Advocate™ CS User Guide AD RE NS E O I S EA CT ER PL TRU ND S E U ER IN R V O ST CO
Table of Contents Safety Information..................................................................................2 Warnings.................................................................................................. 2 Important Notes...................................................................................... 4 Certification.............................................................................................. 5 Registration.........................................................
WARNING! DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR: • Use only in a rear-facing position when using it with an infant weighing less than 20 lbs (9.1 kg) OR is less than 1 year of age. • Use only with children who weigh between 5 – 65 lbs (2.3 – 29.5 kg) and whose height is 49 in. (124.5 cm) or less. Use rear-facing for children who weigh between 5 – 35 lbs (2.3 – 15.9 kg). Use forwardfacing for children who weigh between 20 – 65 lbs (9.1 – 29.5 kg) AND are at least 1 year of age.
Safety Information Safety Information Important Notes Certification • Verify that the child seat is securely installed and the harness is properly adjusted around the child each time the child seat is used. • Adjust the harness to fit the clothes the child is wearing. Remove bulky coats and/or jackets before putting the child in child seat. • Cover the child seat when the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight. Parts of child seat could become hot enough to burn a child.
Safety Information Important Harness Adjustments According to the American Academy of Pediatrics: All infants should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 lbs (9.1 kg). That means that if your infant reaches 20 lbs (9.1 kg) before her first birthday, she should remain rear-facing at least until she turns 1 year old. It is best for children to ride rear-facing to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer.
Child Seat Features Child Seat Features 1 26 8 2 27 9 10 3 11 4 12 5 13 14 15 16 6 19 28 29 20 21 22 30 17 7 23 24 25 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 Cover Side Impact Cushion Harness Straps Chest Clip Infant Body Pillow LATCH Bar LATCH Adjuster Strap Head Restraint Harness Slots Comfort Pads Harness Holder HUGS™ (Harness Ultra Guard System) Chest Pads 13 Harness Buckle 14 Belly Pad 15 Harness Adjuster Release Lever (under cover) 16 Click & Safe™ Snug Harness Indicator (under cover) 17
Vehicle Compatibility Vehicle Compatibility 2. ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) with Locking Latch Plate Compatible Vehicle Seat Belts NOTE: The information in this section only applies to installation with vehicle safety belts. Vehicle seats and safety belts differ from vehicle to vehicle. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for specific information about your vehicle safety belts and their use with child seats. Lap-Shoulder (3-Point) Belt 1.
Vehicle Compatibility Vehicle Compatibility 4. ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) with a Sliding Latch Plate a Has a latch plate that freely slides along the vehicle belt webbing. c Tightens by feeding the belt webbing back into the retractor. b Has a retractor that locks only in an emergency situation such as sudden stop or crash. IMPORTANT: This belt type requires the use of the lock-offs built into the seat for rear- and forwardfacing installations. 6.
Vehicle Compatibility Vehicle Compatibility Incompatible Vehicle Belts Vehicle Buckle Positions WARNING! The following types of vehicle belts are NOT compatible with this child seat: 1 Vehicle belts with top or bottom anchor points on the vehicle door. 2 Motorized, automatic vehicle belts WARNING! The position of the vehicle belt buckle can adversely affect the stability of the child seat.
Installation: Rear-Facing Installation: Rear-Facing LATCH Installation • Figure A illustrates a rear-facing LATCH installation. • Verify that your vehicle is equipped with LATCH anchors. If LATCH anchors are not available, you must use the vehicle belt installation methods. 1 If stored, remove the LATCH connectors from the storage slots under the cover (pg 33), open rear-facing lock-offs, and pass them through their adjacent rear-facing belt slots to the outside of the child seat.
Installation: Rear-Facing Installation: Rear-Facing Lap-Shoulder Belt Installation 1 2 3 4 • Figure A illustrates a rear-facing, lap-shoulder belt installation. • When not in use, always store the LATCH connectors in the storage slots. See page 33. Recline the child seat then place it rear-facing on the vehicle seat. This child seat must be in the reclined position when installed rear-facing. See Recline Adjustment on page 33.
Installation: Rear-Facing Installation: Rear-Facing Lap-Belt Installation 1 2 3 4 • Figure A illustrates a rear-facing, lap-belt installation. • When not in use, always store the LATCH connectors in the storage slots. See page 33. Recline the child seat, then place it rear facing on the vehicle seat. This child seat must be in the reclined position when installed rear-facing. See Recline Adjustment on page 33.
Installation: Forward-Facing Installation: Forward-Facing TIP:You may need to turn the back of the child LATCH Installation • Figure A illustrates a forward-facing LATCH installation. • Verify that your vehicle is equipped with LATCH anchors. If LATCH anchors are not available, you must use vehicle belt installation methods. 6 • An audible click confirms attachment. • Ensure that the LATCH strap is not twisted.
