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.
5. To put the retractor in the automaticlocking mode, grasp the shoulder portionof the belt and pull downward until youpull all of the belt out.
Note:The automatic locking mode isavailable on the front passenger and rearseats.
6.Allow the belt to retract to remove slack.The belt clicks as it retracts to indicate itis in the automatic locking mode.
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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 up on the shoulder belt in orderto force slack from the belt. This isnecessary to remove the remaining slackthat exists once you add the extra weight
of the child to the child restraint. It alsohelps to achieve the proper snugness ofthe child restraint to your vehicle.Sometimes, a slight lean toward thebuckle will additionally 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.
Using Lower Anchors and Tethers forCHildren (LATCH)
WARNING: Do not attach two childsafety restraints to the same anchor. In acrash, one anchor may not be strong enoughto hold two child safety restraint attachmentsand may break, causing serious injury ordeath.
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WARNING: Depending on where yousecure a child restraint, and depending onthe child restraint design, you may blockaccess to certain seatbelt buckle assembliesand LATCH 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 seat backrest and seat cushionmeet (called the seat bight) and one toptether anchor behind that seating position.
LATCH compatible child restraints have tworigid or webbing mounted attachments thatconnect to the two lower anchors at theLATCH equipped seating positions in yourvehicle. This type of attachment methodeliminates the need to use seatbelts to attach
the child restraint. However, you can still usethe seatbelt to attach the child restraint. Forforward-facing child restraints, you must alsoattach the top tether strap to the proper toptether anchor, if a top tether strap has beenprovided with your child restraint.
Your vehicle has LATCH lower anchors forchild restraint installation. The LATCHanchors are at the rear section of the rearseat between the cushion and seat backrest.Follow the child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions to properly install a child restraintwith LATCH attachments. Follow theinstructions on attaching child restraints withtether straps.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of the childrestraint only to the anchors.
Use of Inboard Lower Anchors from theOutboard Seating Positions (Center SeatingUse)
WARNING: The standardized spacingfor LATCH lower anchors is 11 in (280 mm)center to center. Do not use LATCH loweranchors for the center seating positionunless the child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions permit and specify using anchorsspaced at least as far apart as those in thisvehicle.
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. LATCH compatiblechild restraints (with attachments on beltwebbing) can only be used at this seating
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position 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 child restraint, checkthat the 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 child restraint is not anchored properly,the risk of a child being injured in a crashgreatly increases.
Combining Seatbelt and LATCH LowerAnchors for Attaching Child Restraints
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 childrestraints include a tether strapwhich extends from the back of thechild restraints and hooks to an anchoringpoint called the top tether anchor. Tetherstraps are available as an accessory for manyolder child restraints.
Contact the manufacturer of your childrestraint for information about ordering atether strap, or to obtain a longer tether strapif the tether strap on your child restraint doesnot reach the appropriate top tether anchorin your vehicle.
Once you install the child restraint 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 childrestraint 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.
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1.Route the child restraint tether strap overthe back of the seat. For the outermostseating 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, you can also remove the headrestraints.
2. Locate the correct anchor on the backpanel of the rear seat for the selectedseating position. The anchors are labeledwith the tether strap symbol and arepartially covered by the gap panel. Pullthe panel back to fully expose theanchors.
3. Clip the tether strap to the anchor asshown.
4. Tighten the child restraint tether strapaccording to the manufacturer'sinstructions. If your child restraint systemis equipped with a tether strap, and thechild restraint manufacturer recommendsits use, we also recommend its use.
BOOSTER SEATS
WARNING: Do not put the shouldersection of the seatbelt or allow the child toput the shoulder section of the seatbeltunder their arm or behind their back. Failureto follow this instruction could reduce theeffectiveness of the seatbelt and increasethe risk of injury or death in a crash.
Use a belt-positioning booster seat forchildren who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a child safety restraint(generally children who are less than 57 in(1.45 m) tall, are greater than age 4 and lessthan age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg) and80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb (45 kg) ifrecommended by your child restraintmanufacturer). Many state and provinciallaws require that children use approvedbooster seats until they reach age eight, aheight of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or 80 lb (36 kg).
Booster seats should be used until you cananswer YES to ALL of these questions whenseated without a booster seat:
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•Can the child sit all the way back againsttheir vehicle seat backrest with kneesbent comfortably at the edge of the seatcushion?
•Can the child sit without slouching?
•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 seatbackrest or no head restraint, a backlessbooster seat may place your child's head (asmeasured at the tops of the ears) above thetop of the seat. In this case, move thebackless booster to another seating positionwith a higher seat backrest or head restraintand lap and shoulder belts, or consider usinga high back booster seat.
•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. The
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following drawings compare the ideal fit(center) to a shoulder belt uncomfortablyclose to the neck and a shoulder belt that
could slip off the shoulder. The drawings alsoshow how the lap belt should be low andsnug across the child's hips.
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If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seatupon which it is being used, placing arubberized mesh sold as shelf or carpet linerunder the booster seat may improve thiscondition. Do not introduce any item thickerthan this under the booster seat. Check withthe booster seat manufacturer's instructions.
CHILD RESTRAINT POSITIONING
WARNING: Do not place a rearwardfacing child restraint in front of an activeairbag. Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Properly secure children12 years old and under in a rear seatingposition whenever possible. If you are unableto properly secure all children in a rearseating position, properly secure the largestchild on the front seat. If you must use aforward facing child restraint on the frontseat, move the seat as far back as possible.Failure to follow these instructions couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Always carefully follow theinstructions and warnings provided by themanufacturer of any child restraint todetermine if the restraint device isappropriate for your child's size, height,weight, or age. Follow the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions and warningsprovided for installation and use inconjunction with the instructions andwarnings provided by your vehiclemanufacturer. A safety seat that is improperlyinstalled or utilized, is inappropriate for yourchild's height, age, or weight or does notproperly fit the child may increase the risk ofserious injury or death.
WARNING: Do not allow a passengerto hold a child on their lap when your vehicleis moving. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury or death in theevent of a sudden stop or crash.
WARNING: Do not use pillows, booksor towels to boost your child's height. Failureto follow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: Properly secure childrestraints or booster seats when they are notin use. They could become projectiles in asudden stop or crash. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Do not put the shouldersection of the seatbelt or allow the child toput the shoulder section of the seatbeltunder their arm or behind their back. Failureto follow this instruction could reduce theeffectiveness of the seatbelt and increasethe risk of injury or death in a crash.
WARNING: Do not leave children orpets unattended in your vehicle. Failure tofollow this instruction could result in personalinjury or death.
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