Graco 8A12BKR User Manual

Infant Restraint/Carrier

Owner’s Manual

Read this manual

KEEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE USE.

Even if using this infant restraint seems easy to figure out on

your own, it is very important to READ, UNDERSTAND

AND FOLLOWTHE OWNERÊS MANUAL.

Failure to properly use this infant restraint increases the risk of

serious injury or death in a sudden stop or crash.

1.0 Warning to Parents and Other Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5

2.0 Registration Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-7

2.1 RegisterYour Infant Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

2.2 Recall Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

2.3 IfYou Need Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

3.0 Important Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-12

3.1 Warnings for Use as Infant Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

3.2 Warning for Use With a Stroller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

3.3 Additional Warnings for Use as Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

3.4 Height and Weight Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

4.0 Features and Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13-19

4.1 Adjusting Handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

4.2 Removing and Attaching Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

4.3 Attaching Canopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

4.4 Head Support (on certain models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

4.5 Cold Weather Boot (on certain models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

4.6 Harness Covers (on certain models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

5.0 Using Infant Restraint . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .20-25

5.1 Positioning Harness Straps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

5.2 Securing Child in Infant Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

6.0 Choosing an Appropriate Vehicle Seat Location . . . . . . . . .26-32

6.1 Vehicle Seat Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

6.2 Vehicle Seat Belt Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

6.2.1 UNSAFE Vehicle Belt Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

6.2.2 SAFE Vehicle Belt Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

6.3 LATCH Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

7.0 How to Install the Infant Restraint/Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-40

7.1 Installing the Infant Restraint Without Base

Using Vehicle Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

7.2 Installing the Infant Restraint and Base

Using Vehicle Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

7.3 Using LATCH to Install Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

7.4 Reclining Infant Restraint/Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

8.0 Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41-43

8.1 Airplane Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

8.2 Storing LATCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

8.3 Cleaning and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

No infant restraint can guarantee protection from injury in every situation. However, proper use of this infant restraint reduces the risk of serious injury or death to your child.

Failure to properly use this infant restraint increases the risk of serious injury or death in a sharp turn, sudden stop or crash.

Your childÊs safety depends on you installing and using this infant restraint correctly.

Even if using this infant restraint seems easy to figure out on your own, it is very important to READ, UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THE OWNERÊS MANUAL.

The manual is located in a pocket on the back of the infant restraint.

You must also read your vehicle ownerÊs manual.

Your childÊs safety depends on:

1. Choosing a suitable location in your vehicle. Some seating positions, such as those equipped with air bags, may not be safe locations for this infant restraint.

2. Inserting the harness straps in the proper slots for your child.

1.0Warnings to Parents and Other Users

3. Properly securing your child in the infant restraint.

4. Placing infant restraint/base in a rear-facing position.

5. Properly routing the vehicle seat belt or LATCH.

6. Properly reclining the infant restraint.

7. Properly securing the infant restraint in the vehicle using a seat belt designed to restrain an infant restraint or by using LATCH. Many seat belts are NOT safe to use with infant restraints, even though they can easily be threaded through the infant restraint!

Model Number: Manufactured in: Purchase Date:

2.1 RegisterYour Infant Restraint

Please fill in the above information. The model number and manufactured in (date) can be found on a label on the bottom of

your infant restraint. 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/manufactured in (date) to:

Graco ChildrenÊs Products Inc. 150 Oaklands Blvd. Exton, PA 19341

or call 1-800-345-4109 or register online at www.gracobaby.com

2.0 Registration Information

2.2 Recall Information

• Call the U.S. GovernmentÊs Vehicle Safety Hotline

at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY:1-800-424-9153), or go to

http://www.NHTSA.gov

• Graco: 1-800-345-4109 or www.gracobaby.com

2.3 IfYou Need Help

In the U.S.A, please contact our Customer Service Department with any questions you may have concerning parts, use, or maintenance. When you contact us, please have your productÊs model number and manufactured in (date) ready so that we may help you efficiently.These numbers can be found on a sticker on the underside of your infant restraint.

1-800-345-4109 or www.gracobaby.com

3.1Warnings for Use as Infant Restraint

• DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THIS INFANT RESTRAINT AND

BASE UNTIL YOU READ AND UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL AND IN YOUR VEHICLE OWNERÊS MANUAL. DO NOT let others install or use the

infant restraint unless they understand how to use it.

