Britax DECATHLON - MANUAL 2, DECATHLON User Manual
Decathlon
User Guide
PLEA
SE REA
D
INSTRU
CTIONS
STORE UNDER
COVER
©2007 Britax Child Safety, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA P276000 R2:12.07
This product and its components are subject to change without notice.
Table of Contents
Safety Information
Warnings..............................................................................................................2
Important Notes...................................................................................................4
Certification..........................................................................................................5
Registration..........................................................................................................5
Important Harness Adjustments..............................................................................6
Child Seat Features...................................................................................................8
Vehicle Compatibility
Vehicle Safety Belts ..............................................................................................10
Vehicle Buckle Position.........................................................................................11
Vehicle Seating Positions......................................................................................11
Installation: Rear-facing
LATCH Installation ...............................................................................................12
Lap-Shoulder Belt Installation ..............................................................................14
Lap-Belt Installation .............................................................................................16
Installation: Forward-facing
LATCH Installation ...............................................................................................18
Lap-Shoulder Belt Installation...............................................................................20
Lap-Belt Installation .............................................................................................22
Installation: Aircraft..................................................................................................24
Installation: Versa-Tether
®
Safety Information...............................................................................................25
Using the Versa-Tether®.......................................................................................26
Tether-Connector Strap........................................................................................27
Energy-Absorbing Tether.....................................................................................28
Child Seat Functions
Switching the LATCH Connectors........................................................................29
Storing the LATCH Connectors............................................................................30
Recline Adjustment..............................................................................................30
Infant-Positioning System ....................................................................................30
Toddler Pillow....................................................................................................... 30
Chest Clip.............................................................................................................31
HUGS®.................................................................................................................31
Harness Buckle.....................................................................................................31
How to Adjust Harness Slot Height......................................................................32
Adjusting Harness Buckle Position .......................................................................33
Securing Your Child..................................................................................................34
Care and Maintenance.............................................................................................36
Warranty...................................................................................................................40
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Use only with children who weigh between 5 and 65 pounds
(2.3 and 29.5 kg.) and whose height is 49 inches (124.5 cm.) or
less. Use rear-facing for children 5 – 33 pounds (2.3 –15 kg.) and
forward-facing 20 – 65 pounds (9.1 – 29.5 kg.).
Adjust the belts provided with this child seat so they fit snugly
around your child. A snug strap should not allow any slack. It lies
in a relatively straight line without sagging. It does not press on the
child’s flesh or push the child’s body into an unnatural position.
Secure the top tether strap provided with this child seat.
Secure this child seat with vehicle’s child seat Lower Anchors
and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) system if available or with a
vehicle belt.
Follow all instructions on this child seat and in the written instructions.
Register your child seat with the manufacturer, Britax Child
Safety, Inc. by visiting www.BritaxUSA.com/registration, OR fill
out the registration card that was shipped with this child seat.
Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual or contact the vehicle
manufacturer for the maximum weight rating for their LATCH
anchors. Use vehicle belt (not LATCH connectors) for installations
with children who weigh more than the vehicle LATCH anchor limit.
Unless specified otherwise by the vehicle manufacturer, assume a
40 pound (18.1 kg.) child is the vehicle LATCH anchor limit.
HUGS™ pads must be used in forward-facing mode. Removal
of HUGS pads is optional for rear-facing mode.
To prevent injury due to deterioration or hidden damage,
discontinue use of a child seat that is older than six years or has
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been in a moderate or severe crash. See date of manufacture
located on child seat.
This child seat must not be used in the home, in boats, or other
non-certified applications.
Based on crash statistics, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) recommends that parents select the back
seat as the safest location for a properly installed child seat. Please
study the Vehicle Safety Belts section in this booklet to ensure
your child’s safety and consult your vehicle owner’s manual.
Secure this child seat even when it is not occupied. In a crash, an
unsecured child seat may injure vehicle occupants.
When using in a vehicle with air bags, refer to your vehicle owner’s
manual for child seat installation instructions and precautions.
