Child Safety for your Ford Ecosport 2012-2022
Child Safety
GENERAL INFORMATION
See the following sections for directions
on how to properly use safety restraints
for children.
(CPST) to make sure that you properly
install the child restraint in your vehicle
and that you consult your pediatrician to
make sure you have a child restraint
appropriate for your child. To locate a
child restraint fitting station and CPST,
contact NHTSA toll free at
WARNING:Always make sure your
child is secured properly in a device that
is appropriate for their height, age and
weight. Child safety restraints must be
bought separately from your vehicle.
Failure to follow these instructions and
guidelines may result in an increased risk
of serious injury or death to your child.
1-888-327-4236 or go to
Transport Canada toll free at
to find a Child Car Seat Clinic in your
area. Failure to properly restrain children
in child restraints made especially for
their height, age and weight, may result
in an increased risk of serious injury or
death to your child.
WARNING:All children are shaped
differently. The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration and other safety
organizations, base their
WARNING: On hot days, the
temperature inside the vehicle can rise
very quickly. Exposure of people or
animals to these high temperatures for
even a short time can cause death or
serious heat related injuries, including
brain damage. Small children are
particularly at risk.
recommendations for child restraints on
probable child height, age and weight
thresholds, or on the minimum
requirements of the law. We recommend
that you check with a NHTSA Certified
Child Passenger Safety Technician
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Child Safety
Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children
Child
Child Size, Height, Weight, or Age
Recommended Restraint
Type
Use a child restraint
(sometimes called an
infant carrier, convertible
seat, or toddler seat).
Infants or
toddlers
Children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less
(generally age four or younger).
Children who have outgrown or no longer
properly fit in a child restraint (generally
children who are less than 57 in (1.45 m)
tall, are greater than age four and less
than age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)
and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb
(45 kg) if recommended by your child
restraint manufacturer).
Use a belt-positioning
booster seat.
Small children
Children who have outgrown or no longer
properly fit in a belt-positioning booster
seat (generally children who are at least
Use a vehicle seatbelt
having the lap belt snug
and low across the hips,
shoulder belt centered
Larger children 57 in (1.45 m) tall or greater than 80 lb
(36 kg) or 100 lb (45 kg) if recommended across the shoulder and
by child restraint manufacturer).
chest, and seat backrest
upright.
•
•
You are required by law to properly use
child restraints for infants and toddlers
in the United States and Canada.
•
•
When possible, properly restrain
children 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. See
General Information (page 18).
When installing a rear facing child
restraint and the vehicle seat in front
of the child restraint.
Many states and provinces require that
small children use approved booster
seats until they reach age eight, a
height of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or 80 lb
(36 kg). Check your local and state or
provincial laws for specific
requirements about the safety of
children in your vehicle.
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Child Safety
INSTALLING CHILD
RESTRAINTS
Child Seats
WARNING: Depending on where
you secure a child restraint, and
depending on the child restraint design,
you may block access to certain seatbelt
buckle assemblies and LATCH lower
anchors, rendering those features
potentially unusable. To avoid risk of
injury, make sure occupants only use
seating positions where they are able to
be properly restrained.
When installing a child safety seat with
combination lap and shoulder belts:
•
Use the correct safety belt buckle for
that seating position.
•
Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle until you hear a snap and feel it
latch. Make sure the tongue is securely
fastened in the buckle.
Keep the buckle release button
pointing up and away from the safety
seat, with the tongue between the child
seat and the release button, to prevent
accidental unbuckling.
Use a child safety seat (sometimes called
an infant carrier, convertible seat, or
toddler seat) for infants, toddlers, or
children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less
(generally age four or younger).
•
Using Lap and Shoulder Belts
•
•
Place the vehicle seat upon which the
child seat will be installed in the upright
position.
Put the safety belt in the automatic
locking mode. See Step 5. This vehicle
does not require the use of a locking
clip.
WARNING: Airbags can kill or
injure a child in a child restraint. Never
place a rear-facing child restraint in front
of an active airbag. If you must use a
forward-facing child restraint in the front
seat, move the seat upon which the child
restraint is installed all the way back.
