1998 GMC Sonoma Owner's Manual - Page 45

rI laller children and babies should always be restrained in a child or infant restraint. The instructions for the restraint say whether it is will the right type and size for your child. very A young child's hip bones areso small that a regular belt might not stay on the hips, as it low should. Instead, the belt will likely be over the child's abdomen. In a crash, the beltwould apply force right on the child's abdomen, which could cause serious or fatal injuries. So, be sure that any child small enough for one is always properly restrained in a child or infant restraint. Infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because an infant's neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing restraint settles intothe restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of the infant's body, the back and shoulders. A baby should be secured in an appropriate infant restraint. This is so important that many hospitals today won't release a newborn infant to its parents unless there is an infant restraint available the baby's first trip in a for motor vehicle. 1-31