Child Safety
Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children
Child
Child size, height, weight, or age
Recommended restraint
type
Use a child safety seat
(sometimes called an
infant carrier, convertible
seat, or toddler seat).
Infants or
toddlers
Children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less
(generally age four or younger).
Children who have outgrown or no longer
properly fit in a child safety seat (gener-
ally children who are less than 4 ft. 9 in.
(1.45 m) tall, are greater than age four
and less than age 12, and between 40 lb
(18 kg) and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to
100 lb (45 kg) if recommended by your
child restraint manufacturer).
Use a belt-positioning
booster seat.
Small children
Larger children
Children who have outgrown or no longer Use a vehicle safety belt
properly fit in a belt-positioning booster
seat (generally children who are at least
4 ft. 9 in. (1.45 m) tall or greater than
80 lb (36 kg) or 100 lb (45 kg) if recom-
mended by child restraint manufacturer).
having the lap belt snug
and low across the hips,
shoulder belt centered
across the shoulder and
chest, and seatback
upright.
•
•
You are required by law to properly use
safety seats for infants and toddlers in
the United States and Canada.
INSTALLING CHILD
RESTRAINTS
Child Seats
Many states and provinces require that
small children use approved booster
seats until they reach age eight, a
height of 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters)
tall, or 80 lb (36 kg). Check your local
and state or provincial laws for specific
requirements about the safety of
children in your vehicle.
•
When possible, always properly
restrain children 12 years of age and
under in a rear seating position of your
vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions
than in a front seating position. See
Front Passenger Sensing System
(page 40).
E142594
17
Focus (CDH) Canada/United States of America, HM5J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201608, First Printing
