Infant And Child Restraints
Safety experts recommend that children ride rear-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
restraint
.
Two types of child restraints can be used rear-facing: infant carriers and convert-
ible child seats
.
The infant carrier is only used rear-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 rear-facing or forward-facing in the vehicle
.
Convertible
child seats often have a higher weight limit in the rear-facing direction than infant carriers
do, so they can be used rear-facing by children who have outgrown their infant carrier
but are still less than at least two years old
.
Children should remain rear-facing until they
reach the highest weight or height allowed by their convertible child seat
.
WARNING!
•
Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of an air bag
.
A deploying passen-
ger front air bag can cause death or serious injury to a child 12 years or younger,
including a child in a rear-facing child restraint
.
•
Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle with a rear 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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