Child seat must be in the full upright position when installed in
forward-facing mode with children who weigh more than 33
pounds (15 kg.).
Never use adjuster strap to lift or carry this child seat. Doing so
could cause damage to harness adjuster and webbing. Always
carry this child seat by its shell or tether straps.
The primary protection for occupants of a vehicle in a collision is
the body of the vehicle itself; a child seat will not protect a child
when a vehicle is seriously impacted. However, correctly installed,
a child seat will substantially improve chances for survival in most
crashes. Make sure all users fully understand the correct ways to
use this child seat in a vehicle.
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WARNING!
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur:
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Important Notes
Verify child seat is secure and harness is properly adjusted around
child each time child seat is used.
Adjust harness to fit clothes the child is wearing. Remove bulky
coats and/or jackets before putting child in child seat.
Cover child seat when vehicle is parked in direct sunlight. Parts
of child seat could become hot enough to burn a child.
Store child seat in a safe place when it is not being used. Avoid
placing heavy objects on top of it.
Do not leave children alone in a vehicle, even for a short time.
Do not, except as described in this booklet, attempt to
disassemble any part of the child seat or change the way its
harness or vehicle’s seat belts are used.
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 event of a sudden
stop, a loose seat back could prevent child seat from protecting
the child as well as it should.
Do not allow children to play with this or any child seat.
Do not use anything to raise child seat off vehicle seat except as
described in these instructions. In a crash, child seat could slide
and may not adequately protect the child.
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Certification
This child seat system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards. This child seat is certified for use in motor
vehicles and aircraft.
Registration
Child seats could be recalled for safety reasons. You must
register this child seat to be reached in a recall. Send your
name, address, and the child seat’s model number and
manufacturing date to Britax Child Safety, Inc., 13501 South
Ridge Drive Charlotte, NC 28273, or call 1-888-4BRITAX, or
register online at www.BritaxUSA.com/registration. For recall
information, call the U.S. Government’s Vehicle Safety
Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to
http://www.NHTSA.gov.
Safety Information Safety Information
WARNING!
DO NOT place a child seat rearfacing in the front seat of a vehicle with a
passenger air bag. DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY
can occur. The back seat is the safest place for
children under 12.
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Important Harness Adjustments
As per the American Academy of Pediatrics:
All infants should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least
1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. That means that if
your infant reaches 20 pounds before her first birthday, she should
remain rear-facing at least until she turns 1 year old. It is best for
children to ride rear-facing to the highest weight or height allowed
by the manufacturer.
Rear-Facing
Weight 5 – 33 pounds (2.3 – 15 kg).
Use rear-facing only with children:
who weigh between 5 and 33 lbs. (2.3 – 15 kg.) and
the top of the child’s head is 1” (2.5 cm.) or more
below the top of the child seat (Fig. A) and
the harness straps are in the nearest slots at or
below the child’s shoulders.
If the child cannot be secured within these requirements because
the child exceeds height or weight requirements, review the
forward-facing guidelines on page 7.
If the child cannot be secured within these requirements because
the child is too small, selection of a different child seat (such as an
infant carrier) may be required.
IMPORTANT: See How to Adjust Harness Slot Height on page 32.
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Safety Information
WARNING!
Do NOT use the child seat rear-facing if:
the child is less than 5 lbs. (2.3 kg.) in weight or
the child exceeds 33 lbs. (15 kg.) in weight or
the top of the head is less than 1” (2.5 cm.) from the top of the child
seat (Fig. A) or
the harness straps are in a slot above the child’s shoulders.
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WARNING!
Do NOT use the child seat forward-facing if:
the child is less than one year of age or
the child is less than 20 lbs. (9.1 kg.) in weight or
the child exceeds 65 lbs. (29.5 kg.) in weight or
the child exceeds 49” (124.5 cm) in height or
the top of the ears are above the top of the child seat or
the top harness slots fall below the child’s shoulders, parallel to level
ground (Fig. B)
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1 inch
(2.5 cm
)
A
Forward-Facing
Weight 20 pounds (and 1 year) – 65 pounds (9.1 – 29.5 kg.)