Installation: Forward-Facing Installation: Forward-Facing Lap-Shoulder Belt Installation TIP:Turning the back of the child seat toward you can make routing the vehicle belt easier (Fig. E). 5 Verify that the vehicle belt is not twisted and is routed over the LATCH bars, then buckle (Fig. F). • Figure A illustrates a forward-facing lap-shoulder belt installation. • When not in use, always store the LATCH connectors in the storage slots. See page 33.
Installation: Forward-Facing Installation: Forward-Facing 4 Lap-Belt Installation • Figure A illustrates a forward-facing, lap-belt installation. • When not in use, always store the LATCH connectors in the storage slots. See page 33. WARNING! • This child seat must not be used forwardfacing for children less than one year of age OR who weigh less than 20 lbs (9.1 kg). • This child seat must be in full upright position when installed forward-facing for children who weigh more than 33 lbs (15.1 kg).
Installation: Aircraft Installation: Versa-Tether® This child seat is certified for aircraft use. Most airlines in the U.S. and Canada will allow the use of a child seat as long as it is labeled as an approved child seat for airline use and fits properly on the aircraft seat. Contact the airline about their policy prior to traveling. The FAA recommends that a child weighing up to 40 lbs (18.1 kg) use a certified, harnessed child seat while traveling on an aircraft.
Installation: Versa-Tether® Installation: Versa-Tether® Using the Versa-Tether 1 2 3 4 5 6 Consult your vehicle owner’s manual for designated tether anchorage locations. Locate the tether on the rear of the child seat and remove the tether from the pouch. Place the tether up and over the child seat back. Install the child seat using the LATCH system or the vehicle belts according to the instructions in this manual. Tilt the tether release tab then pull to fully extend the tether strap into a “V” shape.
Installation: Versa-Tether® Child Seat Functions Energy-Absorbing Tether Storing the LATCH Connectors The energy-absorbing Versa-Tether was designed to enhance the performance of the child seat tether. By introducing a staged release of the tether webbing, the forward movement of the child seat is delayed while reducing the amount of energy transferred to the child seat during a crash.
Child Seat Functions Child Seat Functions Chest Clip Harness Buckle Fastening the Chest Clip Fasten the chest clip by pushing the two halves together until a click is heard (Fig. A). Releasing the Chest Clip 1 Squeeze the middle tabs together (Fig. B). 2 Pull the two pieces apart. a Adjusting the Chest Clip 1 Slide the chest clip up or down on the harness so it is positioned at the middle of the child’s chest, level with the child’s armpits (Fig. C).
Securing Your Child Securing Your Child • Use the harness holders located on the straps and both sides of the cover to aid in holding the straps. Adjusting the Harness Height IMPORTANT: See Important Harness Adjustments on pages 6–7 for instructions on proper harness fit based on your child’s height and weight. 1 Loosen the harness by lifting the harness adjuster lever while pulling both harness straps forward as far as possible (Fig A).
Securing Your Child 8 Slowly pull the adjuster strap until the harness is snug around the child. The harness adjuster will click when the harness is snug. NOTE: The Click & Safe™ Snug Harness Indicator is an audible aide Pull the harness adjuster away to help determine when the harness from the child seat to tighten. is within range of appropriate Do not pull sideways. snugness. When tightening the harness, this audible click provides extra assurance that the harness is snug.
Care and Maintenance Care and Maintenance Cleaning the Cover Cleaning the Harness Adjuster • HAND WASH using cold water and mild soap. • LINE or LIE-FLAT DRY to prevent the cover from shrinking. • DO NOT bleach, machine wash, machine dry or iron. Periodically check the adjuster area to be sure it is clean and free of food, drink or other debris. If debris is present, it must be removed to prevent interference with the adjuster mechanism. • BRUSH AWAY LOOSE DEBRIS using a softbristled brush.
Warranty Care and Maintenance Cleaning the Harness Buckle If a child eats and drinks while in the child seat, the harness buckle may need to be periodically checked and cleaned of any food, drink or other debris. • REMOVE BUCKLE as described on page 41. • RINSE THOROUGHLY using warm water (Fig. A). • TEST THE HARNESS BUCKLE by fastening (Fig. B) and unfastening (Fig. C) until a click is heard after inserting each buckle tongue. If either click is not heard, repeat cleaning procedure.
Click & Safe™ Snug Harness Indicator The Click & Safe™ Snug Harness Indicator is an audible aide to help determine when the harness is within range of appropriate snugness. STEP 1: Checklist before tightening harness: Check for proper harness height, see pages 6 – 7. Remove slack from around child’s upper thighs. Remove slack between HUGS™ chest pads and buckle. STEP 2: Pull harness adjuster strap until an audible click confirms that the harness is snug.
