Get Safe transport of children Guide for Volkswagen E Golf 4 Door Second Generation (2017-2020)

Safe transport of children

Introduction to the topic

Using child seats can reduce the risk of injury to the child if there is an accident. Always use child

seats when driving with children.

Note the following:

—Child seats are classified into groups depending on the size, age and weight of child for which

they are designed.

—Various securing systems are used to secure child seats in the vehicle.

For safety reasons, child seats must always be fitted to the rear seats (→ Child seats, General

safety).

Volkswagen recommends child seats from the Volkswagen range of accessories. These child

seats have been developed and approved for use in Volkswagen vehicles.

WARNING

If children are not secured or are inadequately secured, they are at greater risk of serious or

even fatal injury. Please note the following:

●

Children who are either under 12 years of age or less than 150 cm tall must not be carried in

the vehicle unless they are secured in a suitable child seat while the vehicle is in motion.

Regulations in some countries may differ and must be complied with.

●

Always secure children in the vehicle in a suitable child seat. The seat used must be

appropriate to the child's height, weight and age.

●

Never fasten more than one child into one child seat.

Under no circumstances should children or babies be held in a passenger's or drivers lap

while driving.

●

Never leave a child unsupervised in a child seat.

Never allow a child to be carried in a vehicle without being properly secured, and never

allow a child to stand up or to kneel on a seat, or to sit incorrectly while the car is in motion.

This is particularly important for children carried on the front passenger seat. In an accident,

children may sustain serious injuries to themselves and others.

●

The child seat can only provide maximum protection if the seat belt is routed correctly

around it. Always ensure that the seat belt is routed as specified in the instructions provided

by the child seat manufacturer. If the seat belt is routed incorrectly it may cause injuries

even in a minor accident.

After an accident, it is vital to replace any child seats that were in use during the accident, as

they could have sustained non-visible damage.

NOTICE

Please observe the notes and information for vehicles with N1 approval (→ N1 approval,

Description).

Types of child seat

Fig. 1 Example illustrations of child seats.

Only use child seats that have been officially approved and are suitable for the child.

Standards for child seats

Regulations ECE-R 44 or ECE-R 129

—Weight class.

—Size class.

—Approval category (universal, semi-universal, vehicle-specific or i-Size).

—Approval number.

On child seats that are approved under regulation ECE-R 44, the eight-digit approval number on

the ECE approval label must begin with 03 or 04. This shows that the seat is admissible for use.

Older child seats with an approval number beginning with 01 or 02 are not admissible.

Child seat weight classes

Class

Child's weight

up to 10 kg

up to 13 kg

9 to 18 kg

Group 0

Group 0+

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

15 to 25 kg

22 to 36 kg

—Weight class 0/0+: group 0/0+ or 0/1 rear-facing infant carriers → Fig. 1 are the best option

for the period from birth to about 18 months.

—Weight class 1: group 1 (up to about four years old) and group 1/2 (up to about seven years

old) with an integral belt system are best for children over the relevant weight limit.

—Weight classes 2/3: groups 2 and 3 include child seats with a backrest, and booster seats with

no backrest. Child seats with a backrest have integrated seat routing and side padding, and so

provide better protection than booster seats with no backrest. Volkswagen therefore

recommends the use of child seats with a backrest. Group 2 child seats are for children up to

the age of about seven, group 3 child seats for those older than seven.

Not every child will fit in the child seat specified for their weight group. Likewise, not every seat

will fit in every vehicle. Therefore it is vital to check that the child fits properly in their child seat

and that the child seat can be securely fastened in the vehicle.

Child seat approval categories

Child seats can be classified as universal, semi-universal or vehicle-specific (all in accordance

with regulation ECE-R 44), or as i-Size (in accordance with regulation ECE-R 129).

—Universal: child seats with universal approval are approved for use in all vehicles. No type list is

required. ISOFIX child seats with universal approval must be additionally secured using a strap

over the top of the vehicle seat (top tether).