Use forward-facing only with children:
who are at least one year of age and
who weigh between 20 and 65 lbs. (9.1 – 29.5 kg.) and
49” (124.5 cm) or less in height and
the top of the child’s ears are below the top of the child seat and
the harness straps are in the nearest slots at or above the child’s shoulders,
parallel to level ground (Fig. B).
IMPORTANT: See How to Adjust Harness Slot Height on page 32.
IMPORTANT: When using forward-facing recline mode, it may become
necessary to adjust the harness to the next higher set of slots than would
be used when the seat is upright. See figure B for reference.
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Shoulder level
Above Shoulder Level
Below Shoulder Level
Upright Reclined
Forward-Facing
B
Safety Information
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Cover
Serial Number and Manufactured
Date (Under Cover)
Shell
Forward-Facing Lock-Off
Rear-Facing Belt Path
Rear-Facing Lock-Off
Forward-Facing Belt Path
Toddler Pillow Attachment Strap
Versa-Tether® (in pouch)
Harness Straps
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Features
Harness Yoke
Belt Guard
Base
LATCH Adjuster Release Button
LATCH Adjuster
LATCH Connector Release Button
LATCH Connector
Toddler Pillow
Infant-Positioning System: Infant
Pillow
Infant-Positioning System: Body
Pillow
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Comfort Pads
Chest Clip
HUGS™ Shoulder Pads
Harness Buckle
Harness-Adjuster Release Button
Harness Adjuster Strap
Recline Handle
IMPORTANT: When not in use, this user
guide should be stored under the cover.
DO NOT discard the foam inserts found
under the cover.
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Features
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Vehicle Safety Belts
NOTE: The information in this section only applies
to installation with vehicle safety belts.
IMPORTANT: Vehicle seats and safety
belts differ from vehicle to vehicle. Refer
to your vehicle owner’s manual for specific
information about vehicle safety belts and
their use with child seats. Some vehicles have
no seating positions which are compatible
with this child seat or any other child seat. If
in doubt, contact the vehicle manufacturer for
assistance.
This child seat can fit securely in most vehicles
using existing vehicle belts. However, some vehicle
designs prevent a secure fit of the child seat.
The owner’s manual for your vehicle will have information on the
types of vehicle belts in your vehicle. If your belt type is listed
below, select another seating position or use Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH).
Vehicle Compatibility
A
B
Vehicle Buckle Positions
Vehicle Compatibility
WARNING!
The position of the vehicle
belt buckle can adversely affect the
stability of the child seat.
WARNING!
Forward-facing vehicle seats MUST be
used with this child seat. Side-facing or rear-facing seats
CANNOT be used. See diagram below.
DO NOT place a child
seat rear-facing in the
front seat of a vehicle
with a passenger air
bag. DEATH or
SERIOUS INJURY can
occur. The back seat is
the safest place for
children under 12.
If the buckle lies near the position marked wrong
( ) when the vehicle belt is tightened, try fitting
the child seat in another seating position in the
vehicle OR consult your vehicle owner’s manual
to see if you can lower the vehicle buckle position
by twisting the vehicle buckle stalk.
If it is not possible to achieve the correct position
( ) for the buckle, then another seating position
MUST be used.
Vehicle Seating Positions
WARNING!
The following types of vehicle belts are not
compatible with this child seat:
Front vehicle belts with top or bottom anchorage points in the door.
(Fig. A & B)
Motor-driven, automatic vehicle belts. (Fig. B)
Lap-shoulder belts that have separate retractors for shoulder section
and lap section in which lap section retractor does not lock.
Non-locking, two-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) vehicle belts.
Lap-shoulder ELR vehicle belts without use of the lock-off.
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NOTE: Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine the
kind of retractors used in your vehicle and how to operate them.
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