Graco snugride snuglock 35 dlx, 35 ELITE, SNUGRIDE SNUGLOCK Instruction Manual

1

SNUGRIDE® SNUGLOCK

TM 35 DLX

INFANT CAR SEAT

FAILURE TO PROPERLY

USE THIS

CHILD RESTRAINT

INCREASES THE

RISK OF SERIOUS

INJURY OR DEATH IN

A SUDDEN STOP OR

CRASH.

KEEP INSTRUCTIONS

FOR FUTURE USE.

Do not install or use this

child restraint until you

read and understand

the instructions in this

manual.

www.gracobaby.com

PD349578C 8/16

2

1-A Quick Guide to Your Manual
1-B Before You Begin
1-C Safety Warnings

3-A Rear-Facing Checklist
3-B Install With Base With LATCH Strap
3-C Install With Base With Vehicle Seat Belt
3-D Install Without Base With Vehicle Seat Belt

Important Pages 4-13

Features Pages 14-23

Rear-Facing Use Pages 24-45

2-A Car Seat Features
2-B Remove Car Seat from Base
2-C Attach Car Seat to Base
2-D Adjusting Carry Handle
2-E Recline the Base
2-F Choosing Vehicle Seat Location
2-G Choosing LATCH or Seat Belt
2-H What Is LATCH

3

4-A Adjust Harness to Fit Child
4-B Adjust Buckle to Fit Child
4-C Securing Child in Car Seat
4-D Removing Child

Securing Child Pages 46-55

Carrier Use Pages 58-59

Vehicle Information Pages 60-72

6-A Additional LATCH Information
6-B How to Remove LATCH
6-C Storing The LATCH Strap
6-D Unsafe Vehicle Seats
6-E Vehicle Seat Belts

Accessories Pages 73-74

Care & Cleaning Pages 75-79

8-A Cleaning Seat Pad
8-B Cleaning Buckle

1 Important

4

1-A Quick Guide to Your Manual

This car seat is for children 4-35 lb (1.8-16 kg) and 32”
(81 cm) or less.

Get to Know Your Car Seat

Review section 2-A to see all of the features of this infant car seat.

What Seating Location Should I Use?

Which Installation Method Should I Use?

This infant car seat base can be installed in your vehicle using either
the vehicle seat belt OR the LATCH system. Both are equally safe to
use. DO NOT USE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

This infant car seat carrier can be installed in your vehicle using
only the vehicle seat belt. LATCH is not available to install the
carrier.

The best seating location for this infant car seat is one that:

• Is recommended by your vehicle owner’s manual, and

• Results in a secure installation of this car seat.
Never place a child rear-facing in a seating position with

an active front air bag.

Review section 6 of this manual AND your vehicle owner’s manual.

1 Important

5

When Installing Base

LATCH System

LATCH consists of lower
anchors, which are built­in to your vehicle, and
connecting hooks that are
built-in your car seat.

Vehicle Seat Belt

There are two types of
vehicle seat belts that can
be used. Lap/Shoulder Seat
Belt or Lap Only Seat Belt.

Review section 3-B of this
manual AND your vehicle
owner’s manual.

Review section 3-C of this
manual AND your vehicle
owner’s manual.

When Installing Carrier

Vehicle Seat Belt

There are two types of vehicle seat belts that can be used.
Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt or Lap Only Seat Belt.

Review section 3-D of this
manual AND your vehicle
owner’s manual.

1 Important

6

Does Your Seat Fit Your Child Correctly?

To make sure your child is secured properly, review section 4 to
understand all of the actions you need to take to properly adjust the
car seat to fit your child.

You Need To Adjust:

Harness Height

Harness straps at or just below the
child’s shoulders. Review section 4-A.

Buckle Position

The correct slot is the one that is closest
to your child without being underneath
them. Review section 4-B.

Harness Tightness

If your fingers slide off the harness straps
without pinching the straps, it is tight
enough. Review section 4-C.

1 Important

7

Did You Do Everything Correctly?

Base or Car Seat Does
Not Move More Than 1”
(2.5 cm) At The Belt Path

Review section 3.

Car Seat Level to Ground

Review sections 2-E and 3.

Car Seat Is Properly Attached
To Base

Review section 2-C.

Cannot Pinch Harness

Harness straps at or just below
the child’s shoulders.
Review section 4-C.

Chest Clip Even With Armpits

Review section 4-C.

1 Important

8

1-B Before You Begin

Please fill out the prepaid registration postcard attached to
the harness and mail it in today or register online at www.
gracobaby.com/carseatregistration.

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

Graco Children’s Products, Inc.

Attn: Customer Service

P.O. Box 169, Elverson, PA 19520-9901

or call 1-800-345-4109

or register online at

www.gracobaby.com/carseatregistration

For recall information, call the U.S. Government’s Vehicle Safety
Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1–800–424–9153), or go to
http://www.NHTSA.gov.

Register This Child Restraint

Your child’s safety depends on you. No car seat can
guarantee protection from injury in every situation, but proper
use helps reduce the risk of serious injury or death.

Even if this car seat seems easy to figure out on your own,
you must follow the detailed instructions in this instruction
manual to ensure the steps below are performed correctly.

1 Important

9

Model Name _________________________

Model Number _______________________

Date of Manufacture __________________

Date of Purchase _____________________

For future reference or if you change addresses, record
the model name, model number, date of manufacture, and
purchase date of this car seat below. You can find this
information either on the registration card if you still have it
or on the date label located on the back of the car seat.

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 product’s model number and date of manufacture
ready so that we may help you efficiently. These numbers
can be found on a sticker on the back side of your car seat.

For additional resources or to get your car seat checked
by a child passenger safety technician, please visit the
following web sites:

www.nhtsa.gov • www.seatcheck.org • www.safekids.org

If You Need Help

1 Important

10

This child restraint meets or exceeds all applicable
requirements of Federal motor vehicle safety standard 213
for use in motor vehicles.

This child restraint is certified for use in aircraft
when used without the base. Use only on forward­facing aircraft seats. Follow the instructions for
vehicle installation. See sections 3-D and 6-E Lap
Belt Installation.

This child restraint’s base is NOT certified for use
in aircraft.

Contact the airline for their specific polices.

Certification

STOP using this car seat and throw it away 7 years after
the date of manufacture. Look for date of manufacture
label on back of the car seat.

Graco Children’s Products Inc. advises against loaning or
passing along a car seat unless you know the complete
history of the product. We also advise against purchasing
a car seat second hand.

Car Seat’s Useful Life

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.

Vehicle Seat Protection

Warm Weather Use

1 Important

11

1-C Safety Warnings

No car seat can guarantee protection from
injury in every situation, but proper use
helps reduce the risk of serious injury or
death. READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY.

Failure to follow these instructions and child
restraint’s labels can result in child striking the
vehicle’s interior during a sudden stop or crash.

! NEVER PLACE THIS CHILD RESTRAINT

REAR-FACING IN A VEHICLE SEATING
LOCATION THAT HAS AN ACTIVE FRONT
AIR BAG.

If an air bag inflates, it can hit the child and car seat
with great force and cause serious injury or death to
your child.

! Review your vehicle owner’s manual for more

information about air bags and car seat use.

1 Important

12

! If your vehicle does not have a back seat, review

your vehicle owner’s manual.

! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommend that children ride rear-facing
until age 2 or until they reach the maximum
rear-facing height or weight rating for their
seat. Check your state laws and the AAP/NHTSA
recommendations.

! This child restraint must only be used with

children weighing between 4-35 lb (1.8-16 kg).

! Select a suitable location for the car seat in your

vehicle.

! Secure car seat with a vehicle seat belt or LATCH

that is properly routed as shown in this manual.

! Vehicle seat belt system MUST hold car seat

securely. Not all vehicle seat belts can be used
with a car seat.

! If vehicle seat belt does not hold car seat

securely, read “Vehicle Seat Belts” section 6-E
and your vehicle owner’s manual.

! Always secure car seat with LATCH or a vehicle

seat belt, even when unoccupied. In a crash, an
unsecured car seat can injure passengers.

! DO NOT use car seat if it is damaged or missing

parts.

1 Important

13

! If car seat 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.

! DO NOT use accessories or parts other than

those provided by Graco. Their use could alter
the performance of the car seat.

! DO NOT remove LATCH system from car seat. If

using vehicle seat belt to secure car seat, LATCH
connectors must be stored.

! Never leave child unattended, even when

sleeping. Child may become tangled in harness
straps and suffocate or strangle.

! Rear-facing car seat must be properly leveled:

• Too reclined can result in injury or ejection.

• Too upright can result in breathing
difficulties.

! Never attach two LATCH

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

! Do not use both the vehicle seat belt and

LATCH strap at the same time when using the
car seat rear-facing.

! Do not to allow children to play with the base

unit even outside the vehicle.

2 Features

14

2-A Car Seat Features

B

C

G

A Handle Adjustment Button
B Carry Handle
C Canopy
D Head Support
E Body Pillow (Select models)
F Harness Covers

D

G Rear-Facing Belt
Path (When Used

Without Base)

H Harness Release

Button (Under seat pad)

I Harness Adjustment

Strap

J Removable Base
K Base Recline Lever

J

H
I

K

E

F

A

2 Features

15

J

L

N

L Car Seat Shell
M Level Indicator
N Base Release Lever
O Instruction Manual

Storage
P Harness Strap

Q Chest Clip
R Buckle Tongues
S Buckle
T Buckle Strap

Q

P

R

S

T

O

C

M

2 Features

16

A Base Release Lever
B Harness Strap Slots
C Locking Clip
D Harness Straps
E Buckle Metal Clip
F Splitter Plate

A

B

D

F

C

E

2 Features

17

F

G

I

E SnugLock™ Lock­ Off Release Lever
F Belt Guides
G SnugLock™ Lock­ Off
H SnugLock™ Arm
I Level Indicator
J Instruction Manual
Storage
K SafetyCoreTM
Energy Absorption
L Base Recline Lever
M Base Recline Foot

M

L

E

J
K

H

2 Features

18

Attaching Car

Seat To Base

Align the locking bar at
the front of the car seat
with the locks in the
base. Set car seat in the
base. Push down on
the front of the car seat.
You will hear a “click”
when it is locked.