—Semi-universal: semi-universal approval requires other safety devices for attaching the seat

(that require additional testing) in addition to the standard requirements for universal

approval. Child seats with semi-universal approval come with a type list. The seats should only

be used in vehicles that are included on this list.

—Vehicle-specific: child seats with vehicle specific approval must have undergone dynamic

testing in each model of vehicle for which it is approved. These child seats also come with a

type list.

—i-Size: child seats with i-Size approval must conform to the installation and safety

requirements prescribed in regulation ECE-R 129. Contact the child seat manufacturer to find

out whether child seats are approved for this vehicle, and if so which ones, in accordance with

i-Size.

Installing and using child seats

Fig. 1 Illustration: airbag label on the sun visor.

Fig. 2 Illustration: airbag label on the B-pillar.

Country-specific regulations

The standards and regulations governing the use of child seats and child seat securing

mechanisms differ from country to country. Not all countries allow you to transport children on

the front passenger seat. Legislation and legal requirements take precedence over the

information given in this owner's manual.

Information on fitting a child seat

Observe the following general information when fitting a child seat. This information is relevant

whatever child seat securing system is being used.

—Read and follow the instructions provided by the child seat manufacturer →

.

—Whenever possible, fit all child seats to the rear seat behind the front passenger seat so that

children can exit the vehicle on the kerb side.

—Set the seat belt height so that the seat belt routing follows a natural line and is adapted to

the child seat without turning back on itself. For rear-facing child seats, use the lowest

position of the belt height adjuster.

—Deactivate the front passenger front airbag if fitting a rear-facing child seat on the front

passenger seat.

—When fitting on the front passenger seat, push the front passenger seat back fully and adjust

the seat to the highest position. Adjust the backrest to an upright position (→ Sitting position,

Description).

—Always ensure that there is enough space around the child seat. If necessary, adjust the

position of the seat in front. When doing so, ensure that the driver or front passenger can still

maintain a correct sitting position (→ Sitting position, Description).

—The backrest of the child seat must lay as flat as possible against the vehicle seat backrest. If

required, adjust the seat backrest angle so that the child seat lies flush against the backrest.

Once it has been installed, if the child seat is touching the head restraint and therefore cannot

be positioned flush against the backrest, push the head restraint all the way up, or remove and

stow safely in the vehicle (→ Sitting position, Description).

Airbag sticker

The vehicle may be provided with stickers giving important information about the front

passenger front airbag. The information on these stickers may vary from country to country. The

stickers may be found:

—On the driver sun visor and in some cases on the front passenger sun visor → Fig. 1 .

—On the B-pillar on the front passenger side → Fig. 2 .

It is essential to observe the warning information shown on these stickers before installing a

rear-facing child seat →

.

Risks involved in carrying children on the front passenger seat

If you are using a rear-facing child seat, the front passenger front airbag can cause critical or

potentially fatal injuries when it inflates →

.

Rear-facing child seats may be used on the front passenger seat only if the front passenger front

airbag has been deactivated (→ Airbag system, Description) (→ Advanced airbag system,

Description). A deactivated front passenger front airbag is indicated by the continuously

lit PASSENGER AIR BAG

indicator lamp in the driver’s field of vision (→ Indicator lamp for

standard airbag system, Description).

If using a front-facing child seat, do not deactivate the front passenger front airbag. When fitting

the child seat, ensure that it is as far away as possible from the front passenger front airbag. The

front passenger front airbag can cause severe injuries when it inflates →

.

Some child seats are not suitable for use on the front passenger seat. The child seat must be

specially authorised by the manufacturer for use on the front passenger seat in vehicles with

front and side airbags. Volkswagen dealerships keep an up-to-date list of authorised child seats.

DANGER

If you use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, the child in it is at increased risk

of sustaining critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident.

