child seat BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2003 User Guide

Q:How do child restraints work?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.
For many years, add-on child restraints have used
the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help
reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be
secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt
system secures the add-on child restraint in the
vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness
system holds the child in place within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has straps that
come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and
buckle together at the crotch. Thefive-point harness
system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a
crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip
straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that
are attached to aflat pad which rests low against the
child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has
straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield
that swings up or to the side.When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child
restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it
will have a label saying that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may
find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system in
your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured
within the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal
injury. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer
to the instructions that come with the restraint which may
be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and
to this manual. The child restraint instructions are
important, so if they are not available, obtain a
replacement copy from the manufacturer.
1-53
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors, therefore, recommends that child
restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant
riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a
forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a
booster seat.Neverput a rear-facing child restraint
in the front passenger seat. Here’s why:
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating air bag.
Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a
rear seat.
You may secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat, but before you
do, always move the front passenger seat as
far back as it will go. It’s better to secure the
child restraint in a rear seat.Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure
any child restraint in your vehicle–even when no child
is in it.
Top Strap
Some child restraints have a top strap, or“top tether.”It
can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.
For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to
the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints
are designed for use with or without the top strap being
anchored. Others require the top strap always to be
anchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
your child restraint. If yours requires that the top strap
be anchored, don’t use the restraint unless it is anchored
properly.
If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one can
be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit
is available.
1-54
2003 - Rendezvous OM

In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be
anchored. In the United States, some child restraints
also have a top strap. If your child restraint has a
top strap, it should be anchored.Anchor the top strap to one of the following anchor
points. Be sure to use an anchor point located on the
same side of the vehicle as the seating position
where the child restraint will be placed. If you have an
adjustable head restraint, route the top strap under it.
If you’re using a top strap-equipped child restraint in the
second row center bench seat and need to temporarily
transport aflat tire for repair, move the child restraint to
a rear seat outboard position. SeeSecuring a Child
Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position on page 1-61
for more on this, including important safety information.
Once you have the top strap anchored, you’ll be
ready to secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top
strap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions say.
1-55
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Your vehicle has top strap anchors already installed for
the rear seating positions. An anchor bar for a top strap is
located at the rear of the seat cushion for each second
row outboard seating position. The anchor bar for the
center position bench seat is located on thefloor behind
the second row seats. If the vehicle has the extended rear
convenience center, you need to remove a plastic plug
and look under the convenience center tofind the anchor
bar for the center position bench seat.If the vehicle has a third row seat and the seatback is
upright, there is an anchor strap located between the third
row seatback and cushion to anchor the child restraint for
the second row center position bench seat. Second Row Center Position BenchSeat without
Third Row Seat
Second Row Center Position BenchSeat withThird
Row Seat
1-57
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers
for Children (LATCH System)
Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You’llfind
anchors (A) in the second row outside passenger
positions.
To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this child
restraint system, each seating position with the
LATCH system will have latches between the seatback
and cushion.In order to use the system, you need either a
forward-facing child restraint that has attaching
points (B) at its base and a top tether anchor (C), or a
rear-facing child restraint that has attaching points (B),
as shown here.
1-59
2003 - Rendezvous OM

With this system, use the LATCH system instead of the
vehicle’s safety belts to secure a child restraint.
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint isn’t attached to
its anchorage points, the restraint won’t be
able to protect a child sitting there. In a crash,
the child could be seriously injured or killed.
Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is
properly installed using the anchorage points,
or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the
restraint. See″Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Position″in the Index for
information on how to secure a child restraint
in your vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belts.
1-60
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System
1. Find the anchors for the seating position you want
to use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the
back of the seat cushion.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Attach the anchor points on the child restraint to the
anchors in the vehicle. The child restraint
instructions will show you how.
4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach the top
strap to the top strap anchor. SeeTop Strap on
page 1-54. Tighten the top strap according to
the child restraint instructions.
5. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top
strap from the top tether anchor and then disconnect the
anchor points.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-59.
1-61
2003 - Rendezvous OM

You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. SeeTop Strap on
page 1-54if the child restraint has one. 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. Put the restraint on the seat
2. 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.Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face
or neck, put it behind the child restraint.
3. 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.
1-62
2003 - Rendezvous OM

4. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt
while you push down on the child restraint. If
you’re using a forward-facing child restraint, you
mayfind it helpful to use your knee to push down on
the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
5. 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.
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Center Rear Seat Position
The center rear seating position has a lap-shoulder belt.
To secure a child restraint in this position, you’ll use
only the lap part of the belt. Disconnect the shoulder part
of the belt and store it before securing child restraint.
SeeCenter Rear Passenger Position on page 1-38.
If you’re using a top strap-equipped child restraint in the
center rear seat and need to temporarily transport a
flat tire for repair, move the child restraint to a rear seat
outboard position. SeeSecuring a Child Restraint in
a Rear Outside Seat Position on page 1-61for more on
this, including important safety information.
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.
SeeTop Strap on page 1-54if the child restraint
has one.
1-63
2003 - Rendezvous OM

1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate and pulling it along the belt.
2. Put the 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’re using a
forward-facing child restraint, you mayfind it helpful
to use your knee to push the child restraint as
you tighten the belt.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
1-64
2003 - Rendezvous OM