Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Operating Instructions Manual page 39

Be consistent
Bear in mind that negligence when securing the
child in the child restraint system may have seri‐
ous consequences. Always be consistent and
secure a child carefully before each journey.
To improve protection for children younger than
12 years old or under 5 ft (1.50 m) in height,
Mercedes-Benz recommends you always observe
the following notes:
Always secure the child in a child restraint
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system suitable for your Mercedes-Benz vehi‐
cle.
The child restraint system must be appropri‐
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ate to the age, weight and size of the child.
The vehicle seat must be suitable for the child
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restraint system to be installed.
Always install a child restraint system on a suita‐
ble rear seat. Accident statistics show that chil‐
dren secured on the rear seats are safer than
children secured on the co-driver seat.
Accident statistics show that children secured on
the rear seats are generally safer than children
secured on the front seats. For this reason,
Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you install a
child restraint system on a rear seat.
The generic term child restraint system
The generic term child restraint system is used in
these Operating Instructions. A child restraint
system is, for example:
A baby car seat
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A rearward-facing child seat
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A forward-facing child seat
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A child booster seat with a backrest and seat
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belt guides
The child restraint system must be appropriate to
the age, weight and size of the child.
Observing laws and regulations
Always observe the legal requirements for using a
child restraint system in the vehicle.
Observing the standards for child restraint
systems
All child restraint systems must meet the follow‐
ing standards:
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
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213 and 225
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
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and 210.2
Confirmation that the child restraint system cor‐
responds to the standards can be found on an
instruction label on the child restraint system.
This confirmation can also be found in the instal‐
lation instructions that are included with the child
restraint system.
Detecting risks, avoiding danger
Securing systems for child restraint systems
in the vehicle
Only use the following securing systems for child
restraint systems:
The LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing rings
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The seat belt system of the vehicle
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The Top Tether anchorages
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Installing a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint
system is preferred.
Simply attaching to the securing rings on the
vehicle can reduce the risk of installing the child
restraint system incorrectly.
When securing a child with the integrated seat
belt of the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint
system, always comply with the permissible gross
weight for the child and child restraint system
( page 41).
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A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper seat belt positioning for children over
40 lbs (18 kg) until they reach a height where a
three-point seat belt fits properly without a boos‐
ter seat.
Mercedes-Benz recommends a child booster seat
with a backrest and seat belt guides.
Advantage of a rearward-facing child restraint
system
It is preferable to transport a baby or a small
child in a suitable rearward-facing child restraint
system. In this case, the child sits in the opposite
direction to the direction of travel and faces
backwards.
Babies and small children have comparatively
weak neck muscles in relation to the size and
weight of their head. The risk of injury to the cer‐
vical spine during an accident can be reduced in
a rearward-facing child restraint system.
Occupant safety 37