1996 Mercury Villager Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 46

Safety Belts for Children Children who are too large for child safety seats should always wear safety belts. (See instructions with your child seat, or contact its manufacturer, to determine maximum size of a child that will fit safely in the safety seat.) R WARNING If safety belts are not properly worn and adjusted as described, the risk of serious injury to the child in a collision will be much greater. R WARNING If the shoulder belt portion of one of the lap/shoulder belts can be positioned so that it does not cross or rest in front of the child's face or neck, the child should wear the lap/shoulder belt. Moving the child closer to the center of the vehicle may help provide a good shoulder belt fit. To improve the fit of lap and shoulder belts on children who have outgrown child safety seats, Ford recommends use of a belt-positioning booster seat that is labelled as conforming to all Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Belt-positioning booster seats raise the child and provide a shorter, firmer seating cushion that encourages safer seating posture and better fit of lap and shoulder belts on the child. A belt-positioning booster should be used if the shoulder belt rests in front of the child's face or neck, or if the lap belt does not fit snugly on both thighs, or if the thighs are too short to let the child sit all the way back on the seat cushion when the lower legs hang over the edge of the seat cushion. You may wish to discuss the specific needs of your child with your pediatrician. 44