Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat Position 3rd, 4th, and 5th Row

If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) .

There are no top strap anchors in any four-passenger bench seat positions, if your vehicle has this type of seat. Do not secure a child seat in these positions if a national or local law requires 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. If your child restraint manufacturer recommends using a top tether and the position you are using has a top tether anchor, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that came with your child restraint and to Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) .
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.

To remove the child restraint, if the top tether is attached to the top tether anchor, disconnect it. Unbuckle the vehicle's safety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger.