GMC T-Series 1999, Owner'S Manual

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Smaller Children and Babies
CAUTION:
Smaller children and babies should always be
restrained in a child or infant restraint. The
instructions for the restraint will say whether it is
the right type and size for your child. A very
young child’s hip bones are so small that a
regular belt might not stay low on the hips, as it
should. Instead, the belt will likely be over the
child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply
force right on the child’s abdomen, which could
cause serious or fatal injuries. So, be sure that
any child small enough for one is always properly
restrained in a child or infant restraint.
Infants need complete support, including support for
the head and neck. This is necessary because an
infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much
compared with the rest of its body. In a frontal crash,
an infant in a rear
-
facing restraint settles into the
restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across
the strongest part of the infant’s body, the back and
shoulders. A baby should be secured in an appropriate
infant restraint. This is so important that many hospitals
today won’t release a newborn infant to its parents
unless there is an infant restraint available for the baby’s
first trip in a motor vehicle.
We know securing a child can present real problems in
a medium
-
duty vehicle like yours. The only place
where you can properly secure a child restraint is the
center seating position, the place that has the lap belt
only. But your vehicle may not have a center seating
position. Or, even if you have one, you may find that the
child restraint keeps you from operating the shift lever
or other controls. The only answer may be to have the
smaller children make the trip in another vehicle, where
they can get the protection they need.