Kia Soul (2020 year). Owner's manual — part 3

Safety features of your vehicle

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3

Seat

CAUTION

Damaging rear seat belt buckles
When you fold the rear seatback,
insert the buckle between the rear
seatback and cushion. Doing so can
prevent the buckle from being dam-
aged by the rear seatback.

CAUTION

Rear seat belts
When returning the rear seatbacks
to the upright position, remember
to return the rear shoulder belts to
their proper position.

WARNING

Unless the driver's position is prop-
erly set according to the driver's
physical figure, do not fold the rear
seat. It may increase bodily injuries
in a sudden stop or collision.

CAUTION

Be careful when loading cargo
through the rear passenger seats to
prevent damage to the vehicle inte-
rior.

WARNING

Cargo
Cargo should always be secured to
prevent it from being thrown about
the vehicle in a collision and causing
injury to the vehicle occupants. Do
not place objects in the rear seats,
since they cannot be properly
secured and may hit the front seat
occupants in a collision.

Cargo loading

Make sure the engine is off, the
transmission is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is securely applied
whenever loading or unloading
cargo. Failure to take these steps
may allow the vehicle to move if the
shift lever is inadvertently moved to
another position.

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Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

Seat belts

The following explains seat belts
precautions and how to fasten seat
belts.

Seat belt restraint system

For maximum restraint system pro-
tection, the seat belts must always
be used whenever the vehicle is
moving.
䳜 A properly positioned shoulder

belt should be positioned midway
over your shoulder across your
collarbone.

䳜 Never allow children to ride in the

front passenger seat. See "Child
Restraint System (CRS)" on page
3-31 for further discussion.

WARNING

Twisted seat belt
Make sure your seat belt is not
twisted when worn. A twisted seat
belt may not properly protect you in
an accident and could even cut into
your body.

WARNING

Shoulder Belt
䳜 Never wear the shoulder belt

under your arm or behind your
back. An improperly positioned
shoulder belt cannot protect the
occupant in a crash.

䳜 Always wear both the shoulder

portion and lap portion of the lap/
shoulder belt.

WARNING

Damaged seat belt
Replace the entire seat belt assem-
bly if any part of the webbing or
hardware is damaged as you can no
longer be sure that a damaged seat
belt will provide protection in a
crash.

Seat belts are designed to bear upon
the bony structure of the body, and
should be worn low across the front
of the pelvis, chest and shoulders,
as applicable; wearing the lap sec-
tion of the belt across the abdomi-
nal area must be avoided.

Seat belts should be adjusted as
firmly as possible, consistent with
comfort, to provide the protection
for which they have been designed.

A slack belt will greatly reduce the
protection afforded to the wearer.

Care should be taken to avoid con-
tamination of the webbing with pol-
ishes, oils and chemicals, and
particularly battery acid. Cleaning
may safely be carried out using mild
soap and water. The belt should be
replaced if webbing becomes frayed,
contaminated or damaged.

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Seat belts

䳜 No modifications or additions

should be made by the user which
would either prevent the seat belt
adjusting devices from operating
to remove slack, or prevent the
seat belt assembly from being
adjusted to remove slack.

䳜 When you fasten the seat belt, be

careful not to latch the seat belt
in buckles of other seats. It is very
dangerous and you may not be
protected by the seat belt prop-
erly.

䳜 Do not unfasten the seat belt and

do not fasten and unfasten the
seat belt repeatedly while driving.
This could result in loss of control,
and an accident causing death,
serious injury, or property dam-
age.

䳜 When fastening the seat belt,

make sure that the seat belt does
not pass over objects that are
hard or can break easily.

WARNING

Seat belt buckle
Do not allow foreign material (gum,
crumbs, coins, liquids, etc.) to
obstruct the seat belt buckle. This
may prevent the seat belt from fas-
tening securely.

Driver's seat belt warning

As a reminder to the driver, the
driver's seat belt warning lights will
illuminate for approximately 6 sec-
onds each time you turn the ignition
switch ON regardless of belt fasten-
ing. If the seatbelt is not fastened,
the warning chime will sound for
about 6 seconds.

