Get EssentialSafetyEquipment -> 1-3. Child Restraint Guide for Toyota Yaris 4 Door Fourth Generation (2021-2026)

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1-3. Child Restraint

Child-Restraint Precautions

Toyota strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for chil-

dren small enough to use them.

You are required by law to use a child-restraint system for chil-

dren in the U.S. and Canada.

Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific

requirements regarding the safety of children riding in your

vehicle.

Whatever child-restraint system you consider, please pick the appro-

priate one for the age and size of the child, obey the law and follow

the instructions that come with the individual child-restraint system.

A child who has outgrown child-restraint systems should sit in the rear

and use seat belts, both lap and shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses

the neck or face, move the child closer to the center of the vehicle in

the outboard seats, and towards the buckle on the right if the child is

seated on the center seat.

Statistics confirm that the rear seat is the best place for all children up

to 12 years of age, and more so with a supplemental restraint system

(air bags).

A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER be used on the

front seat with the air bag system activated. The front passenger’s

seat is also the least preferred seat for other child-restraint systems.

To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front

passenger air bag, the front passenger occupant classification sensor

works as a part of the supplemental restraint system. This system

deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the

front passenger seat belt pretensioner system when the front passen-

ger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.

When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, the sys-

tem shuts off the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt

pretensioner system, so make sure the front passenger air bag deac-

tivation indicator light illuminates.

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1-3. Child Restraint

Even if the front passenger air bag is shut off, Toyota strongly recom-

mends that children be properly restrained and child-restraint systems

of all kinds are properly secured on the rear seats which are the best

place for children.

For more details, refer to “Front passenger occupant classification

sensor” (P. 82).

1

Your Toyota is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of spe-

cially designed LATCH child-restraint systems on the rear seats. When using

these anchors to secure a child-restraint system, refer to “Using LATCH

Lower Anchor” (P. 61).

WARNING

■Use the correct size child-restraint system

For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, a child must

be properly restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending

on age and size. If not, the child could be seriously injured or even killed in

an accident.

■Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and always keep the child-

restraint system buckled down

An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a

collision it could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other

occupants. Make sure any child-restraint system is properly secured in

place according to the child-restraint system manufacturer’s instructions.

When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or fasten it with a seat belt, or

attach it to BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH child-restraint systems

and the corresponding tether anchor.

■Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint system

Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dan-

gerous. No matter how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold

onto a child in a sudden stop or collision and it could result in serious injury

or death to the child or other occupants. Even in a moderate accident, the

child may be exposed to air bag forces that could result in serious injury or

death to the child, or the child may be slammed into an adult, causing injury

to both child and adult.

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1-3. Child Restraint

WARNING

■Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system in the front seat with an

air bag that could deploy

Rear-facing child-restraint systems on

the front seat are particularly dangerous

even though you may feel assured that a

front passenger air bag will not deploy

based on the fact that the front passen-

ger air bag deactivation indicator light

illuminates. The child-restraint system

can be hit by a deploying air bag and

moved violently backward resulting in

serious injury or death to the child.

Vehicles with a front passenger air bag

have a warning label attached as shown

below.

The warning label reminds you not to put

a rear-facing child-restraint system on

the front passenger seat at any time.

■Do not install a front-facing child-restraint system on the front passen-

ger seat unless it is unavoidable

In a collision, the force of a deploying air

bag could cause serious injury or death

to the child. If installing a front-facing

child-restraint system on the front pas-

senger seat is unavoidable, move the

front passenger seat as far back as pos-

sible.

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1-3. Child Restraint

WARNING

■Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat

is dangerous under certain conditions

Your vehicle is equipped with front passenger occupant classification sen-

sor. Even with the front passenger occupant classification sensor, if you

must use the front passenger seat to seat a child, using a child-restraint

system on the front passenger seat under the following conditions

increases the danger of the front passenger air bag deploying and could

result in serious injury or death to the child.

1

●The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate

when seating a child in the child-restraint system.

●Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-

restraint system.

●A rear passenger or luggage pushing or pulling down on the front passen-

ger seatback.

●Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head

restraint.

●The seat is washed.

●Liquids are spilled on the seat.

●The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or

other items placed behind it.

●The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.

●Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and

driver seat.

●An electric device is put on the front passenger’s seat.

●An additional electrical device, such as a seat warmer is installed to the

surface of the front passenger seat.

The designated positions with seat belts on the rear seats are the safest

places for children. Always use seat belts and child restraints.

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1-3. Child Restraint

WARNING

■Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over or against the side window

of a vehicle with side and curtain air bags

It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over or against the side window, the

area of the front passenger seat, the front and rear window pillars and the

roof edge along both sides from which the side and curtain air bags deploy,

even if a child-restraint system is used. The impact of inflation from a side or

curtain air bag could cause serious injury or death to an out of position child.

