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Related information
• Safety mode (p. 61)
• Starting the vehicle (p. 424)
• Recovery (p. 477) Child safety
Children should always be seated safely when
traveling in the vehicle.
General informationVolvo recommends the proper use of restraint
systems for all occupants including children.
Remember that, regardless of age and size, a
child should always be properly restrained in a
vehicle.
Your vehicle is also equipped with ISOFIX/
LATCH attachments, which make it more conven-
ient to install child seats.
Some restraint systems for children are designed
to be secured in the vehicle by lap belts or the
lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Such child
restraint systems can help protect children in
vehicles in the event of an accident only if they
are used properly. However, children could be
endangered in a crash if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle. Failure to fol-
low the installation instructions for your child
restraint can result in your child striking the vehi-
cle's interior in a sudden stop.
Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable
substitute for a child restraint system. In an acci-
dent, a child held in a person's arms can be
crushed between the vehicle's interior and an
unrestrained person. The child could also be
injured by striking the interior, or by being ejected
from the vehicle during a sudden maneuver or impact. The same can also happen if the infant or
child rides unrestrained on the seat. Other occu-
pants should also be properly restrained to help
reduce the chance of injuring or increasing the
injury of a child.
All states and provinces have legislation govern-
ing how and where children should be carried in
a vehicle. Find out the regulations existing in your
state or province. Recent accident statistics have
shown that children are safer in rear seating
positions than front seating positions when prop-
erly restrained. A child restraint system can help
protect a child in a vehicle. Here's what to look
for when selecting a child restraint system:
It should have a label certifying that it meets
applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand-
ards (FMVSS 213) - or in Canada, CMVSS 213.
Make sure the child restraint system is approved
for the child's height, weight and development -
the label required by the standard or regulation,
or instructions for infant restraints, typically pro-
vide this information.
In using any child restraint system, we urge you
to carefully look over the instructions that are
provided with the restraint. Be sure you under-
stand them and can use the device properly and
safely in this vehicle. A misused child restraint
system can result in increased injuries for both
the infant or child and other occupants in the
vehicle.
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When a child has outgrown the child safety seat,
you should use the rear seat with the standard
seat belt fastened. The best way to help protect
the child here is to place the child on a cushion
so that the seat belt is properly located on the
hips. Legislation in your state or province may
mandate the use of a child seat or cushion in
combination with the seat belt, depending on the
child's age and/or size. Please check local regu-
lations.
A specially designed and tested booster cushion
and backrest can be obtained from your Volvo
retailer. See also the article "Integrated booster
cushion."
WARNING •
Do not use child safety seats or child
booster cushions/backrests in the front
passenger's seat. We also recommend
that children under 140 cm (4 feet
7 inches) in height who have outgrown
these devices sit in the rear seat with the
seat belt fastened.
• On hot days, the temperature in the vehi-
cle interior can rise very quickly. Exposure
to these high temperatures for even a
short period of time can cause heat-rela-
ted injury or death. Small children are par-
ticularly at risk. Never leave children unat-
tended in a vehicle.
Child seats should always be registered.
Volvo's recommendationsWhy does Volvo believe that no child should sit in
the front seat of a vehicle? It's quite simple really.
A front airbag is a very powerful device designed,
by law, to help protect an adult.
Because of the size of the airbag and its speed
of inflation, a child should never be placed in the
front seat, even if he or she is properly belted or
strapped into a child safety seat. Volvo has been
an innovator in the field of safety since it was
founded. And we have no intention of resting on
our laurels. But we need your help. Please remember to put your children in the back seat,
and buckle them up.
WARNING A child restraint should never be reused if:
• The vehicle has been involved in a colli-
sion, no matter how minor
• Its history is unknown
• It is older than the manufacturer's expira-
tion date
Volvo has some very specific
recommendations
•Always wear your seat belt.
• Airbags are a SUPPLEMENTAL safety
device which, when used with a three-point
seat belt can help reduce serious injuries
during certain types of accidents. Volvo rec-
ommends that you do not disconnect the air-
bag system in your vehicle.
• Volvo strongly recommends that everyone in
the vehicle be properly restrained.
• Volvo recommends that ALL occupants
(adults and children) shorter than 140 cm
(4 feet 7 inches) be seated in the rear seat
of any vehicle with a front passenger side air-
bag.
• Drive safely!
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Related information
• Safety (p. 42)
• Child restraints (p. 65)
• Activating and deactivating child safety locks
(p. 259) Child restraints
Suitable child restraints should always be used
when children travel in the vehicle.
Child restraint systems Infant seat
There are three main types of child restraint sys-
tems: infant seats, convertible seats and booster
cushions. They are classified according to the
child's age and size.
The child restraint should be secured using a
three-point seat belt, ISOFIX/LATCH anchors or
top tether anchors. Convertible seat
WARNING
A child seat should never be used in the front
passenger seat of any vehicle with a front
passenger airbag - not even if the "Passenger
airbag off" symbol near the rear-view mirror is
illuminated. If the severity of an accident were
to cause the airbag to inflate, this could lead
to serious injury or death to a child seated in
this position.
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Booster cushion
WARNING
Always refer to the child restraint manufactur-
er's instructions for detailed information on
securing the restraint.
WARNING •
When not in use, keep the child restraint
system secured or remove it from the
passenger compartment to help prevent it
from injuring passengers in the event of a
sudden stop or collision.
• A small child's head represents a consid-
erable part of its total weight and its neck
is still very weak. Volvo recommends that
children up to age 4 travel, properly
restrained, facing rearward. In addition,
Volvo recommends that children should
ride rearward facing, properly restrained,
as long as possible.
