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Standard safety belts
1.Position the child safety seat in a seatwith a combination lap and shoulderbelt.
2.After positioning the child safety seatin the proper seating position, pulldown on the shoulder belt and thengrasp the shoulder belt and lap belttogether behind the belt tongue.
3.While holding the shoulder and lap beltportions together, route the tonguethrough the child seat according to thechild seat manufacturer's instructions.Be sure the belt webbing is not twisted.
4.Insert the belt tongue into the properbuckle (the buckle closest to thedirection the tongue is coming from)for that seating position until you heara snap and feel the latch engage. Makesure the tongue is latched securely bypulling on it.
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5.To put the retractor in the automaticlocking mode, grasp the shoulderportion of the belt and pull downwarduntil all of the belt is pulled out.
Note:The automatic locking mode isavailable on the front passenger and rearseats.
6.Allow the belt to retract to removeslack. The belt will click as it retractsto indicate it is in the automatic lockingmode.
7.Try to pull the belt out of the retractorto make sure the retractor is in theautomatic locking mode (you shouldnot be able to pull more belt out). If theretractor is not locked, unbuckle thebelt and 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 remainingslack that will exist once the extraweight of the child is added to the childrestraint. It also helps to achieve theproper snugness of the child seat toyour vehicle. Sometimes, a slight leantoward the buckle will provide extrahelp to remove remaining slack fromthe belt.
9.Attach the tether strap (if the child seatis equipped).
10.Before placing the child in the seat,forcibly move the seat forward andback to make sure the seat is securelyheld in place. To check this, grab theseat at the belt path and attempt tomove it side to side and forward andback. There should be no more than1 in (2.5 cm) of movement for properinstallation.
We recommend checking with a NHTSACertified Child Passenger SafetyTechnician to make certain the childrestraint is properly installed. In Canada,check with Transport Canada for referralto a Child Car Seat Clinic.
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Using Lower Anchors and Tethersfor CHildren (LATCH)
WARNING: Do not attach twochild safety restraints to the sameanchor. In a crash, one anchor may notbe strong enough to hold two childsafety restraint attachments and maybreak, causing serious injury or death.
WARNING: Depending on whereyou secure a child restraint, anddepending on the child restraint design,you may block access to certain seatbeltbuckle assemblies and LATCH loweranchors, rendering those featurespotentially unusable. To avoid risk ofinjury, make sure occupants only useseating positions where they are able tobe properly restrained.
The LATCH system is composed of threevehicle anchor points: two lower anchorslocated where seat back and seat cushionmeet (called the seat bight) and one toptether anchor located behind that seatingposition.
LATCH compatible child safety seats havetwo rigid or webbing mountedattachments that connect to the two loweranchors at the LATCH equipped seatingpositions in your vehicle. This type ofattachment method eliminates the needto use safety belts to attach the child seat,however the safety belt can still be usedto attach the child seat. For forward-facingchild seats, the top tether strap must alsobe attached to the proper top tetheranchor, if a top tether strap has beenprovided with your child seat.
Your vehicle has LATCH lower anchors forchild seat installation at the seatingpositions marked with the child seatsymbol.
The LATCH anchors are located at the rearsection of the rear seat between thecushion and seat back below the symbolsas shown. Follow the child seatmanufacturer's instructions to properlyinstall a child seat with LATCHattachments. Follow the instructions onattaching child safety seats with tetherstraps.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of thechild seat only to the anchors shown.
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Use of Inboard Lower Anchors from theOutboard Seating Positions (CenterSeating Use)
WARNING: The standardizedspacing for LATCH lower anchors is 11 in(280 mm) center to center. Do not useLATCH lower anchors for the centerseating position unless the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions permit andspecify using anchors spaced at least asfar apart as those in this vehicle.
The lower anchors at the center of thesecond row rear seat are spaced 15.75 in(40 cm) apart. A child seat with rigidLATCH attachments cannot be installedat the center seating position. LATCHcompatible child seats (with attachmentson belt webbing) can only be used at thisseating position provided that the childseat manufacturer's instructions permituse with the anchor spacing stated. Do notattach a child seat to any lower anchor ifan adjacent child seat is attached to thatanchor.
Each time you use the safety seat, checkthat the seat is properly attached to thelower anchors and tether anchor, ifapplicable. Tug the child seat from side toside and forward and back where it issecured to your vehicle. The seat shouldmove less than one inch when you do thisfor a proper installation.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly,the risk of a child being injured in a crashgreatly increases.
