Britax B-safe User Manual
B-SAFE™
User Guide
Guide de l’utilisateur
IMPORTANT: Thoroughly read and follow all instructions.
IMPORTANT: À lire attentivement et suivre toutes les instructions.
Table of Contents
Safety Information
Warnings .......................................................................................................2
Important Notes ............................................................................................4
Certification ...................................................................................................5
Registration ...................................................................................................5
Infant Car Seat Capacities............................................................................6
Vehicle Compatibility
Using Lower Universal Anchorage System (LUAS) ...................................7
Vehicle Seating Positions .............................................................................9
Infant Car Seat Features .............................................................................10
Installing with Base
Before You Install ..........................................................................................12
Adjusting the Recline Angle ........................................................................12
Recline Angle Indicators ..............................................................................13
Lower Connector System (LCS) ..................................................................13
LCS Installation ....................................................................................... 14
Lap-Shoulder Belt Installation ..............................................................16
Lap Belt Installation ................................................................................18
Attaching the Car Seat .................................................................................20
Removing the Car Seat ................................................................................20
Uninstalling the Base ....................................................................................21
Installing without Base
Before You Install ..........................................................................................22
Adjusting the Recline Angle .........................................................................22
Belt Guides ....................................................................................................23
Lap-Shoulder Belt Installation ...............................................................24
Lap Belt Installation ................................................................................26
Securing Your Child
Adjusting the Harness Straps ......................................................................28
Adjusting the Buckle Strap ..........................................................................30
Securing an Infant ........................................................................................32
Care and Maintenance ................................................................................36
Stroller Compatibility ..................................................................................42
Warranty .......................................................................................................43
Instructions en français ..............................................................................45
B-SAFE™ and BRITAX® are trademarks owned by Britax and registered in the U.S.A.
and/or Canada. All rights reserved. ©2014 Britax Child Safety, Inc. This product and its
components are subject to change without notice.
Printed in China. P551400_C:03.14
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur:
• Read all instructions before use of the infant carrier.
• Use only in a rear-facing position when using it in the vehicle.
• Use only with children who weigh between 1.8 and 10 kg (4
and 22 lbs) and whose height is 81.3 cm (32 in.) or less.
• Snugly adjust the belts provided with this child restraint
around your child.
• This child restraint must be secured to the vehicle by means
of a lower connector system if it is installed in a seating
position that is equipped with a lower universal anchorage
system or by means of a vehicle seat belt if it is installed in
a seating position that is not equipped with a lower universal
anchorage system, and, if equipped with a tether strap, by
means of the tether strap.
• This child restraint should only be used in a forward-facing
seating position equipped with a vehicle seat belt or lower
universal anchorage system.
• Follow all instructions on this child restraint and in the
written instructions located under the cover along the side of
the child restraint. Keep the instructions for future use.
• Register your child restraint with the manufacturer.
• Children have strangled in loose or partially buckled harness
straps. Fully restrain the child even when carrier is used
outside the vehicle.
• Consult your child’s doctor before using this infant car
seat with premature infants. Premature infants may have
breathing or other medical concerns when transported in a
semi-reclined position.
• Never use the adjuster strap to lift or carry this infant car seat.
Doing so could cause damage to the harness adjuster and
webbing. Always carry an infant car seat by the handle or shell.
• The primary protection for occupants of a vehicle in a
collision is the structure of the vehicle; an infant car seat
will not protect an infant when the vehicle is seriously
impacted. However, correctly installed, an infant car seat
will substantially improve the chances for survival in most
2
crashes. Make sure that all users fully understand the
correct ways to use this infant car seat in a vehicle.
• This infant car seat must not be used in shopping carts, boats,
or other non-certified applications.
• NEVER leave child unattended.
• This child seat can only be used in the following classes of
vehicles: multi-purpose vehicles, passenger cars or trucks.
• The use of aftermarket covers, inser ts, toys, accessories, or
tightening devices is not approved by Britax. Their use could
cause this infant car seat to fail Federal Safety Standards or not
perform as intended in a crash.
• ALWAYS check the back seat upon leaving your vehicle to
prevent leaving a child restrained in the infant car seat alone in
the vehicle.
• Suffocation Hazard: Infant carrier can roll over on soft surfaces
and suffocate child. NEVER place carrier on beds, sofas, or other
soft surfaces.
• Fall Hazard: Child’s activity can move carrier. NEVER place carrier
on counter tops, tables, or any other elevated surface.
