Britax MARATHON CS User Manual
Marathon
TM
CS
User Guide
PLEASE READ
INSTRUCTIONS
COVER
STORE UNDER
Table of Contents
Safety Information
Warnings ...............................................................................................................2
Important Notes ....................................................................................................4
Certification ...........................................................................................................5
Registration ...........................................................................................................5
Important Harness Adjustments ..........................................................................6
Child Seat Features .............................................................................................8
Vehicle Compatibility
Incompatible Vehicle Belts...................................................................................10
Vehicle Buckle Positions ......................................................................................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
Tether-Connector Strap ........................................................................................27
Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether
Child Seat Functions
Storing the LATCH Connectors ...........................................................................29
Recline Adjustment ..............................................................................................29
Chest Clip .............................................................................................................30
™
HUGS
Chest Pads ..............................................................................................30
Harness Buckle ....................................................................................................31
Adjusting Harness Slot Height ............................................................................31
Securing Your Child ............................................................................................32
Care and Maintenance ........................................................................................34
Warranty ...............................................................................................................38
®
®
....................................................................................... 26
®
.........................................................................28
©2009 Britax Child Safety, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A P332400_R1:04.09
This product and its components are subject to change without notice.
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WARNING!
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR:
Use only in a rear-facing position when using it with an infant •
weighing less than 20 lbs (9.1 kg) OR is less than 1 year of age.
Use only with children who weigh between 5 and 65 lbs (2.3 and •
29.5 kg) and whose height is 49 inches (124.5 cm) or less. Rearfacing for children who weigh between 5 and 35 lbs (2.3 and 15.9
kg) and forward-facing for children who weigh between 20 and 65
lbs (9.1 - 29.5 kg) and are at least 1 year of age.
Snugly adjust the belts provided with this child restraint around •
your child. A snug strap should not allow any slack. It lies in a
relatively straight line without sagging. It does not press into the
child’s flesh or push the child’s body into an unnatural position.
Secure the top anchorage strap provided with this child restraint.•
Secure this child restraint with the vehicle’s child restraint •
anchorage system if available or with a vehicle belt.
Follow all instructions on this child restraint and in the written •
instructions located under the child seat cover.
Register your child restraint with the manufacturer.•
To prevent injury due to deterioration or hidden damage, •
discontinue use of a child seat that is older than six years or has
been in a moderate or severe crash. See Serial Number and
Manufacture Date Label located on child seat (see page 9).
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 Compatibility (pages 10-11) 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.
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.
The use of non-Britax Child Safety, Inc. covers, inserts, toys, •
accessories, or tightening devices is not approved by Britax. Their
use could cause this child seat to fail Federal Safety Standards or
not perform as intended in a crash.
TM
HUGS•
Removal of HUGS is optional only for rear-facing use.
chest pads must be installed for forward-facing use.
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5
Safety Information Safety Information
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 unsecured or 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.
WARNING!
rear-facing in the front seat of a vehicle with
a passenger air bag. DEATH or SERIOUS
INJURY can occur. See your vehicle owner’s
manual for child seat installations. The back
seat is the safest place for children under 12.
DO NOT place a child seat
Certification
This child seat system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. This child restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles
and aircraft.
Registration
Child seats can 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 US Government’s Vehicle Safety
Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://
www.NHTSA.gov.
Serial Number:___________________________________
Batch Number:___________________________________
Date of Manufacture:______________________________
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Safety Information Safety Information
1 inch
2.5 cm
Rear-Facing
Shoulder level
Above Shoulder Level
Below Shoulder Level
UprightReclined
Forward-Facing Harness Height
Important Harness Adjustments
According to 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 (9.1 kg). That means that
if your infant reaches 20 pounds (9.1 kg) 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
Use rear-facing only with children:
who weigh between 5 and 35 lbs (2.3 – 15.9 kg) • and
the top of the child’s head is at least 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.
A
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 Adjusting Harness Slot Height on page 31.
WARNING!
Do NOT use the child seat rear-facing if any of the following apply:
the child is less than 5 lbs (2.3 kg) in weight • or
the child exceeds 35 lbs (15.9 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.•
Forward-Facing
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: 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.
Slot Height on page 31.
See Adjusting Harness
B
WARNING!
Do NOT use the child seat forward-facing if any of the following apply:
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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Child Seat Features Child Seat Features
Cover1
LATCH Straps2
LATCH Adjuster Release Buttons3
LATCH Adjusters4
LATCH Connector Release Buttons5
LATCH Connectors (stored under 6
cover)
Harness Slots7
Comfort Pads8
Chest Clip9
Harness Holders10
™
HUGS11
(Harness Ultra Guard
System) Chest Pads
Harness12
Buckle 13
Belly Pad14
Harness Adjuster 15
Lever (under cover)
Click & Safe Snug Harness 16
Indicator (under cover)
Harness Adjuster Strap17
Recline Handle18
Serial Number & Manufactured 19
Date (under cover)
Versa-Tether20
®
(Top Anchorage Strap)-
in pouch
Versa-Tether Storage Pouch21
Harness Yoke22
Shell24
Forward-Facing Lock-off25
Rear-Facing Lock-off26
LATCH Bar27
Base28
Belt Guard23
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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11
Vehicle Compatibility
DO NOT place a child seat
rear-facing in the front seat
of a vehicle with a
passenger air bag unless
deactivated. DEATH or
SERIOUS INJURY can
occur. See your vehicle
owner's manual for child
seat installation instructions. The back seat is the
safest place for children
12 and under.
WARNING!
Incompatible Vehicle Belts Vehicle Buckle Positions
Vehicle Compatibility
WARNING! The following types of vehicle belts are NOT
compatible with this child seat:
Vehicle belts with top or 1
bottom anchor points on
Motorized, automatic vehicle
2
belts
the vehicle door.
3
Lap-shoulder belts that
have a separate retractor
each for the lap section
and shoulder section
Lap belts that have a retractor that locks only
5
in case of a sudden stop (emergency locking
retractor or ELR).
Lap belts forward of the
4
vehicle seat bight.
WARNING! The position of the vehicle
belt buckle can adversely affect the stability of
the child seat.
If the buckle lies near the incorrect position ( ) 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! 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.
Forward-facing vehicle seats MUST be used with this child seat. Sidefacing or rear-facing seats CANNOT be used. See diagram below.
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