If you start to drive without the
seat belt fastened or you unfasten
the seat belt when you drive over 9
km/h (5 mph) and less than 20 km/h
(12 mph), the corresponding warn-
ing light will illuminate. The warning
light will turn off when the vehicle
speed drops below 9 km/h (5 mph).

If you start to drive without the
seat belt fastened or you unfasten
the seat belt when you drive 20 km/
h (12 mph) and faster, the warning
light will blink and warning chime will
sound for approximately 100 sec-
onds. When the seat belt is unfas-
tened during driving, the warning
light will illuminate when the speed
is under 20 km/h (12 mph). When

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Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

the speed is 20 km/h (12 mph) and
faster, the warning light will blink
and warning chime will sound for
approximately 100 seconds.

Front passenger's seat belt warn-
ing

As a reminder to the front passen-
ger, the front passenger's seat belt
warning lights will illuminate for
approximately 6 seconds each time
you turn the ignition switch ON
regardless of belt fastening. If you
start to drive without the passenger
seat belt fastened or the passenger
unfastens the seat belt when you
drive over 9 km/h (5 mph) and less
than 20 km/h (12 mph), the corre-
sponding warning light will illumi-
nate. The warning light will turn off
when the vehicle speed drops below
9 km/h (5 mph).

If you start to drive without the
passenger seat belt fastened or you
unfasten the seat belt when you
drive 20 km/h (12 mph) and faster,
the warning light will blink and

warning chime will sound for
approximately 100 seconds. When
the passenger seat belt is unfas-
tened during driving, the warning
light will illuminate when the speed
is under 20 km/h (12 mph). When
the speed is 20 km/h (12 mph) and
faster, the warning light will blink
and warning chime will sound for
approximately 100 seconds.

NOTICE

䳜 Even if the front passenger seat

is not occupied, the seat belt
warning light will illuminate for 6
seconds.

䳜 The front passenger's seat belt

warning may operate when lug-
gage is placed on the front pas-
senger seat.

Seat belt - Driver's 3-point system
with emergency locking retractor

The following explains how to fas-
ten and adjust the driver's seat belt.

To fasten your seat belt:

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Seat belts

䳜 Pull it out of the retractor and

insert the metal tab (1) into the
buckle (2).
There will be an audible "click"
when the tab locks into the
buckle.

WARNING

You should place the lap belt portion
as low as possible and snugly across
your hips. If the lap belt is located
too high on your waist, it may
increase the chance of injury in the
event of a collision.
The arm closest to the seat belt
buckle should be over the belt while
the other arm should be under the
belt as shown in the illustration.
Never wear the seat belt under the
arm closest to the door.

The seat belt automatically adjusts
to the proper length only after the
lap belt portion is adjusted manually
so that it fits snugly around your
hips. If you lean forward in a slow,
easy motion, the belt will extend

and let you move around. If there is
a sudden stop or impact, however,
the belt will lock into position. It will
also lock if you try to lean forward
too quickly.

NOTICE

If you are not able to pull out the
seat belt from the retractor, firmly
pull the belt out and release it. Then
you will be able to pull the belt out
smoothly.

Height adjustment

You can adjust the height of the
shoulder belt anchor to one of the 4
positions for maximum comfort and
safety.

The height of the adjusting seat belt
should not be too close to your neck.
The shoulder portion should be
adjusted so that it lies across your
chest and midway over your shoul-
der near the door and not your neck.

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Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

To adjust the height of the seat belt
anchor, lower or raise the height
adjuster into an appropriate posi-
tion.
䳜 To raise the height adjuster, pull it

up (1).

䳜 To lower it, push it down (3) while

pressing the height adjuster but-
ton (2).

Release the button to lock the
anchor into position. Try sliding the
height adjuster to make sure that it
has locked into position.

Improperly positioned seat belts can
cause serious injuries in an accident.