• ALWAYS use harness when child is in infant car seat. Never
leave the occupied infant car seat when straps are loose or
undone. A child can strangle in loose infant car seat straps.
• NEVER use in or on strollers unless approved by Britax.
• ALWAYS lift infant car seat by handle after installation in base to
verify that it is secure.
• DO NOT leave loose objects, e.g. books, bags, etc., in the back
of a vehicle. In the event of a sudden stop, loose objects will keep
moving, potentially causing serious injuries.
• DO NOT leave folding vehicle seats unlatched. In the event of a
sudden stop, a loose seat back could prevent the infant car seat
from protecting the child as well as it should.
• DO NOT use the infant carrier if it is damaged or broken.
• To prevent injury due to deterioration or hidden damage, do
not use this infant car seat and base if it is older than six
years or has been in a moderate or severe crash. See date of
manufacture located on the infant car seat and base.
• Follow all instructions on the child seat labels and in the user
guide. Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
3
Safety Information
Important Notes
• Verify that the child seat is securely installed and the harness is
properly adjusted around the child each time the child seat is used.
• Discontinue use of this child seat if it has been in a moderate
or severe crash. It is not necessary to replace a car seat after a
minor crash defined by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) as:
* The vehicle is drivable from the crash site.
* The vehicle door nearest the child seat was not damaged.
* No vehicle occupants were injured.
* There is no visible damage to the child seat.
* The airbags (if present) did not deploy.
• Adjust the harness to fit the clothes the child is wearing. Remove
bulky coats and/or jackets before putting the child in child seat.
• Cover the child seat when the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight.
Metal parts of child seat could become hot enough to burn a child.
• Do not, except as described in this booklet, attempt to disassemble
any part of the child seat or change the way the harness or vehicle’s
seat belts are used.
• Do not allow children to play with this child seat.
• Do not use anything to raise the child seat off vehicle seat except as
described in these instructions. In a crash, this could cause the child
seat not to perform as intended.
Transportation of Unoccupied Infant Car Seat
• Attach this infant car seat to a securely installed base or install
the infant car seat with a vehicle seat belt without the base
even when it is not occupied. In a crash, an unsecured infant
car seat may injure occupants in your vehicle. See pages 12 –
27 for installation instructions.
4
Safety Information
Certification
This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS 213.1). This Restraint is
Certified For Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft.
For aircraft installation, see Lap Belt
Installation instructions without base on
Aircraft Installation
pages 26 – 27. DO NOT use the base on
aircraft.
Inflatable lap belts are NOT
compatible with this child seat.
Registration
Child restraints could be recalled for safety reasons. You must register
this restraint to be reached in a recall. Send your name, address, e-mail
address if available and the restraint’s model number and manufacturing
date to Britax Child Safety, Ltd., P.O. Box 7289, RPO Brunswick Square,
Saint John NB E2L 4S6, or call 1-888-427-4829, or register online at www.
Britax.ca/registration.
For your convenience, record all the information about your child seat
below. Refer to the Serial Number & Manufactured Date Label for all
information, see pages 10 - 11.
Model Name and Number: ________________________________________
Serial Number: __________________________________________________
Batch Number: __________________________________________________
Date of Manufacture: _____________________________________________
5
Safety Information
Infant Car Seat Capacities
Use rear-facing only with children:
• who weigh between 1.8 and 10 kg (4 and 22 lbs) and
• who are 81.3 cm in height (32 in.) or less and
• when the top of the head is 2.5 cm (1 in.) or more below the top
of the child seat shell and
• when the harness straps are located in the
closest harness slot at or below the child’s
1 inch
2.5 cm
shoulders.
IMPORTANT: See Adjusting the Harness
Straps on page 28 - 29.
IMPORTANT: Review the “Before You Install”
section of the book before installing the base
or car seat without base.
The child has outgrown the infant car seat when:
• the child exceeds 10 kg (22 lbs) in weight or
• the top of the head is less than one inch from top
of the child seat shell or
• height exceeds 81.3 cm (32 in.).
6
Vehicle Compatibility
Using Lower Universal Anchorage System (LUAS)
• Verify that your vehicle is equipped with LUAS. If
LUAS is not available, you must use vehicle belt
installation methods.
• The lower connectors must be in an upright position
and the strap should be tight and not twisted to
ensure proper installation.
LUAS is a system available on this child seat that offers an alternative to vehicle seat
belt installation methods. See pages 10 and 11 for LUAS components on this child seat.
