SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 81For each type of child restraint, thereare many different models available.When purchasing a child restraint, besure it is designed to be used in amotor vehicle. If it is, the childrestraint will have a label saying thatit meets federal motor vehicle safetystandards.The instruction manual that isprovided with the child restraintstates the weight and heightlimitations for that particular childrestraint. In addition, there are manykinds of child restraints available forchildren with special needs.{ WarningTo reduce the risk of neck and headinjury in a crash, infants andtoddlers should be secured in arear-facing child restraint until agetwo, or until they reach themaximum height and weight limitsof their child restraint.{ WarningA young child's hip bones are stillso small that the vehicle seat beltmay not remain low on the hipbones, as it should. Instead, it maysettle up around the child'sabdomen. In a crash, the belt wouldapply force on a body area that isunprotected by any bony structure.This alone could cause serious orfatal injuries. To reduce the risk ofserious or fatal injuries during acrash, young children should alwaysbe secured in an appropriate childrestraint.Child Restraint SystemsRear-Facing Infant RestraintA rear-facing child restraint providesrestraint with the seating surfaceagainst the back of the infant.The harness system holds the infantin place and, in a crash, acts to keepthe infant positioned in the restraint.