WARNING

Shoulder belt positioning
Verify the shoulder belt anchor is
locked into position at the appropri-
ate height. Never position the shoul-
der belt across your neck or face.
Improperly positioned seat belts can
cause serious injuries in an accident.

WARNING

Seat belt replacement
Replace your seat belts after being
in an accident. Failure to replace
seat belts after an accident could
leave you with damaged seat belts
that will not provide protection in
the event of another collision.

Seat belts - Front passenger and
rear seat 3-point system with
combination locking retractor

The following explains how to fas-
ten the passenger's and rear seat
belt.

To fasten your seat belt:

Combination retractor type seat
belts are installed in the rear seat
positions to help accommodate the
installation of child restraint sys-
tems. Although a combination
retractor is also installed in the
front passenger seat position, it is
strongly recommended that children
always be seated in the rear seat.
NEVER place any infant restraint
system in the front seat of the
vehicle.

This type of seat belt combines the
features of both an emergency
locking retractor seat belt and an
automatic locking retractor seat
belt.
䳜 Pull it out of the retractor and

insert the metal tab into the
buckle. There will be an audible
"click" when the tab locks into the
buckle. When not securing a child
restraint, the seat belt operates
in the same way as the driver's
seat belt (emergency locking
retractor type).

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Seat belts

It automatically adjusts to the
proper length only after the lap belt
portion of the seat belt is adjusted
manually so that it fits snugly
around your hips.

When the seat belt is fully extended
from the retractor to allow the
installation of a child restraint sys-
tem, the seat belt operation
changes to allow the belt to retract,
but not to extend (automatic locking
retractor type). Refer to "Securing a
child restraint with a lap/shoulder
belt" on page 3-37.

NOTICE

Although the combination retractor
provides the same level of protec-
tion for seated passengers in either
emergency or automatic locking
modes, have the seated passengers
use the emergency locking feature
for improved convenience. The
automatic locking function is
intended to facilitate child restraint
installation. To convert from the
automatic locking feature to the
emergency locking operation mode,
allow the unbuckled seat belt to
fully retract.

CAUTION

Do NOT fold down the left portion of
the rear seatback when the rear
center seat belt is buckled. ALWAYS
UNBUCKLE the rear center seat belt
before folding down the left portion
of the rear seatback. If the rear cen-
ter seat belt is buckled when the
left portion of the rear seatback is
folded down, distortion and damage
to the top portion of the seatback
and seat belt garnish may result,
causing the seatback to lock into the
folded down position.

The seat belt should be locked into
the buckle on each seat cushion to
be properly fastened.

1. Rear right seat belt fastening

buckle

2. Rear center seat belt fastening

buckle

3. Rear left seat belt fastening

buckle

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Seat belts

WARNING

Prior to fastening the rear seat
belts, ensure the latch matches the
seat belt buckle. Forcefully fasten-
ing the left or right seat belt to the
center buckle can result in an
improper fastening scenario that
will not protect you in an accident.

When using the rear center seat
belt, the buckle with the "CENTER"
mark must be used.

To release the seat belt:

䳜 The seat belt is released by

pressing the release button (1) on
the locking buckle.
When it is released, the belt
should automatically draw back
into the retractor.
If this does not happen, check the
belt to make sure it is not twisted,
then try again.

Stowing the rear seat belt

If the center seat belt is not in use,
always lock the latch plate into the
buckle as above illustration.

The rear seat belt buckles can be
stowed in the pocket between the
rear seatback and cushion when not
in use.

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Seat belts

WARNING

Rear center seat belt
Do not separate the mini tongue (1)
and mini buckle (2) even if there is
not an occupant.
If it is separated, It may hit the rear
seat occupants in a collision or sud-
den stops.

Pre-tensioner seat belt

Your vehicle is equipped with driver's
and front passenger's pre-tensioner
seat belts (retractor pre-tensioner
and EFD (Emergency Fastening
Device)).

The pre-tensioner seat belts may
be activated, when a frontal collision
is severe enough, together with the
air bags.

