If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
.
If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the
lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow
the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child
restraint when and as the instructions say.
- Put the child restraint on the seat.
- Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the
vehicle's safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
- Buckle the belt. If the buckle does not click, check to be sure that you are
using the correct buckle. The buckle for the center rear passenger position has the
word CENTER on it.
Make sure the release button is positioned so you would
be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
- Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the
lock.
- To tighten the belt, push down on the child
restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the
belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing
child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
- If your child restraint manufacturer recommends using a top tether, attach
and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that
came with the child restraint and to
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
.
- Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it
is secure.
To remove the child restraint, if your child restraint has a top tether, disconnect
the top tether from the top tether anchor. Unbuckle the vehicle's safety belt and
let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to
work for an adult or larger child passenger.