How do child restraints work?- Page 54

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A booster seat (F

-

G) is a child restraint designed to

improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some
booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some
high

-

back booster seats have a five

-

point harness. A

booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.

Q:

How do child restraints work?

A:

A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built

-

in child restraint system is a

permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add

-

on

child restraint system is a portable one, which is
purchased by the vehicle’s owner.

For many years, add

-

on child restraints have used

the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help reduce
the chance of injury, the child also has to be
secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt
system secures the add

-

on child restraint in the

vehicle, and the add

-

on child restraint’s harness

system holds the child in place within the restraint.

One system, the three

-

point harness, has straps that

come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and
buckle together at the crotch. The five

-

point

harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip
straps and a crotch strap. A shield may take the
place of hip straps. A T

-

shaped shield has shoulder

straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low
against the child’s body. A shelf

-

 or armrest

-

type

shield has straps that are attached to a wide,
shelf

-

like shield that swings up or to the side.