Perform the following steps when
installing the child seat with combination
lap and shoulder belts:
Note: Although the child seat illustrated is
a forward facing child seat, the steps are
the same for installing a rear facing child
seat.
WARNING: Airbags can kill or
injure a child in a child restraint. Properly
restrain children 12 and under in the rear
seat whenever possible.
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Child Safety
Standard safety belts
3. While holding the shoulder and lap belt
portions together, route the tongue
through the child seat according to the
child seat manufacturer's instructions.
Be sure the belt webbing is not twisted.
1. Position the child safety seat in a seat
with a combination lap and shoulder
belt.
2. After positioning the child safety seat
in the proper seating position, pull
down on the shoulder belt and then
grasp the shoulder belt and lap belt
together behind the belt tongue.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle (the buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is coming from)
for that seating position until you hear
a snap and feel the latch engage. Make
sure the tongue is latched securely by
pulling on it.
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Child Safety
8. Remove remaining slack from the belt.
Force the seat down with extra weight,
for example, by pressing down or
kneeling on the child restraint while
pulling up on the shoulder belt in order
to force slack from the belt. This is
necessary to remove the remaining
slack that will exist once the extra
weight of the child is added to the child
restraint. It also helps to achieve the
proper snugness of the child seat to
your vehicle. Sometimes, a slight lean
toward the buckle will provide extra
help to remove remaining slack from
the belt.
5. To put the retractor in the automatic
locking mode, grasp the shoulder
portion of the belt and pull downward
until all of the belt is pulled out.
9. Attach the tether strap (if the child seat
is equipped).
Note: The automatic locking mode is
available on the front passenger and rear
seats.
6. Allow the belt to retract to remove
slack. The belt will click as it retracts
to indicate it is in the automatic locking
mode.
7. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor
to make sure the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode (you should
not be able to pull more belt out). If the
retractor is not locked, unbuckle the
belt and repeat Steps 5 and 6.
10. Before placing the child in the seat,
forcibly move the seat forward and
back to make sure the seat is securely
held in place. To check this, grab the
seat at the belt path and attempt to
move it side to side and forward and
back. There should be no more than
1 in (2.5 cm) of movement for proper
installation.
We recommend checking with a NHTSA
Certified Child Passenger Safety
Technician to make certain the child
restraint is properly installed. In Canada,
check with Transport Canada for referral
to a Child Car Seat Clinic.
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Child Safety
Using Lower Anchors and Tethers
for CHildren (LATCH)
WARNING: Do not attach two
child safety restraints to the same
anchor. In a crash, one anchor may not
be strong enough to hold two child
safety restraint attachments and may
break, causing serious injury or death.
WARNING: Depending on where
you secure a child restraint, and
Your vehicle has LATCH lower anchors for
child seat installation at the seating
positions marked with the child seat
symbol.
depending on the child restraint design,
you may block access to certain seatbelt
buckle assemblies and LATCH lower
anchors, rendering those features
potentially unusable. To avoid risk of
injury, make sure occupants only use
seating positions where they are able to
be properly restrained.
The LATCH system is composed of three
vehicle anchor points: two lower anchors
located where seat back and seat cushion
meet (called the seat bight) and one top
tether anchor located behind that seating
position.
LATCH compatible child safety seats have
two rigid or webbing mounted
The LATCH anchors are located at the rear
section of the rear seat between the
cushion and seat back below the symbols
as shown. Follow the child seat
manufacturer's instructions to properly
install a child seat with LATCH
attachments that connect to the two lower
anchors at the LATCH equipped seating
positions in your vehicle. This type of
attachment method eliminates the need
to use safety belts to attach the child seat,
however the safety belt can still be used
to attach the child seat. For forward-facing
child seats, the top tether strap must also
be attached to the proper top tether
anchor, if a top tether strap has been
provided with your child seat.
attachments. Follow the instructions on
attaching child safety seats with tether
straps.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of the
child seat only to the anchors shown.