• FAILURE TO PROPERLY USETHIS INFANT RESTRAINT AND

BASE INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN A 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 infant restraint is not properly installed or if your child is not properly secured in the infant restraint.

• PLACE THIS INFANT RESTRAINT IN A REAR-FACING

POSITION when using it in the vehicle.

• DO NOT PLACETHIS INFANT RESTRAINT IN A VEHICLE

SEATING LOCATIONTHAT HAS A FRONT

3.0 Important Information

AIR BAG. If the air bag inflates, it can hit the

infant restraint with great force and cause serious injury or death to your child. Check vehicle ownerÊs manual for information about side air bags and infant restraint installation.

• SOME SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, such as pre-term babies or

those who have tested positive for positional apnea, may be at increased risk of suffering breathing or other difficulties in an infant restraint. If your child has special needs, we recommend that you have your physician or hospital staff evaluate your child and recommend the proper infant restraint or car bed before using this product.

• 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 ownerÊs manual as well as these instructions for infant restraint installation.

• NEVER LEAVEYOUR CHILD UNATTENDED.

• NEVER LEAVE AN INFANT RESTRAINT AND BASE UNSECURED

IN YOURVEHICLE. An unsecured infant restraint or base 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. If not using LATCH, make sure unsecured LATCH connectors are properly stored on base.

• REPLACETHE INFANT RESTRAINT AND BASE AFTER AN

ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND. An accident can cause damage to the infant restraint that you may not be able to see.

• STOP USING INFANT RESTRAINT AND BASE AND THROW IT

AWAY after the date molded into the back of the infant restraint. „DO NOT use this car seat after December (Year)‰

• DO NOT MODIFY YOUR INFANT RESTRAINT AND BASE or use

any accessories or parts supplied by other manufacturers.

• NEVER USE INFANT RESTRAINT AND BASE IF IT HAS

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

• THE INFANT RESTRAINT CAN BECOME VERY HOT IF LEFT IN

THE SUN. Always touch the surface of any metal or plastic parts before putting your child in the infant restraint.

• THIS INFANT RESTRAINT CONFORMS to all applicable Federal

Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.

3.2 Warning for Use With a Stroller

• USE ONLY WITH STROLLERSTHAT ARE PART OF THE GRACO TRAVEL SYSTEM. Refer to stroller ownerÊs manual for details about

how to attach the infant restraint to your stroller. If you do not have an ownerÊs manual, please call toll-free, 1-800-345-4109 to obtain one, or visit our website at www.gracobaby.com.

• Never use a GracoÊs infant restraint with other manufacturerÊs strollers. May result in serious injury or death.

3.3 Additional Warnings for Use as Carrier

• FALL HAZARD: ChildÊs movements can slide carrier.

NEVER place carrier near edges of countertops, tables or other high surfaces. Always stay within arms reach whenever carrier is not on floor/ground.

BE SURE handle locks into position before lifting carrier. NEVER place carrier on the top of a shopping cart.

• SUFFOCATION HAZARD: Infant carrier can roll over on soft

surfaces and suffocate child. Never place carrier on beds, sofas or other soft surfaces.

• STRANGULATION HAZARD: Child can strangle in loose restraint

straps. Always use harness. Never leave child in carrier when straps are loose or undone.

KEEP STRINGS AND CORDS AWAY FROM CHILD. Strings and cords can cause strangulation.

DO NOT place carrier near a window where cords from blinds or drapes can strangle a child.

DO NOT hang strings on or over the carrier. DO NOT place items with a string around a childÊs neck, such as

hood strings, pacifier cords, etc.

DO NOT attach strings to toys.

3.4 Height and Weight Limits

TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH DO NOT USE THE INFANT RESTRAINTWITH A CHILD LARGER OR SMALLER THAN THEWEIGHT AND HEIGHT RANGE LISTED BELOW.

Your child MUST meet the following requirements:

• WEIGHT: 5-30 lbs. (2.3-13.6 kg)

AND

• HEIGHT: 32 inches (81 cm) or less in height.

Harness

slots

Handle

adjustment

button

Harness

clip

FRONT VIEW

Handle

adjustment

button

Waist

slots

Harness

adjustment

strap

Harness

adjustment

button

Harness

buckle tongues

Harness

buckle

Harness

Strap

Vehicle

belt

hook

4.0 Features and Components

Canopy

Level

indicator*

OwnerÊs

manual

pocket

*Level Indicator

**Locking

Clip

Metal

junction

plate

REAR VIEW

Release handle

Harness

slot

Anchor

Clip

Harness storage for a smaller child

Harness adjustment

strap

The level indicator is attached to the side of the infant restraint and indicates whether or not the infant restraint is properly reclined.

The locking clip is stored on the bottom of the infant restraint.You will need to use it with certain types of vehicle seat belts.

Locking clip

storage**

BASE

Lock-off

LATCH

Storage

Bars

(underneath)

Vehicle belt/LATCH path

LATCH

Adjustment

Belt

Connector

Knob for

Adjustable Foot

LATCH

United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards have defined a new system for installing car seats in vehicles. The system is called

LATCH

* LATCH may be used IN PLACE of vehicle belt ONLY if vehicle is equipped with LATCH anchor points. Please refer to vehicle ownerÊs manual for LATCH locations.

4.1 Adjusting Handle

1. Press handle adjustment buttons on both sides of handle.

2. Rotate handle until it clicks into any of the 4 positions:

Position A: MUST be used

when carrying by handle,

Position B,C: are convenience

positions,

Position D: is the sitting position, NEVER use position B in

the vehicle. BOTH handle adjustment

buttons must pop out to lock handle in place .

3. Push and pull on the handle to

be sure it is locked firmly in position.

Carrying

4.2 Removing and Attaching Infant Restraint

To remove, squeeze release handle at back of infant restraint and lift out of base as shown.

To put infant restraint in base, push infant restraint down until it clicks into base. Pull up

on infant restraint to be sure it is latched firmly into base.





Sitting



16D17

4.3 Attaching Canopy

1. Infant restraint comes with four identical canopy support parts.

Thread one canopy support completely through sewn channel .

2. Slide straight end of a second support into the straight end of the first support and snap in place .

3. Repeat steps one and two for the other canopy tunnel. The canopy should appear as shown.

4. Attach canopy in the areas between the infant restraint and the base of the handle .









4.4 Head Support (on certain models, styles vary)

Some infants may need extra support to keep their head and body in a comfortable position.

Models with snaps: Unsnap the sides and resnap them with the harness straps threaded through the slots in the cushion.



Models without snaps: Thread the harness through the openings in the head support as shown.

If your model does not include a head support, you may want to use a rolled towel or a blanket for support. MAKE SURE THAT

NOTHING INTERFERES WITHTHE HARNESS. Harness must still be flat

and snug against your childÊs shoulders.





4.5 ColdWeather Boot (on certain models, styles vary)

Some models come with a cold weather boot. To use, wrap elastic around bottom of seat and attach both elastic loops around vehicle belt hooks as shown.

4.6 Harness Covers (on certain models, styles vary)

To prevent ejection in sudden stop or crash:

• Always make sure shoulder straps are threaded through slots and properly positioned on shoulders.

• Make sure that harness covers do not interfere with placement of the chest clip at armpit level.



5.1 Positioning Harness Straps

FAILURETO 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. The harness straps must be

properly adjusted to fit your child according to the following instructions.

1. Remove infant restraint from base and rotate handle down to sitting position. See

„4.1 Adjusting Handle‰

Removing and Attaching Seat‰

2. Place child in infant restraint as shown .

3. Determine which pair of harness slots are even with or just below your childÊs shoulders .

5.0 Using Infant Restraint

4. If the harness straps must be adjusted: remove child from infant restraint and move harness straps to the proper harness slots by doing the following:

and

„4.2

, page. 16.

Use harness slots

even with or just below

childÊs shoulders





A. Push the harness adjustment button

under the seat flap. Pull the shoulder straps out to loosen the harness.

B. From behind seat, pull the metal

junction plate down behind the ownerÊs manual pocket and remove the ends of the two shoulder straps from the metal junction plate .

C. From front, pull straps through the

harness slots and then reinsert them through the appropriate slots. Both harness straps must be through the same set of slots in the seat and pad.

D. From behind seat, push both shoulder

straps UNDER ownerÊs manual pocket and out the bottom .

E. Depending on the size of your child, you

may need to adjust the harness straps or waist straps as shown on pages 23-24. Reassemble the strap ends onto the metal junction plate . You will be able to use various combinations of shoulder strap loops and waist strap loops to get a snug fit for your child.