Automatic Locking Retractor/
Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/
ELR)
To make child seat installation easier, each seat
belt (except for the driver's belt) is equipped with
a locking mechanism to help keep the seat belt
taut.
When attaching the seat belt to a child seat:
1. Attach the seat belt to the child seat accord-
ing to the child seat manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
2. Pull the seat belt out as far as possible.
3. Insert the seat belt latch plate into the buckle (lock) in the usual way. 4. Release the seat belt and pull it taut around
the child seat.
A sound from the seat belt retractor will be audi-
ble at this time and is normal. The belt will now
be locked in place. This function is automatically
disabled when the seat belt is unlocked and the
belt is fully retracted.
WARNING Do not use child safety seats or child booster
cushions/backrests in the front passenger's
seat. We also recommend that children who
have outgrown these devices sit in the rear
seat with the seat belt properly fastened.
Child restraint registration and recallsChild restraints could be recalled for safety rea-
sons. You must register your child restraint to be
reached in a recall. To stay informed about child
safety seat recalls, be sure to fill out and return
the registration card that comes with new child
restraints.
Child restraint recall information is readily availa-
ble in both the U.S. and Canada. For recall infor-
mation in the U.S., call the U.S. Government's
Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9393 or go to
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/
recalls/register/childseat/index.cfm. In Canada,
visit Transport Canada's Child Safety website at
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/
menu.htm.
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* Option/accessory. 67
Related information
•Child safety (p. 63)
• Infant seats (p. 67)
• Convertible seats (p. 69)
• Booster cushions (p. 71)
• Integrated booster cushion* (p. 76)
• Top tether anchors (p. 72)
• Lower child seat attachment points (p. 74)
• ISOFIX/LATCH lower anchors (p. 74) Infant seats
Suitable child restraints should always be used
when children (depending on their age/size) are
seated in the vehicle.
Securing an infant seat with a seat belt Do not place the infant seat in the front passenger's
seat
1. Place the infant seat in the rear seat of the
vehicle.
2.
Attach the seat belt to the infant seat
according to the child restraint manufactur-
er's instructions. Route the seat belt through the infant seat.
WARNING
•
An infant seat must be in the rear-facing
position only.
• The infant seat should not be positioned
behind the driver's seat unless there is
adequate space for safe installation.
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WARNING
A child seat should never be used in the front
passenger seat of any vehicle with a front
passenger airbag - not even if the "Passenger
airbag off" symbol near the rear-view mirror is
illuminated. If the severity of an accident were
to cause the airbag to inflate, this could lead
to serious injury or death to a child seated in
this position.
3. Fasten the seat belt.
Fasten the seat belt by inserting the latch
plate into the buckle (lock) until a distinct
click is audible. Pull out the shoulder section of the seat belt.
4. Pull the shoulder section of the seat belt out
as far as possible to activate the belt's auto-
matic locking function.NOTE The locking retractor will automatically
release when the seat belt is unbuckled and
allowed to retract fully.
5. Press the infant seat firmly in place, let the
seat belt retract and pull it taut. A sound from
the seat belt retractor's automatic locking
function will be audible at this time and is
normal. The seat belt should now be locked
in place. Check that the infant seat is properly secured.
6. Press and pull the infant seat along the
direction of the seat belt to check that it is
properly held in place by the seat belt.
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WARNING It should not be possible to move the child
restraint more than 2.5 cm (1 in.) in any direc-
tion along the seat belt path.
The infant seat can be removed by unbuckling
the seat belt and letting it retract completely.
Related information
• Child restraints (p. 65)
• Convertible seats (p. 69)
• Booster cushions (p. 71)
• Top tether anchors (p. 72)
• Lower child seat attachment points (p. 74)
• ISOFIX/LATCH lower anchors (p. 74) Convertible seats
Suitable child restraints should always be used
when children (depending on their age/size) are
seated in the vehicle.
Securing a convertible seat with a seat
belt Do not place the convertible seat in the front passeng-
er's seat.
Convertible seats can be used in either a forward
or rearward-facing position, depending on the
age and size of the child. Route the seat belt through the convertible seat.
WARNING
Always use a convertible seat that is suitable
for the child's age and size. See the converti-
ble seat manufacturer's recommendations.
1.
Place the convertible seat in the rear seat of
the vehicle.
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WARNING
•
A small child's head represents a consider-
able part of its total weight and its neck is
still very weak. Volvo recommends that
children up to age 4 travel, properly
restrained, facing rearward. In addition,
Volvo recommends that children should
ride rearward facing, properly restrained, as
long as possible.
• Convertible child seats should be installed
in the rear seat only.
• A rear-facing convertible seat should not
be positioned behind the driver's seat
unless there is adequate space for safe
installation.
2.
Attach the seat belt to the convertible seat
according to the child restraint manufactur-
er's instructions. Fasten the seat belt.
3. Fasten the seat belt by inserting the latch
plate into the buckle (lock) until a distinct
click is audible.
4.
Pull the shoulder section of the seat belt out
as far as possible to activate the belt's auto-
matic locking function.
NOTE The locking retractor will automatically
release when the seat belt is unbuckled and
allowed to retract fully.
5. Press the convertible seat firmly in place, let
the seat belt retract and pull it taut. A sound
from the seat belt retractor's automatic lock-
ing function will be audible at this time and is
normal. The seat belt should now be locked
in place. Pull out the shoulder section of the seat belt.
6. Push and pull the convertible seat along the
seat belt path to ensure that it is held
securely in place by the seat belt.