Graco 8488 User Manual

Car Seat/Booster Seat

Owner’s Manual

Model 8488

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.

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

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

2.1 Register Your Car 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

4.2.1 WITH Built-In Harness System . . . . .10

4.2.2 WITHOUT Built-In Harness System .10

5.0 Car Seat Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-16

5.1 Vehicle Seat Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . .11

5.2 Vehicle Seat Belt Requirements . . . . . . . .12

5.2.1 UNSAFE Vehicle Belt Systems . . . . .12

5.2.2 SAFE Vehicle Belt Systems . . . . . . .14

6.0 Using Car Seat With Built-In Harness . . .17-24

6.1 Positioning the Harness Straps . . . . . . . . .17

6.2 Securing the Car Seat in Your Vehicle . . . .21

6.3 Securing Your Child in the Car Seat . . . . .23

7.0 Using Car Seat Without Built-In Harness . . .25-27

7.1 Harness Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

7.2 Securing Child and Booster

Seat in Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

8.0 Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-29

8.1 Using the Tether . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

8.2 Airplane Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

8.3 Cupholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

9.0 Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30-33

10.0 Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34-35

Table of Contents

Failure to properly use this car 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 car seat correctly.

Even if using this car 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. Choosing the correct mode of use for the car seat depending on your child’s size.

2. Inserting the harness straps (if needed) in the proper slots for your child.

3. Selecting a suitable location for the car seat in your vehicle.

4. Properly routing the vehicle seat belt.

5. Properly securing the car seat in the vehicle using a seat belt designed to restrain the car seat and your child. Many seat belts are NOT safe to use with this car seat, even though they can easily be threaded through or around the car seat!

6. Properly securing your child in the car seat.

1.0 Warnings to Parents and

Other Users

Model Number:

Manufactured in:

Purchase Date:

2.0 Registration Information

2.1 Register Your Car Seat

2.3 If You Need Help

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

Harness slot

Harness clip

Harness strap

Crotch strap

Harness

buckle

3.0 Features

Cupholder (certain models)

Shoulder belt

positioner

Harness

adjustment strap

Harness

adjustment

button

Harness

adjustment

button plate

Harness

buckle tongue

**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.

Locking clip

storage*

Tether strap**

Owner’s manual

storage compartment

Expiration date

Tether clip

—

*The locking clip is stored on the back of

the car seat. You will need to use it with certain types of vehicle seat belts.

Metal junction

plate

Junction plate

storage

• DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THIS CAR 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 car seat unless they understand how to use it.

• FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE THIS CAR 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 car seat is not properly installed or if your child is not properly secured in the car 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 car seat installation.

• NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD UNATTENDED.

• NEVER LEAVE A CAR SEAT UNSECURED IN

YOUR VEHICLE. An unsecured car 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 CAR SEAT AFTER AN ACCIDENT

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

4.0 Important Information

4.1 Warnings

• STOP USING CAR SEAT AND THROW IT AWAY

after the date molded into the back of the car seat.

• DO NOT MODIFY YOUR CAR SEAT or use any

accessories or parts supplied by other manufacturers.

• NEVER USE CAR SEAT IF IT HAS DAMAGED OR

MISSING PARTS. DO NOT use a cut, frayed or damaged car seat harness or vehicle seat belt.

• THE CAR 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 car seat.

• THIS CHILD RESTRAINT CONFORMS to all

applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and is certified for use in motor vehicles. It is certified for use in Aircraft ONLY when used with the built-in harness. When used as a booster without the harness, this restraint is NOT certified for use in aircraft.

• NEVER GIVE THIS CAR SEAT to someone else

without also giving them this manual.

• NEVER USE A SECOND-HAND CAR SEAT or a

car seat whose history you do not know.

FAILURE TO USE CAR SEAT IN A MANNER APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR CHILD’S SIZE MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. Instructions for the use of this car seat

and your vehicle’s seat belt differ greatly depending on the size of your child. Be sure you are using the car seat in the correct mode and with the correct features for your child.

4.2 Height and Weight Limits

4.2.1 WITH Built in Harness

Your child MUST meet all requirements:

• WEIGHT: 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg)

• HEIGHT: 27 to 43 inches (69 to 109 cm)

• At least one year old and can sit upright unassisted

• Shoulders are BELOW top harness slots. If

shoulders are above top harness slots, child is too large for built-in harness.

4.2.2 WITHOUT Built in Harness

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.

If child is between 30 and 40 lbs. and shoulders are below the upper harness slots, we highly recommend use of the built-in harness for as long as it is suitable and comfortable (up to 40 lbs.) .

• Children are safer when properly restrained in

rear vehicle seating positions. Whenever possible

secure the car 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 when this car seat is used without the built-in harness.

• The vehicle seat must face forward.

