Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Rear Seat Position Bench Seat

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) . See Top Strap if the child restraint has one.

There is no top strap anchor at the second row center seating position. Do not secure a child seat in this position if a national or local law requires that the top strap be anchored, or if the instructions that came with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored.

If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lap 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.

1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch plate and pulling it along the belt.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Run the vehicle's safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.



4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push down on the child restraint. 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.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.

To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's safety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger.