Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System

WARNING!
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the child restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Install a LATCH-type child restraint properly using the anchors, or use the vehicle safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with the child restraint and the instructions in this manual.

WARNING!
Do not attach more than one child restraint to a single anchor.
Attaching more than one child restraint to a single anchor could cause the anchor or attachment to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries during a crash, attach only one child restraint per anchor.

WARNING!
Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Buckle any unused safety belts behind the child restraint so children cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock, if the vehicle has one, after the child restraint has been installed.

Notice:
Do not let the LATCH attachments rub against the vehicle’s safety belts. This may damage these parts. If necessary, move buckled safety belts to avoid rubbing the LATCH attachments.
Do not fold the empty rear seat with a safety belt buckled. This could damage the safety belt or the seat. Unbuckle and return the safety belt to its stowed position, before folding the seat.

If you need to secure more than one child restraint in the rear seat, see Where to Put the Restraint.

You cannot secure three child restraints using the LATCH anchors in the rear seat at the same time, but you can install two of them.

If you want to do this, install one LATCH child restraint in the passenger-side position, and install the other one either in the driver-side position or in the center position. If you need to install child restraints in both the center and driver-side position, the one in the center seating position will need to be secured using the vehicle safety belts instead of the LATCH anchors.

Refer to the following illustration to learn which anchors to use.

A. Passenger Side Rear Seating

A. Passenger Side Rear Seating Position and Lower Anchors 1 and 2
B. Center Rear Seating Position and Lower Anchors 3 and 4
C. Driver Side Rear Seating Position and Lower Anchors 4 and 5

There are five lower LATCH anchors in the rear seat.

• Use anchors 1 and 2 when installing a child restraint using LATCH in seating position A.

• Use anchors 3 and 4 when installing a child restraint using LATCH in seating position B.

• Use anchors 4 and 5 when installing a child restraint using LATCH in seating position C.

Installing child restraints using LATCH in seating positions B and C at the same time is prohibited.

Make sure to attach the child restraint at the proper anchor location.

This system is designed to make installation of child restraints easier.

When using lower anchors, do not use the vehicle's safety belts.

Instead use the vehicle's anchors and child restraint attachments to secure the restraints. Some restraints also use another vehicle anchor to secure a top tether.

1. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to the child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.

1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position.

1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

If the head restraint interferes with the proper installation of the child restraint, the head restraint may be removed. See “Head Restraint Removal and Reinstallation” at the end of this section.

1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors.

2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:

2.1. Find the top tether anchor.

Open the cover to expose the anchor.

2.2. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether according to the child restraint instructions and the following instructions:

• If the position you are using

• If the position you are using does not have a headrest or head restraint, or the headrest or head restraint has been removed, and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the seatback.

• If the position you are using

• If the position you are using does not have a headrest or head restraint, or the headrest or head restraint has been removed, and you are using a dual tether, route the tether over the seatback.

• If the position you are using

• If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts. See Head Restraints.

• If the position you are using

• If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the headrest or head restraint.

3. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the LATCH path and attempt to move it side to side and back and forth. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement, for proper installation.

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