Graco ISPB008BC User Manual

Instruction Manual

Avoid injury or death -

Read and understand this manual!

www.centuryproducts.com

ISPB008BC 1/03 US

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Important Information........................................1

Warnings..........................................................2

Basic Information................................................4

What is LATCH? ...............................................5

LATCH System...................................................6

Before You Begin

Vehicle Seat Belts...........................................22

• Locking Clip..........................................29

Additional Information...................................30

• LATCH Storage

• LATCH Removal

• Tether Storage

• Tether Removal

• Cup Holder

• Care and Cleaning

• Aircraft Use

• Second Hand Car Seat

Parts List.........................................................

Special Information

Operations and Adjustments..............................16

• Harness Straps

• Harness Clip

• Buckle

• Tether Strap

• Changing Harness Strap Slots

• Changing Crotch Strap Slots

Harness System–

Removal and Re-assembly........................

Use

Height and Weight Limits......................................7

Installation with harness system and Vehicle

Seat Belt........................................................

Installation without harness system ........................9

Installation with harness system and LATCH.......10

Placing Child In Car Seat -

with harness system..................................

Placing Child In Car Seat -

without harness system............................

Read and understand instruction manual and car seat labels.

A vehicle combination lap/shoulder belt MUST be used when using car seat without harness system.

DO NOT use vehicle “lap-only” belt or LATCH across front of child.

Secure children in back seat whenever possible. Never leave child unattended. Install car seat securely with vehicle belt or

LATCH.

DO NOT use after date shown on back of

car seat. DO NOT allow anyone (babysitter, relatives,

etc.) to use car seat without first understanding all instructions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

NO CAR SEAT CAN GUARANTEE PROTECTION FROM INJURY IN EVERY SITUATION. HOWEVER, PROPER USE OF THIS CAR SEAT REDUCES THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO YOUR CHILD.

READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY.

Child restraints (car seats) could be recalled for safety reasons. You must register this restraint to be reached in a recall. Fill out the registration card attached to car seat and mail today or send your name, address, and the restraint’s model number and manufacturing date to:

Century Products 150 Oaklands Blvd. Exton, PA 19341

or call 1-800-837-4044 www.centuryproducts.com

For recall information:

• 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

• Call Century Products at 1-800-837-4044 or www.centuryproducts.com

Registration Information

Safety First Check List

WARNINGS - Prevent serious injury or death:

Failure to follow these instructions and car seat labels can result in child striking the vehicle’s interior during a sudden stop or accident. Secure child restraint with a vehicle seat belt or LATCH as shown in this manual.

Not all vehicle seat belts can be used with child restraint. Read “Vehicle Seat Belts” section:

• Child restraint with harness system MUST be held securely at all times by a lap belt (or lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt) or LATCH belt that will not change length while vehicle is in motion.

• Child restraint without harness system MUST ONLY be used with a lap/shoulder belt.

Never put a child restraint in a front vehicle seat unless recommended by vehicle owner’s manual. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) alerts vehicle owners that according to accident statistics, children up to age 12 are safer in the back seat. For vehicle’s with air bags, refer to vehicle owner’s manual for child restraint installation information.

If child restraint is in a crash, it must be replaced. DO NOT use it again! A crash can cause unseen damage and using it again could result in serious injury or death.

WARNINGS - Prevent serious injury or death (continued):

DO NOT use car seat if it is damaged

or has missing parts.

DO NOT use accessories or parts

other than those provided by Century or Graco. Their use could alter the function of the car seat.

Never leave child unattended, even when sleeping.

If using vehicle seat belt to secure car seat, LATCH connectors must be stored. (see section “LATCH storage”)

Never attach two

LATCH connectors

to one vehicle lower anchor point unless specifically allowed by the vehicle manufacturer.

BASIC INFORMATION

Always secure car seat with a vehicle seat belt or LATCH, even when unoccupied. An unsecured car seat can injure passengers.