When the vehicle stops suddenly, or
if the occupant tries to lean forward
too quickly, the seat belt retractor
may lock into position. In certain
frontal collisions, the pre-tensioner

will activate and pull the seat belt
into tighter contact against the
occupant's body.
1. Retractor Pre-tensioner

The purpose of the retractor pre-
tensioner is to make sure that the
shoulder belts fit in tightly against
the occupant's upper body in cer-
tain frontal collisions.

2. EFD (Emergency Fastening

Device)
The purpose of the EFD is to
make sure that the pelvis belts fit
in tightly against the occupant's
lower body in certain frontal colli-
sions.

If the system senses excessive ten-
sion on the driver or passenger's
seat belt when the pre-tensioner
system activates, the load limiter
inside the retractor pre-tensioner
will release some of the pressure on
the affected seat belt.

NOTICE

When the pre-tensioner seat belts
are activated, a loud noise may be
heard and fine dust, which may
appear to be smoke, may be visible
in the passenger compartment.
These are normal operating condi-
tions and are not hazardous.

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Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

The seat belt pre-tensioner system
consists mainly of the following
components. Their locations are
shown in the illustration:

* The actual position of seat belt

pre-tensioner system compo-
nents may differ from the illustra-
tion.

1. SRS air bag warning light
2. Retractor pre-tensioner assembly
3. SRS control module
4. Emergency fastening device (EFD)

WARNING

Skin Irritation
Wash all exposed skin areas thor-
oughly after an accident in which
the pre-tensioner seat belts were
activated. The fine dust from the
pre-tensioner activation may cause
skin irritation and should not be
inhaled for prolonged periods.

NOTICE

䳜 Both the driver's and front pas-

senger's seat belt pre-tensioner
systems may be activated not
only in certain frontal collisions,
but also in certain side collisions
or rollovers, if the vehicle is
equipped with a side or curtain air
bag.

䳜 Because the sensor that activates

the SRS air bag is connected with
the pre-tensioner seat belt, the

SRS air bag warning light

on

the instrument panel will illumi-
nate for approximately 6 seconds
after the ignition switch has been
turned to the ON position, and
then it should turn off.

䳜 If the pre-tensioner seat belt sys-

tem is not working properly, this
warning light will illuminate even
if there is not a malfunction with
the SRS air bag. If the SRS air bag
warning light does not illuminate
when the ignition switch has been
turned to the ON position, or if it
remains illuminated after illumi-
nating for approximately 6 sec-
onds, or if it illuminates while the
vehicle is being driven, have an
authorized Kia dealer inspect the
pre-tensioner seat belt and SRS
air bag system as soon as possi-
ble.

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Seat belts

NOTICE

Do not attempt to service or repair
the pre-tensioner seat belt system
in any manner. Do not attempt to
inspect or replace the pre-ten-
sioner seat belts yourself. This must
be done by an authorized Kia dealer.

WARNING

Hot pre-tensioner
Do not touch the pre-tensioner seat
belt assemblies for several minutes
after they have been activated.
When the pre-tensioner seat belt
mechanism fires during a collision
the pre-tensioner becomes hot and
can burn you.

Pre-tensioners are designed to
operate only one time. After activa-
tion, pre-tensioner seat belts must
be replaced. If the pre-tensioner
must be replaced, contact an autho-
rized Kia dealer.

Seat belt precautions

Take the following precautions
when using seat belts.

Infant or small child

Most countries have child restraint
laws. You should be aware of the
specific requirements in your coun-
try. Child and/or infant seats must
be properly placed and installed in

the rear seat. For more information
about the use of these restraints,
refer to "Child Restraint System
(CRS)" on page 3-31.

NOTICE

Small children are best protected
from injury in an accident when
properly restrained in the rear seat
by a child restraint system that
meets the requirements of the
Safety Standards of your country.
Before buying any child restraint
system, make sure that it has a
label certifying that it meets Safety
Standards of your country. The
restraint must be appropriate for
your child's height and weight.
Check the label on the child restraint
for this information. Refer to "Child
Restraint System (CRS)" on page 3-
31.