LUAS ANCHOR LOCATIONS
Vehicle Seat
Head Restraint
Forward-Facing
Tether Anchors
Vehicle Seat Belt
LUAS Anchors
Up to 50.8 cm (20 inches)
Vehicle Seat
Retractor
Lap-Shoulder
Vehicle Seat Belt
Tether
Anchor
LUAS
Anchor
The figure above shows typical locations for lower anchors and tether anchors in a
vehicle. Check your vehicle owner’s manual to learn if it is equipped with LUAS, the
maximum weight rating for the lower anchors, and for information on the lower anchor
locations and seating positions available for use with this child seat.
Standard vehicle seat spacing between LUAS anchors is 27.9 cm (11 in.). This child
seat can be used in a seating position with up to 50.8 cm (20 in.) of space between the
LUAS anchors if the vehicle manufacturer allows.
7
Vehicle Compatibility
Incompatible Vehicle Seat Belts
The following types of vehicle seat belts are NOT
compatible with this child seat. If any of the belt
types listed below are in the chosen seating position,
choose another vehicle seating position. CHECK
YOUR VEHICLE OWNER’S MANUAL TO FIND WHAT
TYPE OF SEAT BELTS ARE IN YOUR VEHICLE.
1 Lap-shoulder belts
with top or bottom
anchor points on
the vehicle door.
4 Inflatable lap or
lap-shoulder belts.
8
2 Motorized,
automatic vehicle
seat belts.
5 Lap belts forward
of the vehicle seat
bight.
3 Lap-shoulder
belts that have a
separate retractor
each for the
lap section and
shoulder section.
6 Lap belts with a
sewn-in latch plate
that have a retractor
that locks only in case
of a sudden stop.
Vehicle Compatibility
Vehicle Seating Positions
DO NOT place child seat rear-facing
on front seat with air bag. DEATH
OR SERIOUS INJURY can occur. The
back seat is the safest place from
children 12 and under.
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating positions. See your
vehicle owner’s manual for child seat installation instructions.
Some vehicles have no seating positions which are compatible
with this child seat. If in doubt, contact the vehicle manufacturer
for assistance.
Forward-facing vehicle seats MUST be used with this child seat.
Side-facing or rear-facing seats CANNOT be used. See the
diagram below.
9
Infant Car Seat Features
1
2
7
11
12
13
14
15
16
3
4
5
6
1 Canopy
2 Head Pad
3 Carry Handle Adjuster
4 Carry Handle
5 Stroller Adapter
6 Shell
7 User Guide (in pocket
behind cover)
8 Cover
10
8
9
10
9 Harness Adjuster Lever
(Under Cover)
10 Harness Adjuster Strap
11 Comfort Pads
12 Chest Clip
13 Harness Straps
14 Harness Buckle
15 Buckle Strap
16 Belly Pad
31
17 18
Infant Car Seat Features
22 23 24
21
19
20
253026 27 28 29
17 Serial Number & Manufacture
Date Label
18 Harness Slots
19 Harness Straps
20 Harness Yoke
21 Car Seat Release Lever
22 Recline Angle Indicators
23 Belt Lock-Off
24 Vehicle Belt Guide
25 Base Serial Number and
Manufacture Date Label
(Underside of the Base)
26 LCS Adjuster (LUAS)
27 Lower Connector (LUAS)
28 Recline Adjustment Foot
29 Recline Adjustment Button
30 LCS Adjustment Strap (LUAS)
31 National Safety Mark (NSM)
11
Installing with Base
Before You Install
Adjusting the Recline
Angle
• To adjust the recline angle of
the base, hold in the recline
adjustment button on the recline
adjustment foot and move the foot
up or down.
• Correct recline angle is achieved
when the green markers on
the recline angle indicators are
visible between the two lines (see
next page).
• If there is a problem achieving
the appropriate recline angle after
following the previous steps:
* Try another approved seating
position in your vehicle
* Uninstall the base and lower
the recline angle adjustment
foot to the lowest position.
* Remove the base from the
vehicle.
* Place a rolled towel or pool
noodle in the vehicle seat
bight.
* Place the base on the towel(s)
or pool noodle(s) to achieve
the appropriate recline angle
for the base.
NOTE: If towel(s) or pool noodle(s) is
needed to achieve appropriate recline
angle, the recline angle adjustment
foot on the base should remain in its
lowest position.
12
Installing with Base
Recline Angle Indicators
• Correct recline angle is achieved when the green markers on
the recline angle indicators are visible between the two lines.
• Vehicle must be parked on a level surface.
