child restraint Seat Exeo ST 2009 User Guide

Child safety
46Child safetyBrief introductionIntroduction
Statistics show that children are generally safer on the rear
seat than on the front passenger seat.We recommend that children under 12 years of age are transported on the
rear seats. Children travelling on the rear seat must use a child restraint
system or the seat belts provided, depending on their age, height and
weight. It is advisable that children always travel in the rear seats, the rear
central position being the safest seat, since the risk of injuries in a side colli-
sion is diminished.
The physical laws involved and the forces acting in a collision apply also to
children. ⇒page 19, “Why wear seat belts?”. But unlike adults, children do
not have muscle and bone structures fully developed. This means that chil-
dren are subject to a greater risk of injury.
To reduce this risk, children must always use special child restraint systems
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety products from the SEAT Genuine Acces-
sories Program, which includes systems for all ages made by “Peke”
1).
These systems have been especially designed and approved, complying with
the ECE-R44. regulation.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats. Always read and note
⇒ page 46, “Safety notes on using child seats”. We recommend you to include together with the on-board documentation,
the manufacturer's Child Seat instructions manual.
Safety notes on using child seats
Proper use of child seats substantially reduces the risk of
injury in an accident!As the driver, you are responsible for any children you transport in
your vehicle.
– Protect your children by properly using appropriate child seats
⇒page 48.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
child seat.
– When travelling, do not allow children to distract you from traffic.
– Take breaks regularly during long trips. Take a break at least
every two hours.
WARNING
•Never install a child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This
could lead to a risk of potentially fatal injuries to the child! However, if it is
necessary, in exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger
seat, the front passenger airbag must always be disabled ⇒page 44,
1)Not for all countries
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 46 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12

Child safety47
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
“Deactivating airbags*”. If the passenger seat has a height adjustment
option, move it to the highest position.
•For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the
airbag off, an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.•All passengers, especially children, must assume the proper sitting
position and be properly belted in while travelling.•Never hold children or babies on your lap, this can result in potentially
fatal injuries to the child!•Never allow a child to be transported in a vehicle without being properly
secured, or to stand up or kneel on a seat while travelling. In an accident,
the child could be flung through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal injuries
to themselves and to the other passengers.•If children assume an improper sitting position when the car is moving,
they expose themselves to greater risk of injury in the event of sudden
braking manoeuvre or in an accident. This is particularly important if the
child is travelling on the front passenger seat and the airbag system is trig-
gered in an accident; as this could cause serious injury or even death.•A suitable child seat can protect your child!•Never leave an unsupervised child alone on a child seat or in the
vehicle.•Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or cold
inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.•Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall must not wear a normal seat
belt without a child restraint system, as this could cause injuries to the
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an
accident.•Do not allow the belt webbing to become twisted or jammed, or to rub
on any sharp edges.•Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause injuries even in a minor collision
or in sudden braking manoeuvres.
•The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web is
properly positioned ⇒page 22, “Seat belts”.•Only one child may occupy a child seat ⇒page 48, “Child seats”.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 47 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12

Child safety49
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Group 1 child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help you to protect your child.Child seats using the “ISOFIX” system or seats in which the child faces the
rear of the car are most appropriate for babies and small children weighing
between 9 and 18 kg.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend you to include together with the on-board documentation,
the manufacturer's Child Seat instructions manual.
WARNING
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use of
child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 46.
Group 2 and 3 child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help you to protect your child.Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend you to include together with the on-board documentation,
the manufacturer's Child Seat instructions manual.
Group 2 child seats
Children under 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg are best
protected by group 2 child seats together with properly adjusted seat belts.
Group 3 child seats
Children over 7 years of age weighing between 22 and 36 kg but less than 1.5
metres tall are best protected by seat cushions with head restraints together
with properly worn seat belts ⇒fig. 31 .
Fig. 30 A category 1
forward-facing child seat
fitted on the rear seat.
Fig. 31 Forward-facing
child seat installed on rear
seat.
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 49 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12

