2009 Dodge Durango Owner Manual - Page 67

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65 Here are some tips for getting the most out of your child restraint: • Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety Standards. The manufacturer recommends that you try a child restraint in the vehicle seats where you will use it before you buy it. • The restraint must be appropriate for your child's weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for weight and height limits. • Carefully follow the instructions that come with the restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may not work when you need it. • The second row seating positions and all third row seats have either cinching latch plates or an automatic locking retractor. These are designed to keep the lap portion tight around the child restraint so that it is not necessary to use a locking clip. • Buckle the child into the restraint exactly as the manufacturer's instructions tell you. • When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle. Do not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or collision, it could strike the occupants or seatbacks and cause serious personal injury. LATCH - Child Seat Anchorage System (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren) Your vehicle's second row seat is equipped with the child restraint anchorage system called LATCH. The LATCH system provides for the installation of the child restraint without using the vehicle's seat belts, instead securing the child restraint using lower anchorages and upper tether straps from the child restraint to the vehicle structure. LATCH-compatible child restraint systems are now available. However, because the lower anchorages are to be introduced over a period of years, child restraint 2