Furthermore, leaning over or against the front door could block the side and

curtain air bags and eliminate the advantages of supplemental protection.

With the front air bag and the additional side air bag that comes out of the

front seat, the rear seat is always a better location for children. Take special

care not to allow a child to lean over or against the side window, even if the

child is seated in a child-restraint system.

■Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time

Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat

belt used in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two

passengers could be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed.

Never use one belt for more than one person at a time and always operate

the vehicle with each occupant properly restrained.

■To prevent burns

A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle

during warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them

before you or your child touches them.

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1-3. Child Restraint

Child-Restraint System Installation

Child-Restraint System Types

In this owner’s manual, explanation of child-restraint systems is pro-

vided for the following three types of popular child-restraint systems:

infant seat, child seat, booster seat.

1

 Infant seat

 Child seat

An infant seat provides restraint A child seat restrains a child’s

by bracing the infant’s head, neck body using the harness.

and back against the seating sur-

face.

 Booster seat

A booster seat is a child restraint

accessory designed to improve

the fit of the seat belt system

around the child’s body.

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1-3. Child Restraint

●Installation position is determined by the type of child-restraint system.

Always read the manufacturer’s instructions and this owner’s manual care-

fully.

●Due to variations in the design of child-restraint systems, vehicle seats and

seat belts, all child-restraint systems may not fit all seating positions. Before

purchasing a child-restraint system, it should be tested in the specific vehi-

cle seating position (or positions) where it is intended to be used. If a previ-

ously purchased child-restraint system does not fit, you may need to

purchase a different one that will.

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1-3. Child Restraint

Installing Child-Restraint Systems

Accident statistics reveal that a child is safer in the rear seat.

The front passenger’s seat is clearly the worst choice for any

child under 12, and with rear-facing child-restraint systems it is

clearly unsafe due to air bags.

1

Some child-restraint systems now come with tethers and therefore

must be installed on the seats that take tethers to be effective. In your

Toyota, tethered child-restraint systems can only be accommodated in

the three positions on the rear seat.

Some child-restraint systems also employ specially designed LATCH

attachments; refer to “Using LATCH Lower Anchor” (P. 61).

Even if your vehicle is equipped with front passenger occupant classification

sensor (P. 82), which automatically deactivates the front passenger air bag,

a rear seat is the safest place for a child of any age or size.

WARNING

■Tethered Child-Restraint Systems Work Only on Tether-Equipped Rear

Seats

Installation of a tether equipped child-restraint system in the front passen-

ger’s seat defeats the safety design of the system and will result in an

increased chance of serious injury if the child-restraint system goes forward

without benefit of being tethered.

Place tether equipped child-restraint systems where there are tether

anchors.

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Anchor Bracket

1-3. Child Restraint

Anchor brackets for securing child-restraint systems are equipped in

the vehicle. Locate each anchor position using the illustration.

To install a child-restraint system, if the seat is equipped with a head

restraint, remove it. Always follow the instruction manual accompany-

ing the child-restraint system.

■ Anchor bracket location

 4-Door

Use the indicated anchor

bracket locations when install-

ing a child-restraint system

equipped with a tether.

1

2

3

For right

For center

For left

Anchor bracket

 5-Door

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1-3. Child Restraint

WARNING

■Always attach the tether strap to the correct tether anchor position

Attaching the tether strap to the incorrect tether anchor position is danger-

ous. In a collision, the tether strap could come off and loosen the child-

restraint system. If the child-restraint system moves it could result in death

or injury to the child.

1

■Always remove the head restraint and install child-restraint system

 4-Door

Installing a child-restraint system without

removing the head restraint is danger-

ous. The child-restraint system cannot be

installed correctly which may result in

death or injury to the child in a collision.

Tether strap

Anchor bracket

Tether strap

Anchor bracket

 5-Door

Tether strap

Forward

Tether strap

Forward

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1-3. Child Restraint

WARNING

■Always install the head restraint and adjust it to the appropriate posi-

tion after removing the child-restraint system

Driving with the head restraint removed is dangerous as impact to the occu-

pant’s head cannot be prevented during emergency braking or in a collision,

which could result in a serious accident, injury or death.

Refer to Head Restraints on P. 30.

Using Automatic Locking Mode (if equipped)

Follow these instructions when using a child-restraint system, unless

you are attaching a LATCH-equipped child-restraint system to the rear

LATCH lower anchors. Refer to “Using LATCH Lower Anchor”

(P. 61).