Child safety51
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Securing child seatsWays to secure a child seat
A child seat can be secured differently on the rear seat and on
the front passenger seat.You can secure a child seat to the rear seat or front passenger seat in the
following ways:•Child seats in groups 0 to 3 can be secured with a seat belt.•Seats for children aged 0, 0+ and 1 with the “ISOFIX” system can be
secured without fastening seat belts, using the “ISOFIX” and/or Top Tether
securing rings ⇒page 52.
U: Suitable for universal approved restraining systems for use in this age category (universal retention systems are those fitted using the adult
seat belt).
*: Move the passenger seat as far to rear as possible, as high as possible and always deactivate the airbag.
L: Suitable for retention systems using the “ISOFIX” anchors.
WARNING
•When travelling, children must be secured in the vehicle with a
restraint system suitable for age, weight and size.•Never install a child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This
could cause fatal injuries to the child! However, if it is necessary, in excep-
tional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger seat, the front
passenger airbag must always be disabled ⇒page 44, “Deactivating
airbags*” and move the seat to its highest position, in case it has this
adjustment.•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 46.
Category
Weight
Seat locations
Front
passenger
Rear outer
Rear centre
Group 0
<10 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 0+
<13 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 1
9-18 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 2 / 3
15-36 kg
U*
U
U
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 51 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12

Child safety
52Child seat mounting using the “ISOFIX” and/or Top Tether system
The Child restraint systems may be fitted to the rear seat
quickly and safely with the “ISOFIX” and/or Top Tether system
(fitted to the rear seatback).
Following the instructions given by the child seat manufacturer
when installing and removing the seat.
– Fit the plastic guides on the vehicle's ISOFIX anchorages
between the backrest and the seat ⇒fig. 32 .
– Slide the child seat anchorages along the plastic guides until secured in the car's ISOFIX rings (when correctly closed, you will
hear a “click” and the seat should also have a visual indicator to
confirm it is correctly secured) ⇒fig. 33 .
– Check that the ISOFIX system is correctly secured by pulling on the child seat.Detailed fitting instructions are supplied with the child safety seat.
Child seats with “ISOFIX” mountings are available from Dealers and specialist
retailers.
Fig. 32 Position of the
ISOFIX anchorages on the
side rear seat
Fig. 33 The ISOFIX child
seat anchorings slide
along the fitted plastic
guides until secured in
the vehicle's ISOFIX
anchorages
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 52 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12

Child safety53
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
WARNING
The retainers employed for this child safety seat are specially designed for
the “ISOFIX” system. Never secure other child seats, seat belts or other
items into the retainers. If you do, you increase the risk of sustaining
severe or fatal injuries.To p Te t h e r r e t a i n e r s t r a p s
Some child restraint seats have a third Top Tether anchoring
point, apart from both “ISOFIX” anchoring points, which
allow better child retention.The Top Tether system has an upper strap for attachment to the vehicle's
upper anchoring point, which is found on the rear luggage compartment
cover. The retainer strap is used to reduce forwards movements of the safety seat in
a crash, helping reduce the risk of injuries to the head from hitting the inside
of the vehicle.
It is foreseen that an EU Directive will introduce requirements related to the
retention of child restraint systems by means of ISOFIX and Top Tether anchor-
ages (probably compulsory for new types from 2010), which will entail
improved retention of the child restraint seat and less head movement in
case of frontal collisions.
Use of retainer straps on rear-facing seats
At present there are very few rear-facing child safety seats fitted with a
retainer strap. Please carefully read and follow the safety seat manufacturer's
instructions for information on how to install the retainer strap properly.
WARNING
An undue installation of the safety seat will increase the risk of injury in the
event of a crash.•Never tie the retainer strap to a hook in the luggage compartment.•Never secure or tie luggage or other items to the lower anchorages
(ISOFIX) or the upper ones (Top Tether).
Fig. 34 Position of the
Top Tether rings on the
rear tray
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 53 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12

Child safety
54Fitting the Top Tether child restraint to the anchoring pointSecuring the Top Tether child restraint to the anchoring point
situated on the vehicle luggage compartment cover
– Pull out the fastening belt of the child restraint seat according to
the manufacturer's instructions.
– Lead the Top Tether fastening belt under the rear seat head restraint ⇒fig. 35 (lift the head restraint where necessary).
– Slide the belt so that the Top Tether belt of the child restraint seat is correctly secured to the luggage compartment cover
anchorage.
– Firmly tighten the Top Tether belt following the child restraint seat manufacturer's instructions. Releasing the retaining strap
– Release the retainer strap in line with the instructions given by
the child safety seat manufacturer.
– Push the lock and release it from the anchoring support.
WARNING
Read and bear in mind all the WARNINGS ⇒page 53.
Fig. 35 Retainer strap:
correct adjustment and
fitting
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 54 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12