Lower Connectors
• Push and hold the lower
connector release button
to remove the lower
connectors from the
storage slot in the base
or from the seat when
installed.
• To store the lower
connectors, push the lower
connector into the storage
slot in the base until they
click into place.
NOTE: Lower connectors should
always be stored in the base when
not in use.
13
Installing with Base
LCS Installation
• Only raise the base as described in these instructions.
Do not use anything to raise the base of the infant car
seat off the front edge of the vehicle seat. In a crash,
this could cause the infant car seat not to perform as
intended.
• For LCS installation, the base must be secured in the
vehicle before attaching the occupied infant car seat.
• Use either the LCS or a vehicle belt methods to install
this child seat. Using both is not approved and may
cause the child seat not to perform as intended.
• Verify that your vehicle is
equipped with lower anchors.
• Remove lower connectors
from the storage slots on the
base by pressing the red
button and pulling outward.
• Press and hold the lower
connector adjuster release
button and pull to lengthen the
strap.
14
Installing with Base
• Place the base in the desired
location on the seat and press
the lower connectors onto the
adjacent LUAS anchors until a
click is heard.
NOTE: Pull the lower connector to verify
that it is secure.
• While pressing the base down
into the seat, pull up on the
LCS adjuster strap to tighten.
• Open the two portions of the
lock-off and route the excess
LCS strap webbing through.
• Close the top portion and then
the bottom portion of the lockoff to secure excess webbing.
NOTE: Excess webbing can interfere
with the infant car seat connecting
correctly with the base. Excess webbing
should always be stored.
• Verify that the LCS strap is tight and that the base is secure.
The base is secure when it moves less than 2.5 cm (1 in.) frontto-back or side-to-side at the vehicle belt path.
• Correct recline angle is achieved when the green markers on
the recline angle indicators are visible between the two lines.
15
Installing with Base
Lap-Shoulder Belt Installation
• Only raise the base as described in these instructions.
Do not use anything to raise the base of the infant car
seat off the front edge of the vehicle seat. In a crash,
this could cause the infant car seat not to perform as
intended.
• For lap-shoulder belt installation, the base must be
secured in the vehicle before attaching the occupied
infant car seat.
• Use either the LCS or a vehicle belt method to install
this child seat. Using both is not approved and may
cause the child seat not to perform as intended..
• Place the base in the desired
location on the vehicle seat
and open the upper and lower
portions of the lock-off.
• Pull the vehicle seat belt out.
• Ensure that the vehicle seat
belt is not twisted and then
route the vehicle belt under
and through the first belt
guide, through the open
lock-off and down through the
second belt guide.
• Buckle the vehicle seat belt.
16
Installing with Base
vehicle seat while removing all
slack from first the lap portion
and then the shoulder portion
of the vehicle seat belt.
• Hold the vehicle belt tight and
close the upper portion of the
lock-off.
• Press firmly on the upper
portion of the lock-off and
close the lower portion to
secure.
• Verify that the vehicle belt is tight and that the base is secure.
The base is secure when it moves less than 2.5 cm (1 in.) frontto-back or side-to-side at the vehicle belt path.
• Correct recline angle is achieved when the green markers on
the recline angle indicators are visible between the two lines.
17
Installing with Base
Lap Belt Installation
• Only raise the base as described in these instructions.
Do not use anything to raise the base of the infant car
seat off the front edge of the vehicle seat. In a crash,
this could cause the infant car seat not to perform as
intended.
• For lap belt installation, the base must be secured in a
vehicle before attaching the occupied infant car seat
to the base.
• Use either the LCS or a vehicle belt method to install
this child seat. Using both is not approved and may
cause the child seat not to perform as intended..
• Place the base in the desired
location on the vehicle seat
and open the upper and lower
portions of the lock-off.
• Pull the vehicle seat belt out.
• Ensure that the vehicle seat
belt is not twisted and then
route the vehicle belt under
and through the first belt
guide, through the open
lock-off and down through the
second belt guide.
• Buckle the vehicle seat belt.
18
Installing with Base
IMPORTANT: The lock-off does NOT
secure this type of vehicle belt. Vehicle
belt MUST be locked according to the
vehicle owner’s manual.
• Press the base firmly into the
vehicle seat while removing
all slack from the vehicle seat
belt.
NOTE: Excess webbing can interfere
with the infant car seat connecting
correctly with the base. Excess webbing
should always be stored.
• Close the upper portion of the
lock-off.