Combining Safety Belt and LATCHLower Anchors for Attaching ChildSafety Seats
When used in combination, either thesafety belt or the LATCH lower anchorsmay be attached first, provided a properinstallation is achieved. Attach the tetherstrap afterward, if included with the childseat.
Using Tether Straps
Many forward-facing child safetyseats include a tether strapwhich extends from the back ofthe child safety seat and hooks to ananchoring point called the top tetheranchor. Tether straps are available as anaccessory for many older safety seats.
Contact the manufacturer of your childseat for information about ordering atether strap, or to obtain a longer tetherstrap if the tether strap on your safety seatdoes not reach the appropriate top tetheranchor in your vehicle.
Once the child safety seat has beeninstalled using either the safety belt, thelower anchors of the LATCH system, orboth, you can attach the top tether strap.
The tether strap anchors in your vehicleare in the following positions (shown fromtop view):
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Perform the following steps to install achild safety seat with tether anchors:
Note:If you install a child seat with rigidLATCH attachments, do not tighten thetether strap enough to lift the child seat offyour vehicle seat cushion when the child isseated in it. Keep the tether strap just snugwithout lifting the front of the child seat.Keeping the child seat 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 alsobe removed.
2.Locate the correct anchor for theselected seating position.
3.Clip the tether strap to the anchor asshown.
4.Tighten the child safety seat tetherstrap according to the manufacturer'sinstructions.
If your child restraint system is equippedwith a tether strap, and the child restraintmanufacturer recommends its use, Fordalso recommends its use.
BOOSTER SEATS
WARNING: Do not put theshoulder section of the seatbelt or allowthe child to put the shoulder section ofthe seatbelt under their arm or behindtheir back. Failure to follow thisinstruction could reduce theeffectiveness of the seatbelt andincrease the risk of injury or death in acrash.
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 andless than age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb
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(45 kg) if recommended by your childrestraint manufacturer). Many state andprovincial laws require that children useapproved booster seats until they reachage eight, a height of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or80 lb (36 kg).
Booster seats should be used until you cananswer YES to ALL of these questionswhen seated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way backagainst their vehicle seat backrest withknees bent comfortably at the edge ofthe seat cushion?
•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 forthe whole trip?
Always use booster seats in conjunctionwith your 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(as measured at the tops of the ears)above the top of the seat. In this case,move the backless booster to anotherseating position with a higher seat backrestor 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.
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Children and booster seats vary in size andshape. Choose a booster that keeps thelap belt low and snug across the hips,never up across the stomach, and lets youadjust the shoulder belt to cross the chestand rest snugly near the center of theshoulder. The following drawings compare
the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder beltuncomfortably close to the neck and ashoulder belt that could slip off theshoulder. The drawings also show how thelap belt should be low and snug across thechild's hips.
If the booster seat slides on the vehicleseat upon which it is being used, placing arubberized mesh sold as shelf or carpetliner under the booster seat may improvethis condition. Do not introduce any itemthicker than this under the booster seat.Check with the booster seatmanufacturer's instructions.
CHILD RESTRAINT
POSITIONING
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
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WARNING: Properly securechildren 12 years old and under in a rearseating position whenever possible. Ifyou are unable to properly secure allchildren in a rear seating position,properly secure the largest child on thefront seat. If you must use a forwardfacing child restraint on the front seat,move the seat as far back as possible.Failure to follow these instructions couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Always carefullyfollow the instructions and warningsprovided by the manufacturer of anychild restraint to determine if therestraint device is appropriate for yourchild's size, height, weight, or age. Followthe child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions and warnings provided forinstallation and use in conjunction withthe instructions and warnings providedby your vehicle manufacturer. A safetyseat that is improperly installed orutilized, is inappropriate for your child'sheight, age, or weight or does notproperly fit the child may increase therisk of serious injury or death.
WARNING: Do not allow apassenger to hold a child on their lapwhen your vehicle is moving. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death in the event of asudden stop or crash.
WARNING: Do not use pillows,books or towels to boost your child'sheight. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Properly secure childrestraints or booster seats when they arenot in use. They could become projectilesin a sudden stop or crash. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not put theshoulder section of the seatbelt or allowthe child to put the shoulder section ofthe seatbelt under their arm or behindtheir back. Failure to follow thisinstruction could reduce theeffectiveness of the seatbelt andincrease the risk of injury or death in acrash.
WARNING: Do not leave childrenor pets unattended in your vehicle.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death.
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