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.
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 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. 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, feed the shoulder
belt back into the retractor 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.
- 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 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.