1998 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 59

When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system in your vehicle,.but the child also has to be secured within the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal injury. The instructions that come with the infant or child restraint will show you howto do that. Both the owner's manual andthe child restraint instructions are important, so if either one of these is not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We at General Motors therefore recommend that you put your child restraint in the rear seat. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here's why: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured if the right frontpassenger's air bag inflates, even though your vehicle has reduced-force frontal air bags. This is because the back of a rearfacing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in the rear seat. You may, however, secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, but before you do, always movethe front passenger seat as far secure the child back as it will go. It's better to restraint in a rear seat. Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mindthat an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sureto properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle -- even when no child is in it. 1-43 -