Safety 1st elite 80 air + User Manual

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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 Registration and Safety Notices
A-2 Understanding Your Child Restraint

1

C. Basic Use .............................................Pages 11-32

C-1 Choosing 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 Reclining Child Restraint
C-6 Storing Harness Straps for Booster Use
C-7 Removing Seat Pad for Cleaning
C-8 Replacing Seat Pad and Harness System
C-9 Accesories

D. General Vehicle Installation ......... Pages 33-44

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

E. Installing Rear-Facing ....................... Pages 45-55

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 45-55

F. Installing Forward-Facing Pages 56-66

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

2

G. Belt-Positioning Booster Pages 67-71

G-1 Preparing to Install Belt-Positioning Booster

G-2 Preparing to Install LATCH Forward-Facing

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

3

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

A-1 Thank You...

4

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

A-3 Understanding Your Child Restraint

A.

F.

E.

H.

B.

G.

5

A. Adjustable Headrest

B. Headrest Adjustment

Lever
(on back of headrest)

C. Shoulder Belt

Positioning Guide

D. Upper Harness Slots

E. Body Pillow

(on select models)

F. Cup Holders

G. Harness Release

Lever (under flap)

H. Harness

Tightening Strap

Front View

C.

F.

D.

PUSH

I.

K.

M.

N.

J.

L.

Harness System Detail

O.

I. Chest Clip

J. Harness Straps

K. Buckle Tongue

L. Buckle

M. Lower Harness Slots

N. Buckle Strap

O. Buckle Strap Slots

continued on next page.

6

A. Before You Begin

Side View

Back View

B.

C.

H.

E.

D.

A.

G.

A. Top Anchorage

Strap (Tether)

B. Harness Straps

C. Splitter Plate

D. Recline Handle

E. LATCH Connector

F. LATCH Adjuster

G. LATCH Storage

H. Top Anchorage

Hook (Tether) Storage

E.

7

I.

Side View

L.

M.

J.

K.

I. Forward-Facing

Belt Path

J. Rear-Facing Belt

Path

K. Level to Ground Line

(on side of plastic shell)

L. Recline Base

M. Instruction Storage

(between headrest pad and
headrest)

G.

8

A. Before You Begin

E.

F.

B-3 Child Restraint Use

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.

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.

9

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.

On the bottom of the base there is an
expiration date for use of this child restraint.
Do not use this child restraint after the
expiration date.

10

B. Safety Information

C-2 Preparing Child Restraint to Fit
Your Child

C-1 Choosing 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 19-43 in. (48-110 cm)

Rear-Facing using
5-point harness

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

22-80 lbs (10.1-36.2 kg)
and 29-52 in.
(73.6-132.1 cm) and
Over 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.

11

40-100 lbs (18.1-45.4 kg)
and 43-57 in.
(110.1-144.8 cm) and
At Least 4 Years Old

Belt-Positioning Booster
using vehicle’s lap/
shoulder belt combination

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

PUSH

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 child restraint)
while pulling out on the
harness straps just above
the buckle.

Make these adjustments with your child in the child
restraint before you install in the vehicle.

Unbuckle Harness

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

1.

2.

3.

12

continued on next page.

C. Basic Use

13

Place Child in Child
Restraint

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

4.

Check Buckle
Position

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

5.

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

1

2

3

To Change Buckle
Position

Fully recline the child
restraint and locate the
buckle’s metal retainer.

a.

14

continued on next page.

C. Basic Use

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

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

b.

c.

With the red button facing
away from the seat, insert
the buckle’s metal retainer
through the desired slot.

d.

Reach under seat and pull
buckle’s metal retainer

completely through pad
and shell.

e.

15

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

buckle must not pull out.

f.

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

Check Harness/Headrest
Height

With child in the child
restraint, check the location
of the harness slot.

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

6.

Rear-Facing Position

Harness slot must be even
with or just below the

shoulders.

If the harness slot is above
the child’s shoulders with
the headrest in the lowest
position, do not use this
child restraint.

16

continued on next page.

C. Basic Use

Forward-Facing Position

Harness slot must be even
with or just above the

shoulders.

If the harness slot is below
the child’s shoulders with
the headrest in the highest
position, do not use this
child restraint.

To Adjust Harness/
Headrest Height

Loosen harness straps.
Squeeze the headrest
adjustment lever and
move headrest up or
down to the proper height
and lock into place.

7.

C-3 Securing Child in Child Restraint

17

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.

C-3 Securing Child in Child Restraint

18

continued on next page.

C. Basic Use

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.

C-4 Removing Child From Child Restraint

19

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

5.

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.

6.

Position Chest Clip

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

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

4.

not press on the child’s flesh or push the child’s body into an
unnatural position.

C-4 Removing Child From Child Restraint

20

C. Basic Use

Loosen Harness

Press on harness release
lever while pulling on
harness straps above the
buckle to loosen.

1.

Release Chest Clip

Press on release button
and pull apart.

2.

Unbuckle

Press red button on buckle
to release the buckle
tongues. Move harness
away and remove child.

3.

C-6 Storing Harness Straps for Booster Use

C-5 Reclining Child Restraint

2

3

1

4

21

This child restraint has 4
recline positions:

Rear-facing -

For children 5-22 lbs (2.3­10 kg), recline so that the

bottom most recline level
to ground line is level to the
ground when installed.

For children 22-40 lbs (10.1­18 kg), rotate the restraint so

the recline angle is between
the 2 level to ground lines.
Review installation sections.

Forward-Facing - Use 4
upright position.

To Recline

From the back, pull out
on handle to correct angle
position.