1998 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 53

Smaller children and babies should always be restrained in a child or infant restraint. The instructions for the restraint say whether it is will th'eright type and size for your child.A very young child's hip bonesare so small that a regular belt might not stay low onthe hips, as it should. Instead, the belt will likely be over the child's abdomen.In a crash, the belt would apply force right on the child's abdomen, which could cause seriousor fatal injuries. So, be sure that any child small enough one is alwaysproperly for restrained in a child or infant restraint. Infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because an infant's neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing restraint settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of the infant's body,the back and shoulders. A baby should be secured in an appropriate infant restraint. Thi8s so important that many hospitals today won't is release a newborn infant to itsparents unless there is an infant restraint available for the baby's first trip in a motor vehicle,