●

Deactivate the front passenger front airbag. If the front passenger front airbag cannot be

deactivated no rear-facing child seat may be used.

●

Move the front passenger seat as far back and as high as it can be adjusted to create the

largest possible distance between the child seat and the front passenger front airbag.

●

Move the backrest to the upright position.

Set the seat belt height so that the seat belt routing follows a natural line and is adapted to

the child seat without turning back on itself. For rear-facing child seats, use the lowest

position of the belt height adjuster.

●

Use only child seats that have been approved by the child seat manufacturer for use on a

front passenger seat with front and side airbags.

WARNING

Child seats present a risk of injury if incorrectly installed.

●

Always read and follow the installation instructions and warning information provided by

the child seat manufacturer.

WARNING

Using a front-facing child seat on the front passenger seat presents a risk of injury.

●

Move the front passenger seat as far back and as high as it can be adjusted to create the

largest possible distance between the child seat and the front passenger front airbag.

●

Move the backrest to the upright position.

Set the seat belt height so that the seat belt routing follows a natural line and is adapted to

the child seat without turning back on itself. For rear-facing child seats, use the lowest

position of the belt height adjuster.

●

Use only child seats that have been approved by the child seat manufacturer for use on a

front passenger seat with front and side airbags.

WARNING

To avoid injuries caused by inflation of a head airbag or side airbag:

●

Ensure that no children are seated within the airbag deployment zones (→ Airbag system,

Description) (→ Advanced airbag system, Description).

●

Do not place any objects in the side airbag deployment zones.

Securing systems

Different countries use different securing systems for safely fitting child seats in the vehicle.

Overview of securing systems

—ISOFIX: ISOFIX is a standardised securing system for fitting child seats in the vehicle quickly

and safely. The ISOFIX attachment system creates a rigid connection between the child seat

and the car body.

The seat has two rigid attachment arms. The attachment arms click into ISOFIX attachment

points at the bottom of the backrest (on the outer rear seats). The ISOFIX securing system as

described here is specific to the EU (→ Child seat with ISOFIX, Description) (→ Child seat with

ISOFIX or i-Size, Description). An upper strap (top tether) or a support foot may sometimes have

to be used in addition to the ISOFIX anchor points described above.

—Three-point automatic seat belt. It is better to secure child seats using the ISOFIX system, if

available, rather than with a three-point automatic seat belt (→ Child seat with seat belt,

Description).

Additional securing points:

—Top tether: the strap at the top of the child seat is routed over the rear seat backrest and

hooked to an anchor ring on the back of the rear seats (→ Child seat with top tether,

Description). Top tether anchor points are marked with an anchor symbol.

—Support foot: some child seats are supported by a support foot resting on the floor of the

vehicle. This support foot helps prevent the child seat tipping forward in a crash. Child seats

with a support foot can only be used on the front passenger seat and the outer rear seats →

.

Recommended child seat securing systems

Volkswagen recommends that child seats are secured as follows:

—Infant carrier or rear-facing child seat: ISOFIX and support foot.

—Front-facing child seat: ISOFIX and top tether and possibly also support foot.

WARNING

Incorrect use of the support foot can cause severe or fatal injuries.

●

Ensure that the support foot is always correctly and safely installed.

Securing a child seat with ISOFIX

Fig. 1 On vehicle seat: markings identifying the ISOFIX anchor points for child seats.

Fig. 2 Illustration: fitting an ISOFIX child seat with the attachment arms.

Quick guide to ISOFIX installation

The table below shows the options for securing ISOFIX child seats to ISOFIX anchor points at the

various possible seats in the vehicle.

