CHILD RESTRAINTS
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the time, including babies and
children. Every state in the United States and all Canadian provinces require small
children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the law , and you can be prosecuted for
ignoring it.
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 ensure you have the correct seat for your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your
child.
Infant and Child Restraints
• Safety experts recommend that children ride rearward-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 safety seat. Two types of child restraints can be used rearward-facing: infant
carriers and convertible child seats.
• The infant carrier is only used rearward-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 rearward-facing or forward-facing in the
vehicle. Convertible child seats often have a higher weight limit in the rearward-facing
direction than infant carriers do, so they can be used rearward-facing by children who
have outgrown their infant carrier but are still less than at least two years old. Children
should remain rearward-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by
their convertible child 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.
GETTING STARTED
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