Chevrolet TRACKER 2003 Manual page 42

For most basic types of child restraints, there are
many different models available. When purchasing a
child restraint, be sure it
is
designed to be used
in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a
label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer's instructions that come
with the restraint state the weight and height
limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition,
there are many kinds of restraints available for
children with special needs.
Newborn infants need complete support,
including support for the head and neck. This
is necessary because a newborn 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 seat settles into the
restraint, so the crash forces can be
distributed across the strongest part of an
infant's body, the back and shoulders. Infants
always should be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
I
I
The body structure of a young child is quite
'
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
i
the safety belts are designed. A young child's
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle's
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
'
up around the child's abdomen. In a crash, the
1
belt would apply force on a body area that's
unprotected by any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious
or
fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
~
appropriate child restraints.