Jaguar XJ (2008 year). Manual — part 21

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Child Safety

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Suitability of each passenger seat
position for the carriage of children up to
12 years of age, or 1.5 m (5 feet) tall, and
the installation of child restraint systems:

Note: The information contained in the
following table may not be applicable to
all countries. If you are in any doubt
regarding the type and fitment of child
seats seek advice from your Jaguar
Dealer.

Caution: Information given within the
table is correct at the time of going to
press. However, availability of child
restraints may change. Please consult
your Jaguar Dealer for the latest
recommendation.

Note: The legislation which governs how
and where children should be carried
when travelling in a vehicle, is subject to
change. It is the responsibility of the driver
to comply with all regulations in force.

Mass Group
(with approximate age) as indicated on
child restraint

Vehicle Seating Position
Front
Passenger*

Rear
Outboard

Rear
Centre

0 = Up to 10 kg (22 lb)
(birth to 10 months)

X

U

U

0+ = Up to 13 kg (28 lb)
(birth to 18 months)

X

U

U

I = 9 to 18 kg (20 - 40 lb)
(9 months to 5 years)

UF

U & L

U

II = 15 to 25 kg (33 - 55 lb) (4 to 7 years)

U

U

U

III = 22 to 36 kg (48 - 80 lb) (6 to 12 years)

U

U

U

Key:
U: Suitable for Universal category restraints approved for use in this mass group.
UF: Suitable for forward facing Universal category restraints approved for use in this
mass group.
L: Suitable for particular vehicle specific child restraint given below. These restraints
may be of the specific-vehicle, restricted or semi-universal categories.
X: Seat position not suitable for child restraint in this mass group.
The safest place to transport children is the rear seat.

* Jaguar recommend that the vehicle front passenger seat be positioned fully rearward
with the cushion adjusted to its highest position when installing child restraints.

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86

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SUITABLE CHILD SEATS

Before you buy a child seat, it is important
to note that your child’s weight, rather
than age, determines the type of seat that
is required.

Jaguar recommends that a rear-facing
seat with a harness is used for as long
as your infant’s development allows.

Do not use a forward-facing seat until
your child is able to sit up unaided. Up to
the age of two, a child’s spine and neck
are not sufficiently developed to avoid
injury in a frontal impact.

When choosing a child seat, it is also
important to consider how you plan to use
it. For longer journeys, a reclining seat
may offer added comfort and support for
a sleeping child, while a lightweight
design may be easier to lift in and out of
the vehicle. It is also worth noting that
some children are more suited to a
harness-style seat than a booster seat
during their toddler years.

Because child seats vary in shape, certain
designs may be more stable when
mounted on the outer rear seating
positions, rather than in the centre.
Always check that the child seat can be
mounted securely in the required
position: if in doubt, speak to your Jaguar
Dealer.

We strongly advise that you do not buy or
use a second-hand child seat. The seat
may have been used inappropriately, or
involved in an accident. In such
circumstances, the seat may not protect
your child.

SECURING CHILD
RESTRAINTS

Passenger seat belts (not the driver’s)
with an automatic locking device for use
with child seats.

If engaged, this device allows the belt to
be retracted (tightened) but not pulled
out. When used to secure a child seat,
therefore, the belt will automatically lock
at any point to which it has retracted.

Always ensure that child restraint
assemblies are fitted in strict accordance
with the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions. Keep the fitting instructions
for future reference.

The following checks should always be
carried out:
• Fit the child seat in the correct

position and secure with the seat belt
in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions. If
necessary, remove the head restraint
to accommodate a larger child seat.

• Make sure the child seat is fitted firmly

to the car seat. There should not be
excessive forward or sideways
movement.

• Pull the seat belt all the way out to

engage the locking device. To fix the
seat firmly, retract the belt back onto
the reel; a ratchet operation may be
felt as the belt retracts. Continue to
pay the belt back onto the reel until it
fits snugly around the child seat.

• Regularly check and refit the child

seat to ensure there is no slack in the
installation.

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Child Safety

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• The seat belt must not be twisted and

the buckle must not rest on the child
seat frame, as it may snap open in an
accident.

• Never modify the seat, or install it

differently to the instructions.

The above is a guide only. Depending on
the features of a particular child seat,
e.g. forward or rearward facing, engage
the locking device before or after
attaching the belt, as convenient.

Unbuckling the belt and releasing the
child seat will allow the belt to resume its
normal operation.

Always secure an unoccupied child seat
safely. In an accident an unsecured child
seat may pose a risk to the vehicle
occupants.

Booster seats

If a booster seat is used, position the lap
section of the adult seat belt over the
child’s pelvis. The diagonal seat belt
should rest on the child’s shoulder, not
the neck.

SAFE USE OF CHILD
RESTRAINTS

!

WARNING:

The top tether anchor point must
always be used to secure
forward-facing child seats
(see page 90).

Ensure that there is no slack in the
webbing and that the restraints fits the
child snugly across the rib cage and hips.
These are the parts of the body most able
to take the force of an impact.
• Ensure the path and position of an

integral harness across the shoulders
is appropriate for your child’s
development – consult the
manufacturer’s instructions.

• The lap strap should pass across the

top of the child’s thighs, bearing on
the pelvis, not the abdominal area.

• Adjust the harness every time, so that

one or two fingers only can be
inserted between the child and
harness. Different clothing on a child
can make a difference to the correct
fitting of the harness.

• Make sure the harness webbing is not

twisted.

• Never modify the seat harness or

buckles, as this may affect the quick
release mechanism.

• Always secure your child correctly,

even for the shortest journey.

• Follow the seat manufacturer’s

instructions for harness adjustments.

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Check List - Non-LATCH Child
Restraints

Follow the check list each time your child
travels in the vehicle:
• Carefully follow the instructions

provided by the manufacturer of the
restraint system.

• Always use the appropriate child

restraints and adjust harnesses for
every child, every trip.

• Avoid dressing your child in bulky

clothing and do not place any objects
between the child and the restraint
system.

• Regularly check the fit of your child

seat and replace seats or harnesses
that show signs of wear.

• Ensure that you have removed all

slack from the adult seat belt.

• No child seat is completely

child-proof. Encourage your child not
to play with the buckle or harness.

• Never leave a child unsupervised in

the vehicle.

• Activate the rear door child safety

locks (see page 53).

• Ensure your child does not exit the

vehicle from the side where there is
traffic.

Set your child a good example – always
wear your seat belt.

LATCH ANCHOR POINTS

Your vehicle is fitted with a set of LATCH
(Lower Anchorages and Tethers for CHild
restraints) brackets that allow a LATCH
child seat to be secured directly and
easily to the vehicle body without the use
of adult seat belts.

!

WARNING:

Do not attempt to fit LATCH restraints
to the centre seating position. The
anchor bars are not designed to hold
an LATCH restraint in this position.

!

WARNING:

If the restraint is not correctly
anchored, there is a significant risk of
injury to the child in the event of a
collision or emergency braking.

!

WARNING:

Child restraint anchorages are
designed to withstand only loads
imposed by correctly fitted child
restraints. Under no circumstances are
they to be used for adult seat belts,
harnesses, or for attaching other items
or equipment to the vehicle.

!

WARNING:

If removing a head restraint in order to
fit a child restraint, always secure the
head restraint when storing it. If left
loose in the vehicle it may cause death
or serious injury during sudden braking
or an impact.