2023 Chevrolet Traverse Owners Manual - Child Restraints

Child Restraints

Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s seat belts.

The manufacturer instructions that come with the booster seat state the weight and height limitations for that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until the child passes the fit test below:

Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the knees bend at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.

Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try using the rear seat

belt comfort guide, if available. See “Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides” under

Lap-Shoulder Belt 0 30. If a comfort guide

is not available, or if the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat.

Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the hips, touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.

Can proper seat belt fit be maintained for the length of the trip? If yes, continue.

If no, return to the booster seat.

Q: What is the proper way to wear seat belts?

A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck.

The lap belt should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. This applies belt force to the child's pelvic bones in a crash. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.

Also see “Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt 0 30.

According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in a rear seating position.

In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use seat belts properly.

Infants and Young Children

Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children.

Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle.

Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate child restraints.

Neither the vehicle's seat belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them.

Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.

Child restraints are devices used to restrain, seat, or position children in the vehicle and are sometimes called child seats or car seats.

There are three basic types of child restraints:

Forward-facing child restraints

Rear-facing child restraints

Belt-positioning booster seats

The proper child restraint for your child depends on their size, weight, and age, and also on whether the child restraint is compatible with the vehicle in which it will be used.

For each type of child restraint, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the child restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The instruction manual that is provided with the child restraint states the weight and height limitations for that particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of child restraints available for children with special needs.

Child Restraint Systems

Rear-Facing Infant Restraint

A rear-facing child restraint provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant.

The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.

Forward-Facing Child Restraint

A forward-facing child restraint provides restraint for the child's body with the harness.

Booster Seats

A belt-positioning booster seat is used for children who have outgrown their forward-facing child restraint. Boosters are

designed to improve the fit of the vehicle's seat belt system until the child is large enough for the vehicle seat belts to fit properly without a booster seat. See the seat belt fit test in Older Children .

Securing an Add-On Child Restraint in the Vehicle

To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraints must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 51 for more information. Children can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle.

When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the following:

Instruction labels provided on the child restraint

Instruction manual provided with the child restraint

This vehicle owner's manual

The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer.

Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in the vehicle — even when no

child is in it.

In some areas Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) are available to inspect and demonstrate how to correctly use and install child restraints. In the U.S., refer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to locate the nearest child safety seat inspection station. For CPST availability in Canada, check with Transport Canada or the Provincial Ministry of Transportation office.

Where to Put the Restraint

According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in an appropriate child restraint secured in a rear seating position.

Whenever possible, children aged 12 and under should be secured in a rear seating position.

Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the front. This is because the risk to the

rear-facing child is so great if the airbag deploys.

If the vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, a rear-facing child restraint should not be secured in the vehicle, even if the airbag is off.

Never secure a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint in the left rear seating position in an extended cab model.

When securing a child restraint with the seat belts in a rear seat position, study the instructions that came with the child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle.

Child restraints and booster seats vary considerably in size, and some may fit in certain seating positions better than others. Do not install a child restraint in any rear seating position where it cannot be installed securely.

Depending on where you place the child restraint and the size of the child restraint, you may not be able to access adjacent seat belts or LATCH anchors for additional passengers or child restraints. Adjacent seating positions should not be used if the child restraint prevents access to or interferes with the routing of the seat belt.

The seat in front of an installed child restraint should be adjusted to ensure proper installation according to the child restraint manual.

Wherever a child restraint is installed, be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint and secure the child restraint properly.

Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in the vehicle — even when no

child is in it.

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System)

The LATCH system secures a child restraint during driving or in a crash. LATCH attachments on the child restraint are used to attach the child restraint to the anchors in the vehicle. The LATCH system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier.

In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint that has LATCH attachments. LATCH-compatible

rear-facing and forward-facing child seats can be properly installed using either the LATCH anchors or the vehicle’s seat belts. Do not use both the seat belts and the LATCH anchorage system to secure a rear-facing or

forward-facing child seat.

Booster seats use the vehicle’s seat belts to secure the child and the booster seat. If the manufacturer recommends that the booster

seat be secured with the LATCH system, this can be done as long as the booster seat can be positioned properly and there is no interference with the proper positioning of the lap-shoulder belt on the child.

Make sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.

When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the seat belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be attached using only the top tether.

For a forward-facing 5-pt harness child restraint where the combined weight of the child and restraint are up to 29.5 kg (65 lb), use either the lower LATCH anchorages with the top tether anchorage, or the seat belt with the top tether anchorage. Where the combined weight of the child and restraint are greater than 29.5 kg (65 lb), use the seat belt with the top tether anchorage only.

See Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 64 or

Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) 0 69.

Child restraints built after March 2014 will be labeled with the specific child weight up to which the LATCH system can be used to install the restraint.

The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in the vehicle.

Not all vehicle seating positions have lower anchors. In this case, the seat belt must be used (with top tether where available) to secure the child restraint.

See Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 64 or

Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) 0 69.

Lower Anchors

Lower anchors (1) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (2).

Top Tether Anchor

A top tether (3,4) is used to secure the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment hook (2) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash.

The child restraint may have a single tether (3) or a dual tether (4). Either will have a single attachment hook (2) to secure the top tether to the anchor.

Some child restraints with top tethers are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the

top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint.

Second Row — Captain’s Chairs

I : Seating positions with top tether anchors.

H : Seating positions with two lower anchors.

Second Row — 60/40 Bench

I : Seating positions with top tether anchors.

H : Seating positions with two lower anchors.

Third Row

I : Seating positions with top tether anchors.

To assist in locating the lower anchors, each seating position with lower anchors has two labels with the lower anchor symbol on them, near the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion.

To assist in locating the top tether anchors, the top tether anchor symbol is near the anchor.

Second Row — Captain’s Chairs Shown, Bench Similar

The top tether anchors are on the rear of the seatback for each seating position in the second row.

Be sure to use an anchor located directly behind the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.

Third Row

The vehicle is equipped with a front center airbag in the inboard side of the driver seat. Even with a front center airbag, a child restraint can be installed in any second row seating position. If a child restraint is installed in a second row center seat, move the second row seat to the rearward position, whenever possible, to minimize contact with the front center airbag. If you need to secure more than one child restraint in the rear seat, see Where to Put the Restraint 0 71.

1. Put the child restraint on the seat.

2. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the seat belt. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual. 2.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position. 2.2. To access the lower anchors in the second row, it may help to recline the seatback. Third row seatbacks must be upright before placing the child restraint on the seat. 2.3. Put the child restraint on the seat.2.4. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors. If necessary, adjust the angle of the second row seatback to achieve a tight installation. Make sure the second row bench seatbacks are aligned at the same angle.

3. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, adjust the top tether to its full length and attach it to the anchor. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps: 3.1. Find the top tether anchor. 3.2. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions:

If the position you are using does not have a head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the seatback.

If the position you are using has a fixed head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether around the inboard or outboard side of the head restraint.

If the position you are using does not have a head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether over the seatback.

If the position you are using has a fixed head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the sides of the head restraint.

Adjust the top tether to its full length and attach the top tether hook to the anchor. Make sure that you secure the top tether to the top tether anchor and not to the seatback latch.

Push rearward on the seatback until it locks into its upright position. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is secured properly.

Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the seat belt and the top tether. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 64 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) 0 69.

Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the LATCH path and attempt to move it side to side and back and forth. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement for proper installation.

The vehicle is equipped with a front center airbag in the inboard side of the driver seat. Even with a front center airbag, a child restraint can be installed in any second row seating position. If a child restraint is installed in a second row center seat, move the second row seat to the rearward position, whenever possible, to minimize contact with the front center airbag.

When installing a rear-facing child restraint in the right rear seating position, move the front seat all the way forward and tilt the seatback forward to properly install the child restraint. See Power Seat Adjustment 0 23, Seat Adjustment 0 23, and Reclining Seatbacks 0 24. When a rear-facing child restraint is installed properly, the front passenger seat cannot be used.

Always install the seat cushion extension in the right rear seating position when installing a forward-facing or rear-facing

child restraint. Also use the seat cushion extension for booster seats that extend past the front edge of the seat cushion.

Press the button for the passenger side headrest at the top of the seatback and pull up.

Insert the headrest posts into the holes on the front of the passenger side seat cushion to install the seat cushion extension. The notches on the posts should face the passenger side of the vehicle. Try to move the headrest to make sure it is locked in place.

If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, adjust the top tether to its full length and attach the top tether hook to the anchor. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following:

Route the top tether (1) through the loop (2) at the top of the seatback directly behind the child restraint and attach the top tether hook to the top tether loop at the top of the seatback for the opposite rear seating position (3).

Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments, secure the child restraint with the seat belt and the

top tether (if appropriate). See Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 64 or

Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) 0 69.

Tighten the top tether. The child restraint instructions will show you how.

Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the LATCH path and attempt to move it side to side and back and forth. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement for proper installation.

Always reinstall the headrest before the seating position is used by another occupant. See “Head Restraint/Headrest Removal and Reinstallation” at the end of this section.

important seat information and additional information on installing a child restraint in the front passenger position.

Put the child restraint on the right front passenger seat.

If the child restraint manufacturer's instructions recommend that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether hook to the top tether anchor.

Route the top tether according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions:

If you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the headrest or head restraint.

The vehicle has a front outboard passenger frontal airbag and a passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the front passenger frontal airbag when an infant in a

rear-facing infant seat or a small child in a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat is detected. See Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 64 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) 0 69 and

Passenger Sensing System 0 39 for

If you are using a single tether, raise the headrest or head restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts.

Attach the top tether hook to the metal wire on the lower inboard side of the cab wall directly behind the front passenger seat.

Tighten the top tether.

Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the LATCH path and attempt to move it side to side and back and forth. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement for proper installation.

Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash

If the vehicle has the LATCH system and it was being used during a crash, new LATCH system parts may be needed. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the LATCH system was not being used at the time of the crash.

Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat)

The vehicle is equipped with a front center airbag in the inboard side of the driver seat. Even with a front center airbag, a child restraint can be installed in any second row seating position. If you install a child restraint in a second row center seat, move the second row seat to the rearward position, whenever possible, to minimize contact with the front center airbag. When securing a child restraint with the seat belts in a rear seat position, study the instructions that came with the child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle.

If the child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 73 for how and where to install the child restraint using LATCH. If a child restraint is secured in the vehicle using a seat belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 73 for top tether anchor locations. Do not secure a child seat in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached.

If the child restraint or vehicle seat position does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the seat belt to secure the child restraint. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. If more than one child restraint needs to be installed in the rear seat, be sure to read Where to Put the Restraint 0 71.

1. Put the child restraint on the seat.

2. Pick up the latch plate and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle seat belt through or around the child restraint. Ensure the seat belt webbing is routed as directly as possible and is not caught on seat handles or plastic trim. The child restraint instructions will show you how.

3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Position the release button on the buckle, away from the child restraint, so that the seat belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary. There must not be direct contact of the child restraint to the push button.

4. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. When the retractor lock is set, the belt can be tightened but not pulled out of the retractor.

5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is locked. If the retractor is not locked, repeat Steps 4 and 5.

6. If the child restraint has a top tether, follow the child restraint manufacturer's instructions regarding the use of the top tether. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 73.

7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the seat belt path and attempt to move it side to side and back and forth. When the child restraint is properly installed, there should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.

To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle seat belt and let it return to the stowed position. If the top tether is attached to a top tether anchor, disconnect it.

Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat)

This vehicle has airbags. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint 0 71. In addition, the vehicle has a passenger sensing system which is designed to turn off the front outboard passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. See Passenger Sensing System 0 62 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator 0 109 for more information, including important safety information. Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front. This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.

If the child restraint uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 73 for top tether anchor locations. Do not secure a child seat in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached.

When using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position, follow the instructions that came with the child restraint and the following instructions:

1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint. Move the seat upward or the seatback to an upright position, if needed, to get a tight installation of the child restraint. There must be finger clearance between the push button and the child restraint. There must not be direct contact of the child restraint to the push button. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the front outboard passenger frontal airbag, the OFF indicator on the passenger airbag status indicator should light and stay lit when you start the vehicle. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator 0 109.

2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

3. Pick up the latch plate and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle seat belt through or around the restraint. Ensure the seat belt webbing is routed as direct as possible and is not caught on seat handles or plastic trim. The child restraint instructions will show you how.

Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.

Position the release button on the buckle, away from the child restraint, so that the seat belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.

5. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. When the retractor lock is set, the belt can be tightened but not pulled out of the retractor.

6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. There must be finger clearance between the push button and the child restraint. If there is not clearance between the buckle push button and the child restraint, move the seat upward and repeat prior installation steps. Otherwise secure the child restraint in a rear seat. When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.

Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is locked. If the retractor is not locked, repeat Steps 5 and 6.

7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the seat belt path and attempt to move it side to side and back and forth. When the child restraint is properly installed, there should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement. If the airbag is off, the OFF indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator will come on and stay on when the vehicle is started. If a child restraint has been installed and the ON indicator is lit, see “If the On Indicator Is Lit for a Child Restraint” under Passenger Sensing System 0 62. To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle seat belt and let it return to the stowed position.