Protect vehicle seat. Use a car seat mat, towel or thin blanket under and behind car seat.

Car seat parts can get very hot in the sun or warm weather.

To avoid burns, always check before putting child in car seat.

Do not use car seat on rear-facing or side-facing vehicle seats.

Certification

Unoccupied Car Seat

Dangerous Vehicle Seats

Vehicle Seat Protection

Warm Weather

With Harness System:

Car seat meets or exceeds all applicable requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.

Without Harness System:

Belt-Positioning Booster seat is certified for use in motor vehicles.

Belt-Positioning Booster seat is NOT certified for use in aircraft.

STOP using car seat and throw it away after the date molded into the underside of the car seat.

Look for:

Do not use this car

seat after December

Year

Car Seat Useful Life

Vehicle

Top Tether Anchor

Points

Vehicle

Lower Anchor

Points

Vehicle

Seat Crease

Typical seat in a passenger vehicle. Other vehicle types may have different

LATCH locations.

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

ower Anchorage and Tether for CHildren.

LATCH System for Vehicles:

LATCH in the vehicle consists of a top tether

anchor point and two lower anchor points. Some vehicle owner manuals use the term

ISOFIX to identify the new car seat anchorage system. This carseat with

LATCH can also be used in vehicle seating

positions equipped with ISOFIX.

Newer vehicles may have one or more seating positions equipped with LATCH anchor points.

If vehicle is equipped with LATCH, the vehicle lower anchor points may be visible at the vehicle seat crease. If not visible, they may be marked with a symbol (Fig. a) or a colored dot.

See your vehicle owner’s manual for exact locations, anchor identification, and requirements for use with a car seat.

Check vehicle owner’s manual for vehicle top tether anchor locations. They may be identified using one of the anchor symbols (Fig. b or Fig. c).

(Fig. a)

(Fig. b)

(Fig. c)

WHAT IS LATCH?

LATCH System:

LATCH consists of a permanently attached

lower anchorage belt and a top tether strap

(Fig. a).

ONLY use LATCH in a seating

position recommended by vehicle manufacturer.

Vehicle

Lower

Anchor

Points

Car Seat

Lower Anchorage

Belt

(Fig. a)

LATCH SYSTEM

Car Seat

Top Tether

Vehicle

Top Tether

Anchor

Point

Thank you for contacting Century. LATCH is defined as anchorages 280mm (11.02 inches) on center. As a manufacturer, we do not recommend using the

LATCH system in the center

position if it exceeds this length. If you have further questions regarding

LATCH usage, please

contact NHTSA at 1-800-326-4236 or www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

Without Harness System

With

Harness System

Child MUST meet all of the following requirements:

• Weight is 30 - 40 lbs (13.6 - 18 kg).

• Height is 35 - 43 inches (89 - 109 cm) tall.

• Child is able to sit upright unassisted

• Child’s shoulders are not above top harness slots.

HEIGHT and WEIGHT LIMITS

Child MUST meet all of the following requirements:

• Weight is 30 - 100 lbs (13.6 - 45 kg).

• Height is 35 - 50 inches (89 - 127 cm) tall.

• Child is able to sit upright unassisted

• Top of child’s ears are not above top of headrest.

Outgrowing Car Seat

100 lbs (45 kg)

30 lbs.

(13.6 kg)

To avoid injuries from whiplash, top of child’s ears must be below top edge of headrest.

WARNING

40 lbs.

(18 kg)

With Harness System

Without Harness System

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should be at least one year of age before being positioned forward facing.

Place forward-facing on vehicle seat.

Lift seat pad flap, thread vehicle seat belt through openings and buckle belt (fig. a).

Press down firmly in center of car seat to compress vehicle seat cushion while tightening vehicle seat belt.

Use your knee to press down in center of car seat (fig. b).

Pull front to back and left to right to check for secure installation (fig. c).

If not secure, see “Vehicle Seat Belts” section,

page 22.