• Press firmly on the upper
portion of the lock-off and
close the lower portion to
secure.
• Verify that the vehicle belt is tight and that the base is secure.
The base is secure when it moves less than 2.5 cm (1 in.) frontto-back or side-to-side at the vehicle belt path.
• Correct recline angle is achieved when the green markers on
the recline angle indicators are visible between the two lines.
19
Installing with Base
Attaching the Car Seat
• Ensure that the base is
securely installed.
• Place the infant car seat into
the base and press down until
a click is heard.
• Pull up on the infant car seat
to verify attachment.
• Ensure that the carry handle
is in one of the four locked
positions.
Removing the Car Seat
• Pull and hold the release lever
on the back of the infant car
seat.
• Lift the infant car seat up from
the base.
20
Uninstalling the Base
• For LCS installation, press the
adjuster release button on the
lower connector strap and
loosen the strap.
• Press each of the red
release buttons on the lower
connectors and pull them off
of the vehicle anchors.
• Store the lower connectors in
the storage slots in the base
until reinstalling.
• For lap-shoulder and lap belt
installations, open the lock-off
to release the vehicle belt.
• Unbuckle the vehicle belt and
pull the belt from the base belt
guides.
Installing with Base
21
Installing without Base
Before You Install
Adjusting the Recline
Angle
• When installed, the recline
angle line on the shell of the
infant car seat should be level
to the ground.
• If there is a problem achieving
the proper recline angle after
installing:
* Uninstall the car seat and
remove from vehicle seat.
* Place a rolled towel(s)
or pool noodle(s) in the
vehicle seat bight.
* Position car seat with the
towel(s) or pool noodle(s)
to achieve a correct recline
angle.
22
Belt Guides
• Release the elastic loop on
the stroller adapter and lift
the cover to expose the belt
guides for installation.
Installing without Base
23
Installing without Base
Lap-Shoulder Belt Installation
• Secure child in the infant car seat before installing car
seat in vehicle.
• Check your vehicle owner’s manual to determine how
to lock your vehicle belt system.
• Release the elastic loop on
the stroller adapter and lift
the cover to expose the belt
guides for installation.
• Place the infant car seat rearfacing on the vehicle seat.
• Pull the vehicle belt out and
route the lap portion of the
vehicle belt through the belt
guides.
NOTE: Do not route the shoulder
portion of the vehicle belt through the
belt guides.
• Verify that the vehicle belt is
not twisted and then buckle.
• Lock your vehicle seat belt
system as instructed by your
vehicle owner’s manual.
24
Installing without Base
into the vehicle seat while
removing all slack from the lap
portion and then the shoulder
portion of the vehicle belt.
IMPORTANT: If you cannot lock
your vehicle seat belt you must use a
locking clip. Locking clips are available
from Britax at 1-888-427-4829.
• Adjust the infant car seat
handle to any locked position.
• Verify that all connections are secure. Check that:
* The vehicle belt is not twisted.
* The vehicle belt is tight and locked.
* The infant car seat handle is rotated into any locked position.
* The infant car seat is secure and it moves less than 2.5 cm (1 in.)
front-to-back or side-to-side at the vehicle belt path.
* Check the recline angle. The proper recline angle is achieved when
the recline angle line on the car seat is level to the ground.
25
Installing without Base
Lap Belt Installation
• Secure child in the infant car seat before installing car
seat in vehicle.
• There are many different kinds of vehicle lap belts.
Check your vehicles owner’s manual to determine what
kind of belt system is in your vehicle and how to lock it.
• Release the elastic loop on
the stroller adapter and lift
the cover to expose the belt
guides for installation.
• Place the infant car seat rearfacing on the vehicle seat.
• Pull the vehicle belt out and
route it through the belt
guides.
• Verify that the vehicle belt is
not twisted and then buckle.
• Lock your vehicle seat belt
system as instructed by your
vehicle owner’s manual.
26
Installing without Base
• Push the infant car seat firmly
into the vehicle seat while
removing all slack from the
vehicle belt.
• Adjust the infant car seat
handle to any locked position.
• Verify that all connections are secure. Check that:
* The vehicle belt is not twisted.
* The vehicle belt is tight and locked.
* The recline level line on the shell label is level to the ground.
* The infant car seat handle is rotated into any locked position.
* The infant car seat is secure and it moves less than 2.5 cm (1 in.)
front-to-back or side-to-side at the vehicle belt path.
* Check the recline angle. The proper recline angle is achieved when
the recline angle line on the car seat is level to the ground.
27
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