5. SAFETY CHECK: a) CHECK that straps are not twisted in front or back; b) CHECK that straps are secure by pulling on harness

straps from the front of the seat.



Harness adjustment

button



Metal junction

plate

Shoulder Straps for a SMALLER Baby:

Use the lower harness slots  (if they are even with or just below your childÊs shoulders) and the upper strap loops . The ends of the straps must hang in front of the metal junction plate as shown in , not as shown in .

 

CHECK that the loops are completely within junction plate slots .

CHECK that straps are secure by pulling on them.

Shoulder Straps for a LARGER Baby:

Use middle or upper harness slots  and the end strap loops . CHECK that the loops

are completely within junction plate slots .

CHECK that straps are secure by pulling on them.







To Shorten Waist Straps for a SMALLER Baby:

The length of the waist strap can be shortened further by pushing aside the small tab that holds the anchor clips in place and pull the anchor clips out of their indentations  .Move the anchor clip to the second loop in the strap . CHECK that anchor clips are threaded properly. The ends of the straps must be inserted under the storage tabs as shown in . Snap anchor clip into the seat indentations. Repeat on other side.

CHECK that straps are secure by pulling on them from the front of the seat.







To LengthenWaist Straps for a LARGER Baby:

Remove the anchor clip from the seat . Move the anchor clip to the end of the strap. CHECK that the anchor clips are threaded properly

BL. Snap anchor clips

back into seat as shown in BM. Repeat on other side.

CHECK that straps are secure by pulling on them from the front of the seat.

23BL24

5.2 Securing Child in Infant Restraint

Failure to properly secure your child in the infant restraint/carrier increases the risk of serious injury or death from suffocation or falls, or in the event of a sudden stop or crash. Even when used only as a carrier, make sure the harness straps are properly secured.

1. Move infant restraint handle to sitting position (see page 16).

2. Open harness clip by squeezing both sides and unbuckle as shown .

3. Place your child in the infant restraint as shown in , not

. Place the harness straps



around your child.

4. Insert the two buckle tongues into the harness buckle on the crotch strap. Make sure that you hear each tongue click into the buckle.

DO NOT use the infant restraint if the buckle tongues do not latch in place. Call Graco at 1-800-345-4109.

 



5. Snap harness clip pieces together .

6. Pull on harness adjustment strap to tighten straps as shown . CHECK that both straps are flat and snug on shoulders and thighs.

7. Position harness clip in middle of chest, level with armpits and away from the neck . The symbol on the harness clip should be level with the armpits.

8. SAFETY CHECK: a) CHECK that harness straps are not twisted. b) CHECK that the harness is snug. You should

not be able to pinch the harness if it is snug. A snug strap should not allow any slack. It lies in a relatively straight line without sagging. It does not press on the childÊs flesh or push the childÊs body into an unnatural position .







6.1 Vehicle Seat Requirements

IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF THE INFANT RESTRAINT INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Some seating positions in your vehicle may not be safe for this infant restraint. Some vehicles do not have any seating positions that can be used safely with the infant restraint. If you are not sure where to place the infant restraint in your vehicle, consult your vehicle ownerÊs manual or call Graco at 1-800-345-4109.

• Whenever possible, secure the

infant restraint in the center position of the seat directly behind the front seats. If you

want to use LATCH, check your vehicle ownerÊs manual for LATCH locations.

• NEVER place this infant restraint

in a vehicle seating location that has a front air bag. See

Warnings for Use as Infant

6.0 Choosing an Appropriate Vehicle Seat Location

Restraint‰

, page.8.





„3.1

• The VEHICLE seat must face forward.

• DO NOT use infant restraint on vehicle seats with seat backs that

will not lock in an upright position. DO NOT use seats that can fold down without having to release a lock or latch of some kind. These seats can fly forward and strike the child in a sudden stop or crash.

6.2 Vehicle Seat Belt Requirements

MANY SEAT BELT SYSTEMS ARE NOT SAFE TO USEWITH THE INFANT RESTRAINT. THE VEHICLE SEAT BELT MUST BE DESIGNED TO HOLD THE INFANT RESTRAINT 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 ownerÊs manual or call Graco at 1-800-345-4109.

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