Attach tether hook (A) to anchor hardware (B) and tighten strap to remove any slack (fig. d).

INSTALLATION

- with harness system and Vehicle Seat Belt

(fig. a)

(fig. b) (fig. c)

(fig. d)

Opening

(A)

(B)

Pull to

tighten

Place forward-facing on vehicle seating position with a vehicle lap/shoulder belt. See “Placing

child in car seat without harness system” pg. 14 & “Vehicle Seat Belts” section, page 22.

INSTALLATION

- without har ness system

To use as a BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER, the following items need to be removed:

Crotch Strap - (see page 19, fig. g and fig. h) Harness System - (see page 20)

LATCH BELT - (see page 30)

Tether - (see page 31) Store all items for future use.

Place forward-facing on vehicle seat.

Lift seat pad flap, check to make sure LATCH belt is properly routed through openings and attach LATCH belt to lower anchorage points (fig. a).

Press down firmly in center of car seat to compress vehicle seat cushion while tightening LATCH belt.

Use your knee to press down in center of car seat (fig. b).

Pull front to back and left to right to check for secure installation (fig. c). LATCH belt MUST stay tight.

Attach tether hook (A) to anchor hardware (B) and tighten strap to remove any slack (fig. d).

INSTALLATION

- with harness system and LATCH

(fig. a)

(fig. b)

(fig. c) (fig. d)

Opening

(A)

(B)

Pull to

tighten

INSTALLATION

- with harness system and LATCH

Adjust harness system:

Harness straps MUST be through slots at or just above shoulders.

Place child in car seat with child’s back flat against back of car seat.

Place harness straps over child’s shoulders and insert tongues into buckle.

Pull up on tongues to be sure they are locked.

Close harness clip:

Position harness clip at arm pit level.

Tighten harness straps so that they are snug with just enough room to insert one finger between child’s chest and harness straps (fig. a).

Thigh straps must also be snug (fig. b).

PLACING CHILD IN CAR SEAT - with harness system

To prevent serious injury or death:

• Vehicle seat belt or LATCH must be routed through back of car seat when using harness system.

• Never place vehicle belt or LATCH in front of child when using harness system.

•

DO NOT use strap covers, blankets,

cushions, or padding under harness straps or child unless provided by Century or Graco.

• DO NOT use harness straps that are loose or unbuckled. They must be snug and positioned over shoulders and thighs.

WARNING

(fig. a) (fig. b)

PLACING CHILD IN CAR SEAT - with harness system (cont.)

To prevent serious injury or death:

• Use ONLY the vehicles Lap/Shoulder Belt system when restraining the child in this booster seat.

• Shoulder belt MUST be properly positioned over shoulder (NOT touching child’s neck and NOT low off shoulder).

• Lap/shoulder belt MUST be properly positioned exactly as shown in illustration.

• NEVER position belt under child’s arms (fig. a). Remove all slack from shoulder belt.

• Never use a vehicle “lap-only” belt or

LATCH across front of child.

• DO NOT allow child to slide down in car seat which could position lap belt across child’s abdomen and shoulder belt over neck or face.

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

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

WARNING

Remove harness system (see “Harness System removal and re-assembly”, page 20).

Place child in car seat with child’s back flat against back of car seat.

Place shoulder belt across child’s chest and lap belt under both armrests.

Buckle belt and pull shoulder belt to adjust lap belt snugly.

Shoulder belt MUST lay across child’s shoulder in red zone as shown (fig. b). If outside of red zone, see next steps for Comfort Clip

use.

CAUTION:

Some shoulder belts with (emergency locking) retractors allow a child to pull belt out and change position of belt. Use of Comfort Clip

helps prevent child from

pulling belt out.

Thread shoulder belt through Comfort Clip

exactly as shown and hook end of Comfort Clip

through desired loop of webbing (fig. c).

Check to be sure shoulder belt is properly positioned over shoulder in red zone and snug against child.

