2001 Nissan Xterra Owner's Manual - Page 30

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. Never install a rear facing child restraint in the front seat. An inflating supplemental air bag could seriously injure or kill your child. A rear facing child restraint must only be used in the rear seat. NISSAN recommends that the child restraint 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. In general, child restraints are designed to be installed with a lap belt or the lap portion of a three-point type seat belt. Child restraints for infants and small children of various sizes 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 of the recommended procedures. All U.S. states and provinces of Canada require that infants and small children be restrained in an approved child restraint at all times while the vehicle is being operated. WARNING 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. 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. Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-23