1998 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 40

Protecting Children Physical Size Physically, a child must be large enough for the lap/shoulder belt to properly fit over their hips, chest, and shoulder (see page 13). If the seat belt does not fit properly, the child should not sit in the front. Maturity If you decide that a child can safely ride up front, be sure to: Read the owner's manual, and make sure you both understand all seat belt instructions and all safety information. Move the vehicle seat to the rearmost position. Have the child sit up straight with their back against the seat and their feet on or near the floor. Check that the child's seat belt is properly positioned and secured. Closely supervise the child. Even mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten their seat belt or sit properly. Using Child Seats with Tethers To safely ride in front, a child must be able to follow the rules, including sitting properly and wearing their seat belt properly throughout a ride. Your car has three attachment points on the rear shelf for securing a tether-style child seat to the car. Since a tether can provide additional security, we recommend using a tether whenever one is required or available. (Tethers are required in Canada. U.S. owners may check with the child seat maker to determine whether a tether is available for a particular child seat.) Driver and Passenger Safety