Safety 1st Alpha Elite 65 User Manual

2014 Cosco Management Inc. All Rights Reserved.

4358-6549

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E-1 Preparing to Install Rear-Facing
E-2 Preparing to Install LATCH Rear-Facing

E-3 Install Rear-Facing with LATCH
E-4 Install Rear-Facing with Vehicle Belts

E. Installing Rear-Facing .......................Pages 38-46

F. Installing Forward-Facing Pages 47-54

F-1 Preparing to Install Forward-Facing
F-2 Adjusting Top Anchorage Strap (Tether)

F-3 Preparing to Install LATCH Forward-Facing
F-4 Install Forward-Facing With LATCH

F-5 Install Forward-Facing with Vehicle Belts

G. Installing Belt-Positioning Booster Pages 55-58

G-1 Preparing to Install Belt-Positioning Booster
G-2 Installing Using the Lap and Shoulder Belts

2

B. Safety Information ...........................Pages 9-10

B-1 Vehicle Seating Position
B-2 Installation in Vehicle
B-3 Child Restraint Use

A. Before You Begin .................................Pages 3-8

A-1 Thank You...
A-2 Registration and Safety Notices
A-3 Understanding Your Child Restraint

C. Basic Use .............................................Pages 11-28

D. General Vehicle Installation .....Pages 29-37

D-1 Understanding Your Vehicle
D-2 Vehicle Seating Position
D-3 Choosing LATCH or Vehicle Belts
D-4 Knowing Your Vehicle Belts
D-5 Using Locking Clip
D-6 Installing on Aircraft

1

C-1 Choose Position for Your Child
C-2 Preparing Child Restraint to Fit Your Child
C-3 Securing Child in Child Restraint
C-4 Removing Child From Child Restraint
C-5 Accessories
C-6 Reclining Child Restraint
C-7 Removing Harness System
C-8 Installing Harness System
C-9 Removing Seat Pad for Cleaning

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Thank you for choosing this car seat, referred to throughout
this manual as a child restraint. The DJG family is committed
to creating a child restraint with the most comfort and
convenience available today.

Remember, parents are a child’s first teachers and examples.
If you always buckle your seat belt, your child will think it is
the natural thing to do. Make it a firm rule that the vehicle
does not go until everyone is buckled up. Make no exceptions.

No one can predict if use of a child restraint will prevent
injury or death in a particular crash. However, combined with
careful driving, proper use of a child restraint can lower a
child’s risk of injury or death in most crashes.

Your child’s safety is worth the time it will take to read and
follow these instructions. After reading, if you still have
questions or have any problems with this child restraint,
please contact our Consumer Relations Department at:

Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.

Website: www.djgusa.com
Fax: [phone]
Mailing Address: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 2609

Columbus, IN 47202-2609
Telephone: [phone]
8 A.M. to 6 P.M. EST M-TH

8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. EST FRI

On the back of the shell there is an expiration date for use
of this child restraint. Do not use this seat after the
expiration date.

Para recibir las instrucciones en español, llame al
1-800-544-1108 o solicitarse por escrito al dirección por arriba.

A-1 Thank You...

A. Before You Begin

4

3

Please complete the postage-paid registration card that
came with your child restraint, and send it to us. Child
restraints could be recalled for safety reasons. You must
register this restraint to be reached in a recall. Send
your name, address, email address if available, and the
restraint’s model number and manufacturing date to:

Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
PO Box 2609, Columbus, IN 47202-2609
Attn: Consumer Relations

or call 1-800-544-1108 or register online at www.djgusa.

com/registration/carseat/us.

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

If you don’t have the card or if your
address changes, you will find the
model number and manufactured date
on the label located on side of plastic
shell.

A-2 Registration and Safety Notices

Model
Number

Manufacture

Date

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PUSH

5

A. Headrest/Harness

Height Adjustment
Levers

B. Adjustable

Headrest

C. Infant Insert

(on select models)

D. Lumbar Support

(on select models)

E. Cup Holder

(on select models)

F. Harness Release

Lever (under flap)

G. Harness

Tightening Strap

H. Recline Lever

A-3 Understanding Your Child Restraint

continued on next page.

6

A.

C.

I. Chest Clip
J. Harness Straps
K. Buckle Tongue
L. Buckle
M. Harness Guides
N. Buckle Strap
O. Buckle Strap Slots

G.

H.

I.

J.

N.

M.

K.
L.

E.

Front View

Harness System Detail

A. Before You Begin

O.

B.

D.

F.

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Back View

A. Top Anchorage

(Tether) Strap

B. Splitter Plate
C. Instructions

(in bottom of base)

D. Top Anchorage

(Tether) Hook Storage

E. Non Removable Base

A.

F. Shoulder Belt

Positioning Guide
& Rear Facing Level
To Ground Line

G. Rotating Armrests
H. Forward-Facing

Belt

Path

I. Rear-Facing Belt

Path

J. LATCH Belt

K. LATCH Storage

L. Rear-Facing Level

to Ground Lines

B.

C.

I.

F.

H.

J.

G.

Side View

7

8

A. Before You Begin

E.

E.

K.

D.

L.

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9

10

B-3 Child Restraint Use

Never take your child out of the child

restraint while the vehicle is moving. Never

leave child unattended.

Placing your child in a hot child restraint may

result in burns.

Do not use a child restraint with damaged or

missing parts.

Do not use cut, frayed or damaged

harnesses.

Do not lubricate buckles and fasteners.
Do not substitute parts or try to modify the

child restraint in any way.

Do not use any car seat accessory except

those approved by Dorel Juvenile Group.

Never allow any child to play with this child

restraint; it is not a toy.

Do not remove or cover up any of the

warning labels or other labels on the child

restraint.

Read all instructions for additional warnings.

B-1 Vehicle Seating Position

Never place a child rear-facing in a
seating position with an active frontal

airbag.

Check the vehicle owner’s manual for more
information about air bag/child restraint use.

For vehicles without a back seat, refer to your
vehicle owner’s manual.

B. Safety Information

Failure to follow these warnings can result in the
serious injury or death of your child. To help you
recognize instructions which are most critical to
your child’s safety, we use this symbol:

B-2 Installation in Vehicle

Check the vehicle belt or LATCH belt before
each use. Use only if the belt is tightened

properly and securely.

This child restraint should be securely belted

in the vehicle even when not in use. In a
crash or sudden stop, an unsecured child
restraint could injure occupants.

Do not use a child restraint that has been in a

crash. You must get a new child restraint.

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C-1 Choose Position for Your Child

Your child’s height, weight and age determine how your child
restraint should be placed in the vehicle.

5-40 lbs (2.3-18 kg)
and 19-40 in. (48-101.6 cm)

Rear-Facing using
5-point harness

Child and child restraint are
placed in the back seat,
facing the back of the vehicle.

40-100 lbs (18.1-45.4 kg)
and 43-52 in.
(110.1-1

32.1

cm) and Over

1 Year Old
Belt-positioning booster

using vehicle lap/shoulder
belt combination

Child and child restraint are
placed in the back seat,
facing the front of the vehicle.
5-point harness is removed.

22-65 lbs (10.1-29 kg)
and 29-49 in.
(73.6-125 cm) and
at least 1 Year Old

Forward-Facing using
5-point harness

Child and child restraint are
placed in the back seat,
facing the front of the vehicle.

C-2 Preparing Child Restraint to Fit
Your Child

Release Chest Clip

Press on chest clip release
button and pull apart.

Loosen Harness

Push down on the harness
release lever (under flap on
the front of restraint) while
pulling out on the harness.

You MUST make these adjustments with your child
before you install the child restraint in the vehicle.

Unbuckle Harness

Press red button. Pull
buckle tongues out. Place
harness straps out of
the way.

continued on next page.

1.

2.

3.

C. Basic Use

11

12

Place Child in Restraint

Place the child’s bottom
and back flat against
the restraint. This will
increase comfort and allow
the harness straps to be
properly tightened.

4.

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C. Basic Use

Check Buckle
Position

Determine which of the
available buckle positions
will be comfortable and
provide a snug fit for
your child.

5.

13

14

Locate buckle’s metal
retainer under the shell.

Rotate metal retainer, then
insert retainer up through
the shell and pad.

From the top, pull buckle
free from shell and pad.

Reposition buckle location.
Insert the buckle’s metal
retainer through the
desired slot. Make sure
buckle is facing forward.

Reach under seat between
base and shell. Pull
buckle’s metal retainer

completely through pad
and shell.

Pull up on buckle to make
sure it is secured. The

buckle must not pull out.

Failure to place buckle’s metal retainer
completely through pad and shell can result
in serious injury or death.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

continued on next page.

To Change Buckle
Position

Fully recline the child
restraint. Reach under the
seat between base and shell.

a.

You MUST use the 1st or 2nd buckle strap slots when
rear-facing. Any slot can be used for forward-facing.

1
2

3

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To Adjust Harness/
Headrest Height

Loosen harness straps.
Rotate headrest/harness
height adjustment levers
inward. Move headrest
to the proper height and
lock into place

7.

Make sure metal bar

is locked into position.

Failure to do this can
result in serious injury
or death.

Check Harness/Headrest
Height

With child in the seat, check
the location of the harness
guide.

Follow the guidelines below
to determine the correct
harness/headrest height.

6.

Rear-Facing Position

Harness guide must be even
with or just below the

shoulders.
If the harness is above

the child’s shoulders with
the headrest in the lowest
position, do not use this
child restraint.

Forward-Facing Position

Harness guide must be even
with or just above the

shoulders.
If the harness guide is below

the child’s shoulders with the
headrest in the highest position
and the child weighs at least
40 lbs. (18.1 kg) and is over
1 year old, you must convert
the seat to a belt-positioning
booster.

Do not use this child restraint rear­facing if the top of your child’s
head is above the top of the child
restraint’s headrest.

Do not use this child restraint
forward-facing if the midpoint of
your child’s head is above the top of
the child restraint’s headrest.

Make sure the harness height is correct for
your child’s size.

Failure to follow these steps can result in
serious injury or death.

15

16

C. Basic Use

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C. Basic Use

C-3 Securing Child in Child Restraint

Position Harness
Straps Over the
Child’s Shoulders.

1.

Buckle Harness

Push each buckle tongue
into buckle until you hear
a “click”. Remember to
always pull up on harness
straps to make sure buckle
is locked.

2.

Close Chest Clip

Insert right half of chest
clip into left half and
snap together.

3.

Tighten Harness

Pull on harness
tightening strap to tighten
harness snugly.

NOTE: A snug strap

should not allow any
slack. It lies in a relatively
straight line without
sagging. It does not press
on the child’s flesh or
push the child’s body into
an unnatural position.

4.

Position Chest Clip

The chest clip must be
placed at mid-chest (even
with armpits) and away
from the child’s neck.

For small infants, you
may have to remove the
harness covers.

6.

Failure to fasten and tighten the harness
system correctly and snugly can result in
serious injury or death.

17

18

Check Harness
Tightness

Try to pinch the harness
at the shoulders. If you
can pinch the harness
strap, tighten more. If your
fingers slip off, the harness
is tight enough.

5.

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