child restraint GMC ACADIA 2009 User Guide

{CAUTION
Never do this.
Never hold an infant or a child
while riding in a vehicle. Due to
crash forces, an infant or a child
will become so heavy it is not
possible to hold it during a crash.
For example, in a crash at only
25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg)
infant will suddenly become a
240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s
arms. An infant should be secured
in an appropriate restraint.
{CAUTION
Never do this.
Children who are up against, or
very close to, any airbag when it
inates can be seriously injured or
killed. Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front
seat. Secure a rear-facing child
restraint in a rear seat. It is also
better to secure a forward-facing
child restraint in a rear seat.If you
must secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat,
always move the front passenger
seat as far back as it will go.
Q:What are the different types of
add-on child restraints?
A:Add-on child restraints, which are
purchased by the vehicle’s
owner, are available in four basic
types. Selection of a particular
restraint should take into
consideration not only the child’s
weight, height, and age but also
whether or not the restraint will be
compatible with the motor vehicle
in which it will be used.
1-32 Seats and Restraint System

For most basic types of child
restraints, there are many
different models available. When
purchasing a child restraint,
be sure it is designed to be used
in a motor vehicle. If it is, the
restraint will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s
instructions that come with the
restraint state the weight
and height limitations for a
particular child restraint. In
addition, there are many kinds of
restraints available for children
with special needs.{CAUTION
To reduce the risk of neck and
head injury during a crash, infants
need complete support. This is
because an infant’s neck is not
fully developed and its head
weighs so much compared with
the rest of its body. In a crash, an
infant in a rear-facing child
restraint settles into the restraint,
so the crash forces can be
distributed across the strongest
part of an infant’s body, the back
and shoulders. Infants should
always be secured in rear-facing
child restraints.
{CAUTION
A young child’s hip bones are still
so small that the vehicle’s regular
safety belt may not remain low on
the hip bones, as it should.
Instead, it may settle up around
the child’s abdomen. In a crash,
the belt would apply force on a
body area that is unprotected by
any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal
injuries. To reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injuries during a
crash, young children should
always be secured in appropriate
child restraints.
Seats and Restraint System 1-33

Child Restraint Systems
A rear-facing infant seat (A) provides
restraint with the seating surface
against the back of the infant.The harness system holds the infant
in place and, in a crash, acts to
keep the infant positioned in
the restraint.
A forward-facing child seat (B)
provides restraint for the child’s body
with the harness.A booster seat (C) is a child
restraint designed to improve the t
of the vehicle’s safety belt system.
A booster seat can also help a child
to see out the window. (A) Rear-Facing Infant Seat
(B) Forward-Facing Child Seat
(C) Booster Seats
1-34 Seats and Restraint System

Securing an Add-On Child
Restraint in the Vehicle
{CAUTION
A child can be seriously injured or
killed in a crash if the child restraint
is not properly secured in the
vehicle. Secure the child restraint
properly in the vehicle using the
vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH
system, following the instructions
that came with that child restraint
and the instructions in this manual.
To help reduce the chance of injury,
the child restraint must be secured in
the vehicle. Child restraint systems
must be secured in vehicle seats by
lap belts or the lap belt portion of a
lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH
system. SeeLower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH) on
page 1-37for more information. A
child can be endangered in a crash if
the child restraint is not properly
secured in the vehicle.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.
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 the vehicle — even when no child
is in it.
Securing the Child Within the
Child Restraint
{CAUTION
A child can be seriously injured or
killed in a crash if the child is not
properly secured in the child
restraint. Secure the child properly
following the instructions that
came with that child restraint.
Where to Put the
Restraint
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer when
properly restrained in a child restraint
system or infant restraint system
secured in a rear seating position.
We recommend that children and
child restraints be secured in a rear
seat, including: an infant or a child
riding in a rear-facing child restraint;
a child riding in a forward-facing child
seat; an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are large
enough, using safety belts.
Seats and Restraint System 1-35

A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front.” This is
because the risk to the rear-facing
child is so great, if the airbag
deploys.
{CAUTION
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured or
killed if the right front passenger
airbag inates. This is because the
back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the
right front passenger airbag
inates and the passenger seat is
in a forward position.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag, no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though it is
turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints
in a rear seat, even if the airbag is
off. If you secure a forward-facing
child restraint in the right front seat,
always move the front passenger
seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint
in a rear seat.
SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 1-55for additional
information.When securing a child restraint in a
rear seating position, study the
instructions that came with the child
restraint to make sure it is compatible
with this vehicle.
Wherever a child restraint is
installed, 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 the vehicle — even when no child
is in it.
1-36 Seats and Restraint System

Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH)
The LATCH system holds a child
restraint during driving or in a crash.
This system is designed to make
installation of a child restraint easier.
The LATCH system uses anchors
in the vehicle and attachments
on the child restraint that are made
for use with the LATCH system.
Make sure that a LATCH-compatible
child restraint is properly installed
using the anchors, or use the
vehicle’s safety belts to secure the
restraint, following the instructions
that came with that restraint, and
also the instructions in this manual.
When installing a child restraint with
a top tether, you must also use either
the lower anchors or the safety belts
to properly secure the child restraint.
A child restraint must never be
attached using only the top tether
and anchor.In order to use the LATCH system in
your vehicle, you need a child
restraint that has LATCH
attachments. The child restraint
manufacturer will provide you with
instructions on how to use the child
restraint and its attachments. The
following explains how to attach a
child restraint with these attachments
in your vehicle.
Not all vehicle seating positions or
child restraints have lower anchors
and attachments or top tether
anchors and attachments.
Lower Anchors
Lower anchors (A) are metal bars
built into the vehicle. There are
two lower anchors for each
LATCH seating position that will
accommodate a child restraint
with lower attachments (B).Top Tether Anchor
A top tether (A, C) anchors the
top of the child restraint to the
vehicle. A top tether anchor is built
into the vehicle. The top tether
attachment (B) on the child restraint
connects to the top tether anchor
in the vehicle in order to reduce the
forward movement and rotation
of the child restraint during driving
or in a crash.
Your child restraint may have a
single tether (A) or a dual tether (C).
Either will have a single
attachment (B) to secure the
top tether to the anchor.
Seats and Restraint System 1-37

Some child restraints with top
tethers are designed for use with or
without the top tether being
attached. Others require the top
tether always to be attached.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether
be attached. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions for your
child restraint.
If the child restraint does not have a
top tether, one can be obtained,
in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer
whether or not a kit is available.Lower Anchor and Top Tether
Anchor Locations
i(Top Tether Anchor): Seating
positions with top tether anchors.
j(Lower Anchor): Seating positions
with two lower anchors.
i(Top Tether Anchor): Seating
positions with top tether anchors.
j(Lower Anchor): Seating positions
with two lower anchors. Second Row — Bucket
Second Row — 60/40 Bench
1-38 Seats and Restraint System

i(Top Tether Anchor): Seating
positions with top tether anchors.To assist you in locating the lower
anchors, each second row
anchor position has a label, near
the crease between the seatback
and the seat cushion.
To assist you in locating the top
tether anchors, the top tether anchor
symbol is located on the cover or
near the anchor.The top tether anchors are located
at the bottom rear of the seatback
for each seating position in the
second row. Open the cover
to access the anchors. Be sure to
use an anchor located on the
same side of the vehicle as the
seating position where the
child restraint will be placed. Third Row
Second Row — Bucket Shown,
Bench Similar
Seats and Restraint System 1-39

The third row has one top tether
anchor located at the bottom rear of
the center seatback. This anchor
should be used for the center
seating position only. Never install
two top tethers using the same
top tether anchor.
Do not secure a child restraint in a
position without a top tether
anchor if a national or local law
requires that the top tether be
attached, or if the instructions that
come with the child restraint say that
the top tether must be attached.Accident statistics show that children
are safer if they are restrained in the
rear rather than the front seat. See
Where to Put the Restraint on
page 1-35for additional information.
Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH System
{CAUTION
If a LATCH-type child restraint is
not attached to anchors, the child
restraint will not be able to protect
the child correctly. In a crash, the
child could be seriously injured or
killed. Install a LATCH-type child
restraint properly using the
anchors, or use the vehicle’s
safety belts to secure the restraint,
following the instructions that came
with the child restraint and the
instructions in this manual.
{CAUTION
Do not attach more than one child
restraint to a single anchor.
Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single anchor could
cause the anchor or attachment to
come loose or even break during
a crash. A child or others could
be injured. To reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injuries during a
crash, attach only one child
restraint per anchor.
{CAUTION
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and the
safety belt continues to tighten.
Buckle any unused safety belts
behind the child restraint so
children cannot reach them.
(Continued) Third Row Seat
1-40 Seats and Restraint System

CAUTION (Continued)
Pull the shoulder belt all the way
out of the retractor to set the lock,
if your vehicle has one, after the
child restraint has been installed.
Notice:Do not let the LATCH
attachments rub against the
vehicle’s safety belts. This may
damage these parts. If necessary,
move buckled safety belts to avoid
rubbing the LATCH attachments.
Do not fold the empty rear seat
with a safety belt buckled. This
could damage the safety belt or
the seat. Unbuckle and return the
safety belt to its stowed position,
before folding the seat.
1. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments to the lower
anchors. If the child restraint
does not have lower attachments
or the desired seating position
does not have lower anchors,
secure the child restraint with thetop tether and the safety belts.
Refer to your child restraint
manufacturer instructions and the
instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for
the desired seating position.
1.2. Recline the seatback to the
full reclined position.
Make sure the second row
bench seatbacks are
aligned at the same angle
before placing the child
restraint on the seat. Make
sure the third row bench
seatbacks are both upright
before placing the child
restraint on the seat.
1.3. Put the child restraint on
the seat.
1.4. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments on the child
restraint to the lower
anchors.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer
recommends that the top tether
be attached, attach and tighten
the top tether to the top tether
anchor, if the vehicle has one.Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following
steps:
2.1. Find the top tether anchor.
2.2. If the anchor is covered,
ip open the cover to
expose the anchor.
2.3. Route, attach and tighten
the top tether according to
your child restraint
instructions and the
following instructions:
If the position you are using
does not have a headrest or
head restraint and you are
using a single tether, route
the tether over the seatback.
Seats and Restraint System 1-41