Graco 8481 User Manual

1

Booster Seat

Owner’s Manual

Model 8481

READ THIS MANUAL.

Do not install or use this car seat until you read and

understand the instructions in this manual.

FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE THIS

CAR SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF

SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN A

SUDDEN STOP OR CRASH.

© 2001 Graco 433-9-01

2

1.0 Warnings to Parents and Other Users . . . . . .3

2.0 Registration Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

2.1 Register Your Booster Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

2.2 Recall Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

2.3 If You Need Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

3.0 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6

4.0 Important Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-10

4.1 Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

4.2 Height and Weight Limitations . . . . . . . . . . .9

5.0 Booster Seat Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-16

5.1 Vehicle Seat Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . .10

5.2 Vehicle Seat Belt Requirements . . . . . . . .11

5.2.1 UNSAFE Vehicle Belt Systems . . . . .11

5.2.2 SAFE Vehicle Belt Systems . . . . . . .13

6.0 Using Booster Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15

6.1 Securing Child and Booster

Seat in Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

7.0 Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

7.1 Airplane Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

7.2 Cupholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

8.0 Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

9.0 Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18-19

Table of Contents

3

Failure to properly use this booster seat increases the risk
of serious injury or death in a sharp turn, sudden stop or
crash. Your child’s safety depends on you installing and
using this booster seat correctly.

Even if using this booster seat seems easy to figure out
on your own, it is very important to READ THE OWNER’S
MANUAL and the vehicle owner’s manual.

Your child’s safety depends on:

1. Selecting a suitable location for the

booster seat in

your vehicle.

2. Placing child in booster seat.

3. Properly securing the booster seat and child in
the vehicle using a seat belt designed to restrain
the

booster seat and your child. This booster seat

MUST be used with a lap/shoulder belt. Not all
lap/shoulder belts can be used. NEVER use a
vehicle lap-only belt.

4. Use belt positioner if necessary to adjust vehicle
belt to fit child properly.

1.0 Warnings to Parents and

Other Users

4

Model Number:

Manufactured on:

Purchase Date:

2.0 Registration Information

2.1 Register Your Booster Seat

2.3 If You Need Help

Please fill in the above information. The model
number can be found on a label underneath your

booster seat. Fill out the prepaid registration
postcard attached to the seat cover and mail it today.

Child restraints could be recalled for safety reasons.
You must register this restraint to be reached in a
recall. Send your name, address and model number to:

Graco Children’s Products Inc.
P.O. Box 100
Elverson, PA, 19520-9974
or call 1-888-224-6549

Please contact our Customer Service Department with
any questions you may have concerning parts, use, or
maintenance. When you contact us, please have your
product’s model number ready so that we may help
you efficiently. This number can be found on a
sticker on the underside of your booster seat.

1-888-224-6549 or www.gracobaby.com

• Call the U.S. Government’s Auto Safety Hotline

at 1-800-424-9393 (202-366-0123 in D.C. area)

• www.nhtsa.dot.gov

• Graco: 1-888-224-6549 or www.gracobaby.com

2.2 Recall Information

5

3.0 Features

Cupholder (certain models)

Shoulder belt

positioner

6

*Tether

Vehicles are now (or can be) equipped with tether
anchor points behind some seats. A tether anchors
the top of the car seat to the body of the vehicle.
When used properly with the vehicle seat belt, a
tether helps reduce injury in a sudden stop or crash.
A tether and hardware kit may be purchased by
calling Customer Service at 1-888-224-6549.

Owner’s manual

storage compartment

Expiration date

—

Tether slots*

7

• DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THIS BOOSTER SEAT

UNTIL YOU READ AND UNDERSTAND THE
INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL AND IN YOUR
VEHICLE OWNER’S MANUAL. DO NOT let

others install or use the booster seat unless they
understand how to use it.

• FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE THIS BOOSTER

SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS
INJURY OR DEATH IN A SHARP TURN, SUDDEN
STOP OR CRASH. Your child can be injured in a

vehicle even if you are not in a crash. Sudden
braking and sharp turns can injure your child if the
booster seat is not properly installed or if your child is
not properly secured in the booster seat.

• According to accident statistics, CHILDREN ARE

SAFER WHEN PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN
REAR VEHICLE SEATING POSITIONS, RATHER
THAN FRONT SEATING POSITIONS. For a vehicle

with a front passenger air bag, refer to your vehicle
owner’s manual as well as these instructions for
booster seat installation.

• NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD UNATTENDED.

• NEVER LEAVE A BOOSTER SEAT UNSECURED

IN YOUR VEHICLE. An unsecured booster seat can
be thrown around and may injure occupants in a
sharp turn, sudden stop or crash. Remove it or make
sure that it is securely belted in the vehicle.

• REPLACE THE BOOSTER SEAT AFTER AN

ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND. An accident can cause
damage to the booster seat that you cannot see.

4.0 Important Information

4.1 Warnings

8

• STOP USING BOOSTER SEAT AND THROW IT

AWAY after the date molded into the back of

the booster seat.

• DO NOT MODIFY YOUR BOOSTER SEAT or

use any accessories or parts supplied by other
manufacturers.

• NEVER USE BOOSTER SEAT IF IT HAS

DAMAGED OR MISSING PARTS. DO NOT
use a cut, frayed or damaged vehicle seat belt.

• THE BOOSTER SEAT CAN BECOME VERY HOT

IF LEFT IN THE SUN. Contact with these parts can
burn your child’s skin. Always touch the surface of
any metal or plastic parts before putting your child
in the booster seat.

• THIS CHILD RESTRAINT CONFORMS to all

applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
and is certified for use in motor vehicles. This
restraint is NOT certified for use in aircraft because
there is no shoulder belt available.

• NEVER GIVE THIS BOOSTER SEAT to someone

else without also giving them this manual.

• NEVER USE A SECOND-HAND BOOSTER SEAT

or a booster seat whose history you do not know.

9

FAILURE TO USE BOOSTER SEAT IN A MANNER
APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR CHILD’S SIZE MAY
INCREASE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH.

4.2 Height and Weight Limits

Your child MUST meet all requirements:

• WEIGHT: 30 to 80 lbs. (14 to 36 kg)

• HEIGHT: 35 to 54 inches (89 to 138 cm)

• Child’s ears are BELOW top of booster seat. If tops

of ears are above top of seat, child is too large for
booster seat.

10

• Children are safer when properly restrained in

rear vehicle seating positions. Whenever possible

secure the booster seat in the center position of the
seat directly behind the front seats. However, this
position is often equipped
with a lap belt only and
cannot be used.

• The vehicle seat must face forward.

5.0 Booster Seat Location

5.1 Vehicle Seat Requirements

IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF THE BOOSTER SEAT
INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY
OR DEATH. Some seating positions in your vehicle

may not be safe for this booster seat. Some vehicles
do not have any seating positions that can be used
safely with the booster seat. If you are not sure where
to place the booster seat in your vehicle, consult your
vehicle owner’s manual or Graco Children's Products
Inc., 1-888-224-6549.

• Front of booster seat must not

hang over edge of vehicle seat.

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DO NOT USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYSTEMS
TO SECURE THE CAR SEAT.

• NEVER use any lap-only belt.

5.2 Vehicle Seat Belt

Requirements

MANY SEAT BELT SYSTEMS ARE NOT SAFE TO
USE WITH THE BOOSER SEAT.

Pay careful attention to these systems; some of the
seat belts that are not safe to use look very much
like seat belts that are safe to use. If you are
unsure,

consult your vehicle owner’s manual or

Graco Children's Products Inc., 1-888-224-6549.

5.2.1 UNSAFE Vehicle Belt

Systems

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• Combination

Lap/Shoulder Belt
with Retractor

Each strap has a retractor
at one end and is attached
to the latch plate at the
other end.

• Passive Restraint -

Lap or Shoulder Belt
Mounted on Door

• Passive Restraint -

Lap Belt with Motorized
Shoulder Belt

DO NOT use vehicle belts
that are attached to the
door in any way or that
move along a track to
automatically surround
the passenger when the
door is closed.

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5.2.2 SAFE Vehicle Belt

Systems

THE FOLLOWING BELT SYSTEMS CAN BE USED
WITH YOUR BOOSTER SEAT, IF the seat location

meets all other requirements of these instructions and
those in your vehicle owner's manual.

• Combination Lap/Shoulder Belt with Locking

Latch Plate

Once it is buckled, this type of belt has a latchplate
that will not allow the lap portion of the belt to loosen.
Belt is tightened by pulling hard on the shoulder
portion of the vehicle belt.

• Combination Lap/Shoulder Belt with Sliding

Latch Plate

This belt has a latchplate that slides freely along
the belt.

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6.0 Using Booster Seat

FAILURE TO PROPERLY
SECURE YOUR CHILD AND
THE BOOSTER SEAT IN YOUR
VEHICLE INCREASES THE
RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A
SHARP TURN, SUDDEN STOP
OR CRASH.

Use only the vehicle’s lap and
shoulder belt system when
restraining the child in this

booster seat .

NEVER use a vehicle lap-only

belt across front of child .

Vehicle belts MUST lay flat
against child and MUST not be
twisted.

DO NOT use shoulder belt loose

or positioned under arm .

Lap portion of lap/shoulder belt
MUST be low and snug on hips,
just touching thighs.

DO NOT allow child to slide

down in booster seat .

If child will not keep vehicle
restraint properly positioned, DO
NOT use this booster seat. Use
a different child restraint system.









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6.1 Securing Child and Booster

Seat in Vehicle

1. Place booster seat firmly

against the back of a
forward-facing vehicle
seat equipped with a
lap/shoulder belt only.

2. Place child in booster

seat with child’s back
flat against back of
booster seat.

3. Position lap/shoulder

belt as shown

.

Fasten buckle and pull
up on the shoulder belt
to tighten.

4. If belt lays across child’s

neck, head or face,
redirect belt across chest
using the shoulder belt
positioner. Thread vehicle
shoulder belt through one
of the three positioners
exactly as shown

.

5. Check that shoulder belt

is properly positioned
over shoulder and snug
against child.





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7.0 Additional information

7.1 Airplane Use

7.2 Cupholder (Optional)

1. Insert the two prongs

of the cupholder into
the two slots on either
the left or right side of
the seat

.

2. Push cupholder down

until the clip snaps on
to the bottom of seat

.

CHECK that cupholder
is secure by pulling on it.

This restraint is NOT certified for use in aircraft
because there is no shoulder belts available.

Clip





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8.0 Care and Maintenance

• CONTINUOUS USE OF BOOSTER SEAT MAY

CAUSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE SEAT.

Use a booster seat mat, towel or thin blanket
to protect upholstery.

• METAL AND PLASTIC PARTS: clean with mild

soap and cool water. No bleach or detergents.

• SEAT COVER: clean with a damp sponge using

mild soap and cool water. If necessary, cover may
be removed for cleaning.

To Remove Seat Cover

1. Remove elastic

loops and hooks
from seat as
shown

.

2. Machine wash

cover in cold
water on delicate
cycle and drip­dry. DO NOT
USE BLEACH.

3. To put the seat cover

back on, reverse
preceding instructions.



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Complete the form that follows. Your booster seat
model number MUST be included on the form to
ensure proper replacement parts. Your model
number can be found on a sticker on the underside
of your booster seat. Payment must accompany
your order.

Parts may also be ordered from Graco’s web site at

www.gracobaby.com.

Parts List: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Price:*

Seat cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$35.00

Tether strap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00

Cupholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7.00

*Prices subject to change without notice

IF YOU NEED HELP

If you have any questions or need any parts not listed,

please call toll-free: 1-888-224-6549

or visit our Internet website,

www.gracobaby.com.

Return the form with payment to:

GRACO CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS INC.

CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT

P.O. BOX 100, MAIN STREET

ELVERSON, PA 19520

9.0 Replacement Parts

How to Order:

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Seat cover
Tether strap
Cupholder

Subtotal:

Shipping
& handling*: $5.00

Sales tax**:

Total:

* $15.00 outside the
continental U.S.

**CA 6%, IL 6.25%, IN 5%, NY

8.25%, OH 5.75%, PA 6%, SC 5%

Check or money order enclosed
(payable to Graco Children’s Products Inc.)
Charge to credit card

Visa MasterCard Discover

Account #

Expiration date

Signature

SHIP TO:

Name

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Telephone (including Area Code)

Model No.

(Both Numbers Required)

20

Graco Children’s Products Inc.

Elverson, PA 19520

1-888-224-6549

Keep this manual
in the storage compartment
on the back of the car seat.