the seat forward and backto make sure the seat is securely heldin place. To check this, grab the seat atthe belt path and attempt to move itside to side and forward and back.There should be no more than 1 in(2.5 cm) of movement for properinstallation.
We recommend checking with a NHTSACertified Child Passenger Safety Technicianto make certain the child restraint is properlyinstalled. In Canada, check with TransportCanada for referral to a Child Car Seat Clinic.
Using Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren (LATCH)
WARNINGS
Do not attach two child safety restraintsto the same anchor. In a crash, oneanchor may not be strong enough to holdtwo child safety restraint attachments andmay break, causing serious injury or death.
Depending on where you secure achild restraint, and depending on thechild restraint design, you may block accessto certain seatbelt buckle assemblies andLATCH lower anchors, rendering thosefeatures potentially unusable. To avoid riskof injury, make sure occupants only useseating positions where they are able to beproperly restrained.
The LATCH system is composed of threevehicle anchor points: two lower anchorswhere the seatback and seat cushion meet(called the seat bight) and one top tetheranchor behind that seating position.
LATCH compatible child safety seats havetwo rigid or webbing mounted attachmentsthat connect to the two lower anchors at theLATCH equipped seating positions in yourvehicle. This type of attachment methodeliminates the need to use seatbelts to attachthe child restraint. However, you can still usethe seatbelt to attach the child restraint. Forforward-facing child restraints, the top tetherstrap must also be attached to the propertop tether anchor if a top tether strap hasbeen provided with your child restraint.
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Your vehicle has LATCH lower anchors forchild restraint installation at the seatingpositions marked with the child restraintsymbol.
The LATCH anchors are at the rear sectionof the rear seat between the cushion andseatback below the symbols as shown.Follow the child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions to properly install a child restraintwith LATCH attachments. Follow theinstructions on attaching child safety seatswith tether straps.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of the childrestraint only to the anchors shown.
Use of Inboard Lower Anchors from theOutboard Seating Positions (Center SeatingUse)
WARNING
The standardized spacing for LATCHlower anchors is 11 in (280 mm) centerto center. Do not use LATCH lower anchorsfor the center seating position unless thechild restraint manufacturer's instructionspermit and specify using anchors spaced atleast as far apart as those in this vehicle.
The lower anchors at the center of thesecond row rear seat are spaced 18 in(46 cm) apart. You cannot install a childrestraint with rigid LATCH attachments at thecenter seating position. You can only useLATCH compatible child restraints (withattachments on belt webbing) at this seatingposition provided that the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions permit use withthe anchor spacing stated. Do not attach achild restraint to any lower anchor if anadjacent child restraint is attached to thatanchor.
Each time you use the safety seat, check thatthe seat is properly attached to the loweranchors and tether anchor, if applicable. Tugthe child restraint from side to side andforward and back where it is secured to yourvehicle. The seat should move less than 1 in(2.5 cm) when you do this for a properinstallation.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly,the risk of a child being injured in a crashgreatly increases.
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Combining Seatbelt and LATCH LowerAnchors for Attaching Child Safety Seats
When used in combination, either theseatbelt or the LATCH lower anchors maybe attached first, provided a properinstallation is achieved. Attach the tetherstrap afterward, if included with the childrestraint.
Using Tether Straps
Many forward-facing child safetyseats include a tether strap whichextends from the back of the childsafety seat and hooks to an anchoring pointcalled the top tether anchor. Tether strapsare available as an accessory for many oldersafety seats.
Contact the manufacturer of your childrestraint for information about ordering atether strap, or to obtain a longer tether strapif the tether strap on your safety seat doesnot reach the appropriate top tether anchorin your vehicle.
Once you install the child safety seat usingeither the seatbelt, the lower anchors of theLATCH system, or both, you can attach thetop tether strap.
The tether strap anchors in your vehicle arein the following positions (shown from topview):
Perform the following steps to install a childsafety seat with tether anchors:
Note:If you install a child restraint with rigidLATCH attachments, do not tighten thetether strap enough to lift the child restraintoff your vehicle seat cushion when the childis seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snugwithout lifting the front of the child restraint.Keeping the child restraint just touching yourvehicle seat gives the best protection in asevere crash.
1. Route the child safety seat tether strapover the back of the seat. For outboardseating positions, route the tether strapunder the head restraint and betweenthe head restraint posts. For the centerseating positions, route the tether strapover the top of the head restraint. Ifneeded, the head restraints can also beremoved.
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2. Locate the correct anchor for theselected seating position, then open thetether anchor cover.
3. Clip the tether strap to the anchor asshown.
4.Tighten the child safety seat tether strapaccording to the manufacturer'sinstructions.
If your child restraint system has a tetherstrap, and the child restraint manufacturerrecommends its use, we also recommend itsuse.
BOOSTER SEATS
WARNING
Never place, or allow a child to place,the shoulder belt under a child's armor behind the back because it reduces theprotection for the upper part of the body andmay increase the risk of injury or death in acrash.
Note:Some booster seat safety belt guidesmay not accommodate the shoulder portionof the inflatable safety belt.
Use a belt-positioning booster seat forchildren who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a child safety seat (generallychildren who are less than 4 feet 9 inches(1.45 meters) tall, are greater than age four(4) and less than age twelve (12), andbetween 40 pounds (18 kilograms) and 80pounds (36 kilograms) and upward to 100
pounds (45 kilograms) if recommended byyour child restraint manufacturer). Many stateand provincial laws require that children useapproved booster seats until they reach ageeight, a height of 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters)tall, or 80 pounds (36 kilograms).
Booster seats should be used until you cananswer YES to ALL of these questions whenseated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way back againsttheir vehicle seat back with knees bentcomfortably at the edge of the seatcushion?
•Can the child sit without slouching?
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•Does the lap belt rest low across thehips?
•Is the shoulder belt centered on theshoulder and chest?
•Can the child stay seated like this for thewhole trip?
Always use booster seats in conjunction withyour vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
Types of Booster Seats
•Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has aremovable shield, remove the shield. If avehicle seating position has a low seat backor no head restraint, a backless booster seatmay place your child's head (as measured atthe tops of the ears) above the top of theseat. In this case, move the backless boosterto another seating position with a higher seatback or head restraint and lap and shoulderbelts, or consider using a high back boosterseat.
•High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat, you cannotfind a seating position that adequatelysupports your child's head, a high backbooster seat would be a better choice.
Children and booster seats vary in size andshape. Choose a booster that keeps the lapbelt low and snug across the hips, never upacross the stomach, and lets you adjust theshoulder belt to cross the chest and restsnugly near the center of the shoulder. Thefollowing drawings compare the ideal fit(center) to a shoulder belt uncomfortablyclose to the neck and a shoulder belt thatcould slip off the shoulder. The drawings alsoshow how the lap belt should be low andsnug across the child's hips.
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