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Child Safety
Use of Inboard Lower Anchors from the
Combining Safety Belt and LATCH
Lower Anchors for Attaching Child
Safety Seats
Outboard Seating Positions (Center
Seating Use)
When used in combination, either the
safety belt or the LATCH lower anchors
may be attached first, provided a proper
installation is achieved. Attach the tether
strap afterward, if included with the child
seat.
WARNING: The standardized
spacing for LATCH lower anchors is 11 in
(280 mm) center to center. Do not use
LATCH lower anchors for the center
seating position unless the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions permit and
specify using anchors spaced at least as
far apart as those in this vehicle.
Using Tether Straps
Many forward-facing child safety
seats include a tether strap
which extends from the back of
The lower anchors at the center of the
second row rear seat are spaced 15.75 in
(40 cm) apart. A child seat with rigid
LATCH attachments cannot be installed
at the center seating position. LATCH
compatible child seats (with attachments
on belt webbing) can only be used at this
seating position provided that the child
seat manufacturer's instructions permit
use with the anchor spacing stated. Do not
attach a child seat to any lower anchor if
an adjacent child seat is attached to that
anchor.
Each time you use the safety seat, check
that the seat is properly attached to the
lower anchors and tether anchor, if
applicable. Tug the child seat from side to
side and forward and back where it is
secured to your vehicle. The seat should
move less than one inch when you do this
for a proper installation.
the child safety seat and hooks to an
anchoring point called the top tether
anchor. Tether straps are available as an
accessory for many older safety seats.
Contact the manufacturer of your child
seat for information about ordering a
tether strap, or to obtain a longer tether
strap if the tether strap on your safety seat
does not reach the appropriate top tether
anchor in your vehicle.
Once the child safety seat has been
installed using either the safety belt, the
lower anchors of the LATCH system, or
both, you can attach the top tether strap.
The tether strap anchors in your vehicle
are in the following positions (shown from
top view):
If the safety seat is not anchored properly,
the risk of a child being injured in a crash
greatly increases.
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Child Safety
Perform the following steps to install a
child safety seat with tether anchors:
Note: If you install a child seat with rigid
LATCH attachments, do not tighten the
tether strap enough to lift the child seat off
your vehicle seat cushion when the child is
seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug
without lifting the front of the child seat.
Keeping the child seat just touching your
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a
severe crash.
1. Route the child safety seat tether strap
over the back of the seat. For outboard
seating positions, route the tether strap
under the head restraint and between
the head restraint posts. For the center
seating positions, route the tether strap
over the top of the head restraint. If
needed, the head restraints can also
be removed.
3. Clip the tether strap to the anchor as
shown.
4. Tighten the child safety seat tether
strap according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
If your child restraint system is equipped
with a tether strap, and the child restraint
manufacturer recommends its use, Ford
also recommends its use.
BOOSTER SEATS
WARNING: Do not put the
shoulder section of the seatbelt or allow
the child to put the shoulder section of
the seatbelt under their arm or behind
their back. Failure to follow this
instruction could reduce the
effectiveness of the seatbelt and
increase the risk of injury or death in a
crash.
2. Locate the correct anchor for the
selected seating position.
Use a belt-positioning booster seat for
children who have outgrown or no longer
properly fit in a child safety restraint
(generally children who are less than 57 in
(1.45 m) tall, are greater than age 4 and
less than age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)
and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb
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Child Safety
(45 kg) if recommended by your child
Types of Booster Seats
restraint manufacturer). Many state and
provincial laws require that children use
approved booster seats until they reach
age eight, a height of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or
80 lb (36 kg).
Booster seats should be used until you can
answer YES to ALL of these questions
when seated without a booster seat:
•
Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has a
removable shield, remove the shield. If a
vehicle seating position has a low seat
backrest or no head restraint, a backless
booster seat may place your child's head
(as measured at the tops of the ears)
above the top of the seat. In this case,
move the backless booster to another
seating position with a higher seat backrest
or head restraint and lap and shoulder
belts, or consider using a high back booster
seat.
•
Can the child sit all the way back
against their vehicle seat backrest with
knees bent comfortably at the edge of
the seat cushion?
