1998 Mercury Villager Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 157

Seating and Safety Restraints Safety Seats for Children Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the child. Always follow the safety seat manufacturer's instructions when installing and using the safety seat. Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position which is capable of providing a tether anchorage. For more information on top tether straps see Attaching Safety Seats With Tether Straps in this chapter. When installing a child safety seat, be sure to use the correct safety belt buckle for that seating position, make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the buckle and there is tension in the belt. For a shoulder/lap belt combination with a sliding tongue, make sure the retractor is in the automatic locking mode. For more information, see Using the Automatic Locking Mode Retractor to Secure a Child Safety Seat later in this chapter. All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or by the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt. 153