Size

Front

Outer seats on the rear

bench seat

Centre seat on the rear

bench seat

Group

class passenger seat

Group 0: up to

10 kg

E

X

IL-SU

X

E

D

C

X

Group 0+: up to

13 kg

IL-SU

D

C

Group 1: 9 to

18 kg

B

IL-SU, IUF

B1

A

Group 2: 15 to

25 kg

–

X

IL-SU

X

Group 3: 22 to

36 kg

—Size class: the size class shown corresponds to the permissible weight range of the child using

the seat. The size class is indicated on the ECE test certificate for child seats with universal or

semi-universal approval. A size class indication is affixed to the child seat.

—X: seat not suitable for securing an ISOFIX child seat in this group.

—IL-SU: seat suitable for installing an ISOFIX child seat with "semi-universal" approval. Refer to

the vehicle list supplied by the child seat manufacturer.

—IUF: seat suitable for installing an ISOFIX child seat with "universal" approval.

Installing child seats with ISOFIX

The location of the ISOFIX anchor points is shown by a symbol → Fig. 1 .

—Observe the instructions (→ Child seats, General safety).

—Pull off any protective caps that may be fitted on the ISOFIX retaining ring points.

—Push the attachment arms on the child seat into the ISOFIX anchor points as shown by the

arrows → Fig. 2 . The child seat must click and audibly securely into place.

—Pull on both sides of the child seat to check whether the seat has clicked properly into place.

—If the child seat is fitted with a support foot, the foot must stand firmly on the floor of the

vehicle.

Securing child seats with the top tether

Fig. 1 On the back of the rear bench seat: anchor rings for the top tether.

ISOFIX child seats with universal approval must be secured with an upper strap (top tether) in

addition to the ISOFIX anchor points.

Only secure the strap to the top tether anchor rings provided for this purpose. Anchor rings for

use with the top tether are marked by a symbol and sometimes also with “TOP TETHER”.

—Observe the instructions (→ Child seats, General safety).

—Push the head restraint on the vehicle seat all the way up or remove it.

—Position the child seat in the centre of the seat cushion.

—Push the attachment arms on the child seat into the ISOFIX anchor points as shown by the

arrows (→ Child seat with ISOFIX, Description) (→ Child seat with ISOFIX or i-Size,

Description). The child seat must click and audibly securely into place.

—Remove the luggage compartment cover if necessary.

—Guide the top tether of the child seat to the rear into the luggage compartment and hook it

into the top tether anchor ring in the rear seat backrest → Fig. 1 .

—Tighten the upper strap so that the top of the child seat rests against the rear seat backrest.

WARNING

Only secure the strap to the top tether anchor rings provided for this purpose. Failure to do this

could lead to severe injuries.

●

Each anchor ring can hold only one child seat restraining strap.

Never fasten the strap on a child seat to any other fastening rings.

Depending on the market and model, there may be two or three anchor rings in the

luggage compartment behind the rear seat backrest.

Securing a child seat using the seat belt

If you want to fit a child seat from the "universal" (u) approval category in your vehicle, you must

first ensure that it is approved for the seat position in question. Important information is given

on the orange ECE approval label on the child seat. Installation options are shown in the table

below.

Front passenger seat

Child's

weight

Seats on the

Group

Front passenger front Front passenger front

rear bench seat

airbag activated

airbag deactivated

up to

10 kg

Group 0

x

u

up to

13 kg

Group 0+

x

u

x

Rear

9 to 18

kg

facing

Group

1

Forward 9 to 18

u

facing

kg

15 to

25 kg

Group 2

Group 3

22 to

36 kg

u: universal; x: seat not suitable for securing a child seat in this group.

Securing a child seat using the seat belt

—Observe the instructions (→ Child seats, General safety).

—Adjust the belt height of the seat belt so that a natural seat belt routing that is matched to the

child seat results. Use the lowest position of the belt height adjuster for rear-facing child

seats.

—Fasten the seat belt and guide it through the child seat as described in the child seat

manufacturer's instructions.

—Ensure that the seat belt is not twisted.

—Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and push it down until it audibly

engages.

Safe transport of children for Your Volkswagen E Golf 4 Door Second Generation (2017-2020)

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