Larger children

Children who are too large for child
restraint systems should always
occupy the rear seat and use the
available lap/shoulder belts. The lap
portion should be fastened and snug
on the hips as low as possible. Check
periodically to insure that the belt
fits. A child's squirming could put the
belt out of position. Children are
given the most safety in the event
of an accident when they are
restrained by a proper restraint

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Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

system in the rear seat. If a larger
child (over age 13) must be seated
in the front seat, the child should be
securely restrained by the available
lap/shoulder belt and the seat
should be placed in the rearmost
position. Children age 13 and under
should be restrained securely in the
rear seat. NEVER place a child age
13 and under in the front seat.
NEVER place a rear facing child seat
in the front seat of a vehicle.

If the shoulder belt portion slightly
touches the child's neck or face, try
placing the child closer to the center
of the vehicle. If the shoulder belt
still touches their face or neck they
need to be returned to a child
restraint system.

WARNING

Small children
Do not allow small children to ride in
the vehicle without an appropriate
child restraint system. If the shoul-
der belt comes in contact with your
child's neck or face your child is too
small to ride in the vehicle. In a crash
the seat belt will inflict injury to
your child's neck, throat and face.

Restraint of pregnant women

Pregnant women should wear lap/
shoulder belt assemblies whenever
possible according to specific rec-
ommendations by their doctors. The
lap portion of the belt should be
worn AS SECURELY AND LOW AS
POSSIBLE.

WARNING

Pregnant women
Pregnant women must never place
the lap portion of the seat belt
above or on the abdomen where the
fetus is located. The force of the
seat belt during a collision will crush
the fetus.

Injured person

A seat belt should be used when an
injured person is being transported.
When this is necessary, you should
consult a physician for recommen-
dations.

One person per belt

Two people (including children)
should never attempt to use a single
seat belt. This could increase the
severity of injuries in case of an
accident.

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Seat belts

Do not lie down

To reduce the chance of injuries in
the event of an accident and to
achieve maximum effectiveness of
the restraint system, all passengers
should be sitting up and the front
and rear seats should be in an
upright position when the vehicle is
moving. A seat belt cannot provide
proper protection if the person is
lying down in the rear seat or if the
front and rear seats are in a reclined
position.

Care of seat belts

Seat belt systems should never be
disassembled or modified. In addi-
tion, care should be taken to assure
that seat belts and belt hardware
are not damaged by seat hinges,
doors or other abuse.

WARNING

Pinched seat belt
Make sure that the webbing and/or
buckle does not get caught or
pinched in the rear seat when
returning the rear seatback to its
upright position. A caught or pinched
webbing/buckle may become dam-
aged and could fail during a collision
or sudden stop.

WARNING

Seatbelts can become hot in a vehi-
cle that has been closed up in sunny
weather. They could burn infants
and children.

Periodic inspection

All seat belts should be inspected
periodically for wear or damage of
any kind. Any damaged parts should
be replaced as soon as possible.

Keep belts clean and dry

Seat belts should be kept clean and
dry. If belts become dirty, they can
be cleaned by using a mild soap
solution and warm water. Bleach,
dye, strong detergents or abrasives
should not be used because they
may damage and weaken the fabric.

When to replace seat belts

The entire in-use seat belt assem-
bly or assemblies should be replaced
if the vehicle has been involved in an
accident. This should be done even if
no damage is visible. Additional
questions concerning seat belt
operation should be directed to an
authorized Kia dealer.

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Safety features of your vehicle

Child Restraint System (CRS)

Child Restraint System (CRS)

Children always in the rear

Children under age 13 must always
ride in the rear seats and must
always be properly restrained to
minimize the risk of injury in an
accident, sudden stop or sudden
maneuver.

WARNING

Restraint Location
Never install a child or infant seat on
the front passenger's seat. A child
riding in the front passenger seat
can be forcefully struck by an inflat-
ing airbag and seriously injured.