PLACING CHILD IN CAR SEA T - without harness system

(fig. a)

(fig. c)(fig. b)

Loops

PLACING CHILD IN CAR SEAT - without harness system (cont.)

Comfort Clip

Harness Straps:

• To tighten: Pull belt tab (fig. a).

• To loosen: Lift lever on front of car seat while pulling harness straps (fig. b).

Harness Clip:

• To open: Press tabs in and pull apart (fig. c).

• To close: Snap halves together. Make sure harness clip is locked by pulling out on each half.

Buckle:

• To lock: Insert both tongues into buckle. Pull up on tongues to be sure they are locked.

• To unlock: Press red button and pull tongues out of buckle.

OPERATIONS and ADJUSTMENTS

Tether Strap (fig. d):

• To tighten: Pull loose end of strap.

• To loosen: Lift adjuster

(fig. b) (fig. c)

(fig. a)

(fig. d)

Tighten

Adjuster

Loosen

OPERATIONS and ADJUSTMENTS (continued)

Changing Harness Strap Slots:

MUST use slots at or just above shoulders.

A Loosen harness straps. B Remove both harness strap loops from

Splitter Plate on back of car seat (fig. e).

C Change harness strap slots.

Make sure harness straps are threaded through matching slot of seat pad and car seat.

It may be necessary to remove seat pad from top of car seat.

D Put right strap loop on Splitter Plate first,

then attach left strap loop. (fig. e).

NOTE: Make sure straps are NOT twisted.

(fig. e)

Splitter Plate

Changing Crotch Strap Slots:

MUST be in slot closest to but not under child.

A Turn car seat upside down, pry metal rod

loose using screwdriver and pull rod out of crotch strap end (fig. f).

B Turn car seat upright and pull crotch strap

and buckle out.

C Change crotch strap slots.

Thread looped end of crotch strap through slots in seat pad and shell (fig. g).

D Slide metal rod through loop in crotch

strap and replace elastic strap from seat cover. Press rod into car seat shell (fig. h).

NOTE: Use a hammer to tap rod in place

if necessary.

(fig. f) (fig. g) (fig. h)

OPERATIONS and ADJUSTMENTS (continued)

HARNESS SYSTEM - removal and re-assembly

Harness Removal:

• Remove harness strap loops from Splitter Plate on back of car seat.

• Pull harness strap out of car seat, harness

clip and tongues. Store all parts for future use.

• Remove crotch strap (see page 19).

When re-assembling harness system, be sure harness straps are not twisted.

Harness Re-assembly:

Thread end of harness strap down through slot in seat pad, under both clips on bottom and back up through slot in opposite side of car seat pad, through harness tongues and harness clip.

IMPORTANT: Harness strap MUST be threaded over adjustment strap on bottom of car seat as shown in illustrations.

Thread ends of harness straps through matching shoulder slots in back of seat pad and car seat.

Re-attach harness straps to Splitter Plate on bottom

Put right strap loop on Splitter Plate first, then attach left strap loop.

Re-attach crotch strap (see page 19).

HARNESS SYSTEM - removal and re-assembly (continued)

Splitter Plate

(Back)

Clip

Harness Strap

Adjustment Strap

VEHICLE SEAT BELTS

If car seat with harness system is not held securely after following instructions in this manual, vehicle seat belt labels, and vehicle owner’s manual:

• Move car seat to another seating location and try again, or

• Contact vehicle dealer for possible seat belt modification parts.

To provide the best installation of the car seat:

• Read the vehicle owner’s manual regarding car seat installation and seat belt use with car seat.

• Follow all instruction labels on vehicle seat belt and car seat.

Not all vehicle seat belts can be used

with a car seat:

• Car seat with harness system MUST be held securely at all times by a lap belt (or lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt) that will not change length while driving.

• Car seat without harness system MUST be used with a lap/shoulder belt.

WARNING

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