1997 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual - Page 60

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 and seat belt system. Choose a child restraint that meets the guidelines of the Society of Automotive Engineers recommended practice J1819 for child restraint installation. 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. 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. WARNING ● Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat. An inflating air bag could seriously injure or kill your child. A rear-facing child restraint must only be used in the rear seat. See ''Installation on front passenger seat'' for details. ● Improper use of a child restraint can result in increased injuries for both the infant or child and other occupants in the vehicle. ● 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. ● If the child restraint is not anchored properly, the risk of a child being injured in a collision or a sudden stop greatly increases. ● Adjustable seatbacks should be positioned to fit the child restraint, but as upright as possible. 2-31 ● After attaching the child restraint, test it before you place the child in it. Tilt it from side to side. Try to tug it forward and check to see if the belt holds the restraint in place. If the restraint is not secure, tighten the belt as necessary, or put the restraint in another seat and test it again. ● For a front-facing child restraint, if the seat position where it is installed has a 3-point type lap/shoulder belt, check to make sure the shoulder belt does not go in front of the child's face or neck. If it does, put the shoulder belt behind the child restraint. ● When your child restraint is not in use, keep it secured with a seat belt to prevent it from being thrown around in case of a sudden stop or accident. CAUTION ● 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.