5.0 Car Seat Location

5.1 Vehicle Seat Requirements

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

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

• Front of car seat must not hang

over edge of vehicle seat.

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

• Lap Belts with Emergency

Locking Retractor (ELR)

This lap belt stays loose and can move until it locks in a crash or sudden stop.

• 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.

5.2 Vehicle Seat Belt

Requirements

MANY SEAT BELT SYSTEMS ARE NOT SAFE TO USE WITH THE CAR SEAT. THE VEHICLE SEAT BELT MUST BE DESIGNED TO HOLD THE CAR SEAT TIGHTLY AT ALL TIMES.

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

• 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.

• Lap Belts Forward of

Seat Crease

5.2.2 SAFE Vehicle Belt

Systems

• Lap Belts - Manually Adjusted

When buckled, the belt is tightened manually by pulling on the excess belt.

• Lap Belts with Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)

The automatic locking retractor will not permit the lap belt to lengthen once it is buckled. Tighten the belt by feeding the belt back into the retractor while pushing down hard on the car seat.

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

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

For Built-in Harness Only

• 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 while pushing down hard on the car seat.

• Combination Lap/Shoulder Belt with Sliding

Latch Plate

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

WITH Built-in harness: This belt MUST be converted to prevent movement of the lap portion of the belt. You must use the locking clip provided with the car seat, unless your vehicle's seat belt can be converted in another way as described in your vehicle owner's manual.

WITHOUT Built-in harness: Conversion or locking clip are not needed.

With OR Without Built-in Harness

Locking clip

To Install Locking Clip:

1. Tighten the buckled belt by pushing down hard on the car seat and pulling hard on the shoulder belt.

2. While pushing down on seat, pinch the two straps together behind the the buckle tongue. Unbuckle the belt without allowing it to slip.

3. Connect lap and shoulder belts as shown

.

4. Rebuckle belt. Check that lap belt does not move by pulling hard. If belt loosens or lengthens, repeat procedure.

Remove locking clip when not using car seat. Store under it’s tab on the back of seat.

inch



6.0 Using Car Seat WITH

Built-in Harness

6.1 Positioning the Harness

Straps

FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADJUST THE HARNESS STRAPS FOR YOUR CHILD INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SHARP TURN, SUDDEN STOP OR CRASH.

Snugly adjust the belts provided with this child restraint around your child.

1. Open harness clip .

2. Unbuckle harness

straps

.

3. Place child in the seat.





4. Check the crotch strap.

Choose the position that is closest to but not under your child.

To move the strap:

Reach under seat and push the metal retainer up through the slot sideways

. Place the

retainer in the appropriate slot. Pull on buckle to make sure it is secure.

5. The harness straps

must go into the slots even with or just above the shoulders

.

6. If straps are in the proper

slots, go to step 11 on page 20.

7. To adjust harness

straps: Remove straps from metal junction plate

.







8. Pull strap ends through

slots and reinsert them in the correct slots



as determined in step 5.

9. Reassemble straps onto

metal junction plate exactly as shown

.

Check that straps are completely within the slots.

10. Check that the straps are

inserted at the same level and that they are not twisted. Pull on harness

to make sure it is secure.





11. Harness Adjustment

Loosen the harness straps by fully pushing in the red adjustment button on the front of the seat and pulling the straps out at the shoulders as shown



(See also Section 6.3,

Securing Your Child in the Car Seat, page 23.)

REMEMBER to check the shoulder and crotch straps as your child grows and move them to the next position when necessary.



6.2 Securing the Car Seat in

Your Vehicle

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

Carefully follow these instructions and those in your vehicle owner’s manual to be sure your car seat is properly located, positioned, and held tightly at all times.

1. Place the car seat firmly

against the back of a forward-facing vehicle seat.

2. Thread the seat belt:

For lap/shoulder belt

For lap-only belt

3. Buckle the vehicle belt.

The vehicle belt should not be twisted or turned.

4. Tighten vehicle seat belt

Push down hard with your knee or free hand in the middle of the car seat

.

Then pull and tighten the vehicle belt.

For more information on how to tighten the belt for your seat belt system,

see Section 5.2 Vehicle Seat Belt Requirements,

pp. 12-16, or your vehicle owner’s manual.

5. If you want to use

tether to hold seat in place, secure it now.

See Section 8.1 Using the Tether, page 28.

When not using the tether, push it behind the car seat or in the vehicle seat crease.

6. Safety Check for

Secure Installation

Perform this test every time you drive with your child.

Twist and pull car seat front to back and left to right to check that seat is secure

. Vehicle belt must stay

tight. Car seat must be very tight.

If car seat is not secure or loose, repeat procedure OR find another location for the seat, see Section 5.0 Car Seat Location, pp. 11-16.





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