WARNING

Hot Child Restraint
A child restraint system can become
very hot if it is left in a closed vehicle
on a sunny day. Be sure to check the
seat cover, buckles and latches
before placing a child in the restraint
system.

According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seats than in
the front seat. Even with air bags,
children can be seriously injured or
killed. Children too large for a child
restraint must use the seat belts
provided.

Most countries have child restraint
laws which require children to travel
in approved child restraint devices.
The laws governing the age or
height/weight restrictions at which
seat belts can be used instead of
child restraints differs among coun-
tries, so you should be aware of the
specific requirements in your coun-
try, and where you are travelling.

Child restraint systems must be
properly placed and installed in the
rear seat. You must use a commer-
cially available child restraint sys-
tem that meets the requirements of
the Safety Standards of your coun-
try.

Child restraint systems are gener-
ally designed to be secured in a
vehicle seat by lap belt portion of a
lap/shoulder belt, or by a LATCH
system in the rear seats of the
vehicle.

Child restraint system (CRS)

Infants and younger children must
be restrained in an appropriate
rear-facing or forward-facing CRS
that has first been properly secured
to the rear seat of the vehicle. Read
and comply with the instructions for
installation and use provided by the
manufacturer of the CRS.

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Child Restraint System (CRS)

WARNING

Child Restraint Installation
An improperly secured child
restraint can increase the risk of
serious injury or death in an acci-
dent. Always take the following pre-
cautions when using a child restraint
system:
䳜 Always follow the child restraint

system manufacturer's instruc-
tions for installation and use.

䳜 Always properly restrain your

child in the child restraint.

䳜 If the vehicle head restraint pre-

vents proper installation of a child
seat (as described in the child
restraint system manual), the
head restraint of the respective
seating position shall be read-
justed or entirely removed.

䳜 Do not use an infant carrier or a

child safety seat that "hooks"
over a seatback as it may not
provide adequate protection in an
accident.

NOTICE

After an accident, have a Kia dealer
check the child restraint system,
seat belts, tether anchors and lower
anchors.

Selecting a Child Restraint System
(CRS)

When selecting a CRS for your child,
always:
䳜 Make sure the CRS has a label

certifying that it meets applicable
Safety Standards of your country.

䳜 Select a child restraint based on

your child's height and weight.
The required label or the instruc-
tions for use typically provide this
information.

䳜 Select a child restraint that fits

the vehicle seating position where
it will be used.

䳜 Read and comply with the warn-

ings and instructions for installa-
tion and use provided with the
child restraint system.

WARNING

Holding Children
Never hold a child in your arms or
lap when riding in a vehicle. The vio-
lent forces created during a crash
will tear the child from your arms
and throw the child against the car's
interior. Always use a child restraint
system which is appropriate for
your child's height and weight.

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Child Restraint System (CRS)

WARNING

Unattended Children
Never leave children unattended in a
vehicle. The car can heat up very
quickly, resulting in injuries to the
child in the vehicle.

WARNING

Seat Belt Use
Do not use one seat belt for two
occupants at the same time. This
will eliminate any safety benefit
provided by the seat belt to the
occupants.

Child restraint system types

There are three main types of child
restraint systems: rear-facing
seats, forward-facing seats, and
booster seats. They are classified
according to the child's age, height
and weight.

Rear-facing child seats

A rear-facing child seat provides
restraint with the seating surface
against the back of the child. The
harness system holds the child in
place, and in an accident, acts to
keep the child positioned in the seat
and reduces the stress to the neck
and spinal cord.
All children under age one must
always ride in a rear-facing infant
child restraint.
Convertible and 3-in-1 child seats
typically have higher height and
weight limits for the rear-facing
position, allowing you to keep your
child rear-facing for a longer period
of time.
Continue to use a rear-facing child
seat for as long as your child will fit
within the height and weight limits
allowed by the child seat manufac-
turer. It's the best way to keep
them safe. Once your child has out-
grown the rear-facing child
restraint, your child is ready for a
forward-facing child restraint with a
harness.

Forward-facing child restraints

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