1996 Nissan Sentra Owner's Manual - Page 53

CHILD RESTRAINTS FOR INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN WARNING Infants and small children should always be placed in an appropriate child restraint while riding in the vehicle. Failure to use a child restraint can result in serious injury or death. Children and infants should never be carried on your lap. It is not possible for even the strongest adult to resist the forces of a severe accident. The child could be crushed between the adult and parts of the vehicle. Also, do not put the same seat belt around both your child and yourself. In general, child restraints are designed to be installed with a lap belt or the lap portion of a three-point type seat belt. Nissan recommends that the child restraint system be installed in the rear seat. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat. An improperly installed child restraint could lead to serious injury or death in an accident. Child restraints specially designed for infants and small children are offered by several manufacturers. When selecting any child restraint, keep the following points in mind: 1) Choose only a restraint with a label certifying that it complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. 2) Check the child restraint in your vehicle to be sure it is compatible with the vehicle's seat belt system. 3) If the child restraint is compatible with your vehicle, place your child in the child restraint and check the various adjustments to be sure the child restraint is compatible with your child. Always follow all recommended procedures. WARNING ● Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat. A rear-facing child restraint must only be used in the rear seat. See "Installation on front passenger seat" for details. ● Follow all of the child restraint manufacturer's instructions for installation and use. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure to select one which will fit your child and vehicle. It may not be possible to properly install some types of child restraints in your vehicle. ● Improper use of a child restraint can result in increased injuries for both the infant or child and other occupants in the vehicle. ● When your child restraint is not in use, keep it secured with a seat belt to prevent it from being thrown forward in case of a sudden stop or accident. ● Remember that a child restraint left in a closed vehicle can become very hot. Check the seating surface and buckles before placing your child in the child restraint. ● All U.S. states and provinces of Canada require that infants and small children be restrained in approved child restraints at all times while the vehicle is being operated. 2-28