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Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children
Child size, height, weight, or age
Recommended re-
straint type
Infants
or tod-
dlers
Children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less
(generally age four or younger)
Use a child safety
seat (sometimes
called an infant car-
rier, convertible seat,
or toddler seat).
Small
chil-
dren
Children who have outgrown or no
longer properly fit in a child safety seat
(generally children who are less than
4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall, are
greater than age four (4) and less than
age twelve (12), and between 40 lbs
(18 kg) and 80 lbs (36 kg) and upward
to 100 lbs (45 kg) if recommended by
your child restraint manufacturer)
Use a belt-positioning
booster seat.
Larger
chil-
dren
Children who have outgrown or no
longer properly fit in a belt-positioning
booster seat (generally children who are
at least 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters)
tall or greater than 80 lb (36 kg) or
100 lb (45 kg) if recommended by child
restraint manufacturer)
Use a vehicle safety
belt having the lap
belt snug and low
across the hips,
shoulder belt cen-
tered across the
shoulder and chest,
and seatback upright.
• You are required by law to properly use safety seats for infants and
toddlers in the U.S. and Canada.
• Many states and provinces require that small children use approved
booster seats until they reach age eight, a height of 4 ft 9 in
(1.45 meters) tall, or 80 lb (36 kg). Check your local and state or
provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety of
children in your vehicle.
• When possible, always properly restrain children twelve (12) years of
age and under in a rear seating position of your vehicle. Accident
statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seating positions than in a front seating position.
2009 Focus (foc)
Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA (fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
119