Subaru Crosstrek Owners Manual: Where to place a child restraint system

The following are SUBARU's recommendations on where to place a child restraint system in your vehicle.

A: Front passenger's seat

You should not install a child restraint system (including a booster seat) due to the hazard to children posed by the passenger's airbag.

B: Rear seat, window-side seating positions

Recommended positions for all types of child restraint systems.

In these positions, the following equipment is provided for installing a child restraint system.

• Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) seatbelts
• Lower anchorages (bars)
• Upper anchorages (tether anchorages)

Some types of child restraints might not be able to be secured firmly due to projection of the seat cushion.

In this seating position, you should use only a child restraint system that has a bottom base that fits snugly against the contours of the seat cushion and can be securely retained using the seatbelt.

C: Rear seat, center seating position

The ALR/ELR seatbelt and an upper anchorage (tether anchorage) are provided in this position.

Some types of child restraints might not be able to be secured firmly due to projection of the seat cushion.

In this seating position, you should use only a child restraint system that has a bottom base that fits snugly against the contours of the seat cushion and can be securely retained using the seatbelt.

When you install a child restraint system in the rear seat's center seating position, raise the center head restraint.

Lower anchorages (bars) for window-side seating positions may be used for a seat in the center seating position if a child restraint system manufacturer's instructions permit and specify using anchors as far apart as those in this vehicle.

If a child restraint system is not correctly fixed in place (for example, if a child restraint system can be moved more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) from side to side), you should install the child restraint system in a rear seat, window-side seating position.

WARNING

• Even with advanced airbags, children can be seriously injured by the airbag. Place children in the rear seat properly restrained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially if they are not restrained or improperly restrained.

  Because children are lighter and weaker than adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater.

  For that reason, be sure to secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward facing child seats) in the REAR seats at all times. You should choose a restraint device which is appropriate for the child's age, height and weight. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions.

• Do not use lower anchorages (bars) for a seat in the center seating position unless a child restraint system manufacturer's instructions permit and specify using anchors spaced as far apart as those in this vehicle.
• Do not connect two or more lower hooks onto the same anchorage (bar).

WARNING

SINCE YOUR VEHICLE I S EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER'S SRS AIRBAG, NEVER INSTALL A FORWARD OR REARWARD FACING CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT.

DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD'S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.