•
•
Can the child sit without slouching?
Does the lap belt rest low across the
hips?
•
•
Is the shoulder belt centered on the
shoulder and chest?
Can the child stay seated like this for
the whole trip?
Always use booster seats in conjunction
with your vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
•
High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat, you cannot
find a seating position that adequately
supports your child's head, a high back
booster seat would be a better choice.
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Child Safety
Children and booster seats vary in size and
the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder belt
uncomfortably close to the neck and a
shoulder belt that could slip off the
shoulder. The drawings also show how the
lap belt should be low and snug across the
child's hips.
shape. Choose a booster that keeps the
lap belt low and snug across the hips,
never up across the stomach, and lets you
adjust the shoulder belt to cross the chest
and rest snugly near the center of the
shoulder. The following drawings compare
If the booster seat slides on the vehicle
seat upon which it is being used, placing a
rubberized mesh sold as shelf or carpet
liner under the booster seat may improve
this condition. Do not introduce any item
thicker than this under the booster seat.
Check with the booster seat
CHILD RESTRAINT
POSITIONING
WARNING: Do not place a
rearward facing child restraint in front of
an active airbag. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.
manufacturer's instructions.
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Child Safety
WARNING: Properly secure
WARNING: Do not allow a
passenger to hold a child on their lap
when your vehicle is moving. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death in the event of a
sudden stop or crash.
children 12 years old and under in a rear
seating position whenever possible. If
you are unable to properly secure all
children in a rear seating position,
properly secure the largest child on the
front seat. If you must use a forward
facing child restraint on the front seat,
move the seat as far back as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions could
result in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not use pillows,
books or towels to boost your child's
height. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Always carefully
follow the instructions and warnings
provided by the manufacturer of any
child restraint to determine if the
WARNING: Properly secure child
restraints or booster seats when they are
not in use. They could become projectiles
in a sudden stop or crash. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death.
restraint device is appropriate for your
child's size, height, weight, or age. Follow
the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions and warnings provided for
installation and use in conjunction with
the instructions and warnings provided
by your vehicle manufacturer. A safety
seat that is improperly installed or
utilized, is inappropriate for your child's
height, age, or weight or does not
properly fit the child may increase the
risk of serious injury or death.
WARNING: Do not put the
shoulder section of the seatbelt or allow
the child to put the shoulder section of
the seatbelt under their arm or behind
their back. Failure to follow this
instruction could reduce the
effectiveness of the seatbelt and
increase the risk of injury or death in a
crash.
WARNING: Do not leave children
or pets unattended in your vehicle.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death.
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Child Safety
Recommendations for Attaching Child Safety Restraints for Children
Use Any Attachment Method as Indicated Below by X
LATCH
(Lower
Anchors
and Top
Tether
LATCH
(Lower
Anchors
Only)
Seatbelt
and Top
Tether
Seatbelt
and LATCH
(Lower
Seatbelt
Only
Combined
Weight of
Child and
Child
Restraint
Type
Anchor
Anchors
and Top
Tether
Restraint
Anchor)
Anchor)
Rear facing
child
Up to 65 lb
(29.5 kg)
X
X
X
restraint
Rear facing
child
Over 65 lb
(29.5 kg)
restraint
Forward
facing
Up to 65 lb
(29.5 kg)
X
X
X
X
X
child
restraint
Forward
facing
Over 65 lb
(29.5 kg)
child
restraint
Note: The child restraint must rest tightly
against the vehicle seat upon which it is
installed. It may be necessary to lift or
remove the head restraint. See Seats (page
115).
CHILD SAFETY LOCKS
WARNING: You cannot open the
rear doors from inside if you have put the
child safety locks on.
Rear Left-Hand Door
Turn anti-clockwise to lock and clockwise
to unlock.
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Child Safety
Rear Right-Hand Door
Turn clockwise to lock and anti-clockwise
to unlock.
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EcoSport (CBW) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 17-06-2019, LN1J-19A321-ZFA enUSA, Edition date: 201904, First-Printing