1

Make sure the seatback is securely latched by pushing it back until

it is fully locked.

2

Remove the head restraint.

Refer to Head Restraints on P. 30.

3

Secure the child-restraint system with the lap portion of the lap/

shoulder belt.

See the manufacturer’s instructions on the child-restraint system for

belt routing instructions.

4

To get the retractor into the

automatic locking mode, pull

the shoulder belt portion of the

seat belt until the entire length

of the belt is out of the retractor.

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1-3. Child Restraint

5

Push the child-restraint system

firmly into the vehicle seat. Be

sure the belt retracts as snugly

as possible. A clicking noise

from the retractor will be heard

during retraction if the system is

in the automatic locking mode.

If the belt does not lock the seat

down tight, repeat this step.

1

Inspect this function before each use of the child-restraint system. You

should not be able to pull the shoulder belt out of the retractor while the

system is in the automatic locking mode. When you remove the child-

restraint system, be sure the belt fully retracts to return the system to

emergency locking mode before occupants use the seat belts.

6

If your child-restraint system requires the use of a tether strap, refer

to the manufacturer’s instructions to hook and tighten the tether

strap.

Follow the child-restraint system manufacturer’s instructions carefully. If you

are not sure whether you have a LATCH system or tether, check in the child-

restraint system manufacturer’s instructions and follow them accordingly.

Depending on the type of child-restraint system, it may use LATCH system

instead of seat belts or if the belt goes across the child’s chest, may recom-

mend against using automatic locking mode.

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1-3. Child Restraint

WARNING

■Use the tether and tether anchor only for a child-restraint system

Using the tether or tether anchor to secure anything but a child-restraint

system is dangerous. This could weaken or damage the tether or tether

anchor and result in injury.

■Always remove the head restraint and install child-restraint system

 4-Door

Installing a child-restraint system without

removing the head restraint is danger-

ous. The child-restraint system cannot be

installed correctly which may result in

death or injury to the child in a collision.

Tether strap

Anchor bracket

Tether strap

Anchor bracket

 5-Door

Tether strap

Forward

Tether strap

Forward

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1-3. Child Restraint

WARNING

■Always attach the tether strap to the correct tether anchor position

Attaching the tether strap to the incorrect tether anchor position is danger-

ous. In a collision, the tether strap could come off and loosen the child-

restraint system. If the child-restraint system moves it could result in death

or injury to the child.

1

■Always install the head restraint and adjust it to the appropriate posi-

tion after removing the child-restraint system

Driving with the head restraint removed is dangerous as impact to the occu-

pant’s head cannot be prevented during emergency braking or in a collision,

which could result in a serious accident, injury or death.

Refer to Head Restraints on P. 30.

If You Must Use a Child-Restraint System in the Front Seat for

Children

If you cannot put all children in the rear seat, at least put the smallest

children in the rear and be sure the largest child up front uses a front-

facing child-restraint system.

NEVER put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger

seat whether your vehicle is equipped with a occupant classification

sensor or not.

This seat is also not set up for tethered child-restraint systems, put

them in one of the rear seat positions set up with tether anchors.

Likewise the LATCH child-restraint system cannot be secured in the

front passenger’s seat and should be used in the rear seat.

Do not allow anyone to lean over or against the side window since

your vehicle has side and curtain air bags, it could cause serious inju-

ries to an out of position occupant. As children more often sleep in

cars, it is better to put them in the rear seat.

If installing the child-restraint system on the front seat is unavoidable,

follow these instructions when using a front-facing child-restraint sys-

tem in the front passenger’s seat.

●To check if your front seats have side air bags:

The vehicle equipped with side air bag will have a “SRS AIRBAG” tag on the

outboard shoulder of the front seats.

●To check if your vehicle has curtain air bags:

The vehicle equipped with curtain air bag will have an “SRS AIRBAG” mark-

ing on the window pillars along the roof edge.

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1-3. Child Restraint

WARNING

■Always move the front passenger seat as far back as possible if install-

ing a front-facing child-restraint system on it is unavoidable

As your vehicle has front air bags and doubly so because your vehicle has

side air bags, a front-facing child-restraint system should be put on the front

passenger seat only when it is unavoidable.

Even if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates,

always move the seat as far back as possible, because the force of a

deploying air bag could cause serious injury or death to the child.

■Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system in the front seat with an

air bag that could deploy

Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly danger-

ous.

Even in a moderate collision, the child-restraint system can be hit by a

deploying air bag and moved violently backward resulting in serious injury

or death to the child. Even though you may feel assured that the front pas-

senger air bag will not deploy based on the fact that the front passenger air

bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, never use a rear-facing child-

restraint system in the front seat.