Pull up on the front
corners of the seat to
make sure it is locked.

2-B Remove Car Seat from Base

To Remove Car

Seat from Base

From the back of the
car seat, squeeze the
base release handle
and then lift the car
seat out of the base.

2-C Attach Car Seat to Base

2 Features

19

2-D

Adjusting Carry Handle

A

C

D

B

1.

To Rotate Handle

Press the red handle
adjustment button at
the top of the handle
and rotate the handle.

When moving from
position A, handle
will stop at position
B. Release and push
the red button again to
rotate the handle from
position “B” to position
“C” or “D”.

MAKE SURE handle
locks into position “A”
before lifting the carrier.

2.

Handle Has 4

Positions

Rotate handle to any of
the 4 locked positions.
Push and pull the
handle to make sure
handle is in a locked
position.

Carry handle MUST be
upright in position A
when carrying.

Handle can be in any
locked position when
used in the vehicle.

2 Features

20

2-E

Recline the Base

When Reading The
Level Indicator

Vehicle MUST be on level
ground.

Use corrected age for
preemies.

- If the bubble is entirely
under the light blue line, the
restraint is level for infants
0+ months in age.

- If the bubble is entirely
under the dark blue line,
the restraint is level for a
child 3+months in age.

- If the bubble is not
completely under the blue
lines, the child restraint is
NOT level. You must adjust
your recline position.

Base Has 4

Recline Positions

Squeeze on the base
recline lever and lift
the base to extend
the foot.

Squeeze on the base
recline lever and
lower the base to
retract the foot.

Check the level
indicator for
appropriate install.
(See below)

If the level indicator
bubble is still not
completely under the
blue lines for your
infant’s age, when
the foot is completely
extended then raise
the foot and place
a rolled towel under
the foot until the
bubble is under the
appropriate blue
lines.

2 Features

21

3+ months (meses)

0+ months (meses)

When Reading The
Level Indicator

Vehicle MUST be on level
ground.

Use corrected age for
preemies.

- If the bubble is entirely
under the light blue line, the
restraint is level for infants
0+ months in age.

- If the bubble is entirely
under the dark blue line,
the restraint is level for a
child 3+months in age.

- If the bubble is not
completely under the blue
lines, the child restraint is
NOT level. You must adjust
your recline position.

2 Features

22

According to accident statistics, the
safest place for your child in any
vehicle is the back seat. The center
of the back seat can be the safest
during a possible side impact.

Review your vehicle owner’s manual for seating
locations. Review section 6 for additional information.

Some vehicles have specific requirements for where the
car seat can be installed. Be sure to check your vehicle
owner’s manual for all available seating positions.

2-F

Choosing Vehicle Seat

Location

NEVER place this child restraint rear­facing in a vehicle seating location that
has an active front air bag.

In the event there is no back seat, review your vehicle
owner’s manual to see how to use your infant child restraint.

2 Features

23

2-H

What is LATCH?

LATCH consists of lower anchors, which are built-in to
your vehicle, and connecting hooks that are built-in to
your car seat. Lower anchors are used INSTEAD of the
vehicle’s seat belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle.

Review your vehicle’s owner manual for exact location
and use. Review section 6 for additional information.

Vehicle Lower
Anchor Points

Typical seat in a passenger

vehicle. Other vehicle types may

have different LATCH locations.

Vehicle Seat Crease

2-G Choosing LATCH or Seat Belts

This car seat can be installed in your vehicle using either the
vehicle seat belt OR the LATCH system. Both systems are equally
safe to use. DO NOT USE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. Review
section 6 for additional information.

3 Rear

Facing

24

3-A Rear-Facing Checklist

LATCH Strap

Vehicle Lap/Shoulder
Seat Belt

Rear-Facing:
4-35 lb (1.8-16 kg)
32” (81 cm) or less*

• Car seat MUST be rear­facing in the vehicle back
seat.

• Make sure LATCH strap or
vehicle seat belt is routed
through the rear-facing
belt path, marked with a
blue label.

• Install this car seat tightly
in your vehicle. Car seat
should not move at the
belt path more than 1”
(2.5 cm) from side to
side and front to back.

• Make sure to check the
level indicator or level line
for proper recline.

• Harness straps must be
at or just below the top
of child’s shoulders and
chest clip must be at
armpit level.