Car Seat/ Booster Seat OWNER'S MANUAL Model 8480 Even if using this car seat seems easy to figure out on your own, it is very important to read this manual. Your child’s safety depends on you installing and using this car seat correctly. READ THIS MANUAL! After following these instructions, return this manual to the storage pocket on the back of the car seat for quick reference.
Table of Contents 1. Warnings to Parents and Other Users ................. 4 2. Important Safety Information ........................ 5-10 2.1 About Your Child ........................................ 5 2.2 About Using this Car Seat in Your Vehicle ............................................ 8 2.3 When the Car Seat is Not Occupied ........... 9 2.4 Life and Condition of the Car Seat ............ 10 3. Features and Components ............................ 11-12 4.
6. Use of the Car Seat without the Built-in Harness ........................ 36-43 6.1 Removing the Built-in Harness ................. 38 6.2 Securing your Child and the Booster Seat with the Vehicle Lap/Shoulder Belt .......... 40 6.3 Using the Booster Seat in an Airplane ...... 43 7. Cleaning and Maintenance .......................... 43-46 8. Registering Your Car Seat ................................. 47 9. Replacement Parts .............................................
1. Warnings to Parents and Other Users DO NOT install or use this car seat until you read and understand the instructions in this manual and in your vehicle owner’s manual. DO NOT let others install or use the car seat unless they understand how to use it. Failure to properly use this car seat increases the risk of serious injury or death in a sharp turn, sudden stop or crash. Your child’s safety depends on you installing and using this car seat correctly. Your child’s safety depends on: 1.
2. Important Safety Information No car seat can guarantee protection from injury. However, proper use of this car seat reduces the risk of serious injury or death to your child. 2.1 About Your Child Instructions for the use of this car seat and your vehicle’s seat belt differ greatly depending on the size of your child. Be sure you are using the car seat in the correct mode and with the correct features for your child.
Your child should use the built-in harness if: child weighs from 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg), and is between 27 and 40 inches (69 and 102 cm) in height, and child is at least one year old and can sit upright unassisted, and child’s shoulders are below top harness slots. If shoulders are above top harness slots, child is too large for built-in harness. You must remove the harness and use the booster seat with your vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt system. If your child is between 30 and 40 lbs.
Your child should use the VEHICLE shoulder and lap belts BUT NOT the built-in harness if: child weighs from 30 to 80 lbs. (14 to 36 kg), and is between 35 and 54 inches (89 and 138 cm) in height, and child’s ears are below top of booster seat. If tops of ears are above top of seat, child is too large for booster seat. Without built-in harness 80 lbs.
2.2 About Using this Car Seat in Your Vehicle YOUR CHILD CAN BE INJURED in a vehicle even if you are not in a crash. Common events such as sudden braking and sharp turns can injure your child if the car seat is not properly installed or if your child is not properly secured in the car seat. THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF VEHICLES, seat belt systems and occupant protection systems.
THIS RESTRAINT is certified for use in Motor Vehicles. It is certified for use in Aircraft only when used with the built-in harness. When used as a booster without the harness, this restraint is not certified for use in aircraft. For aircraft use see section 5.5, “Using the Car Seat in an Airplane” on page 35. CONTINUOUS USE OF A CAR SEAT may cause damage to a vehicle seat. To protect vehicle upholstery, use a car seat mat, towel or thin blanket under the seat. 2.
DO NOT PLACE HEAVY OBJECTS ON CAR SEAT while in storage. Heavy objects may deform car seat over a period of time. 2.4 Life and Condition of the Car Seat REPLACE THE CAR SEAT AFTER AN ACCIDENT of any kind. An accident can cause damage to the car seat that you cannot see. EVEN IF THE CAR SEAT IS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, stop using it and throw it away after the date molded into the back of the car seat. Example: “Do not use this child restraint after December 2006.
3.
Locking clip storage* Junction plate storage Owner’s manual storage compartment ——— Expiration date Tether strap** Metal junction plate Tether clip *The locking clip is stored on the back of the car seat. You will need to use it with certain types of vehicle seat belts. **Some vehicles are now (or can be) equipped with tether anchor points behind some vehicle seats. A tether anchors the top of the car seat to the body of the vehicle.
4. Selecting a Suitable Location for the Car Seat Following are some basic recommendations for both use modes of the car seat. See section 5, “Use of the Car Seat with the Built-in Harness” (page 15) for more information about a safe location for the car seat in that mode. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in rear vehicle seating positions, rather than front seating positions.
Be Sure Your Vehicle Seat Meets These Requirements THE VEHICLE SEAT MUST FACE FORWARD. DO NOT place car seat in a rear-facing vehicle seat or a side-facing vehicle seat . DO NOT use this car seat in any vehicle seat in which the front of the car seat hangs over the edge of the vehicle seat .
5. Use of the Car Seat with the Built-in Harness Use of this car seat with the built-in harness is meant for a child: who weighs from 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg) and is between 27 and 40 inches (69 and 102 cm) in height, and who is at least one year old and can sit upright unassisted, and whose shoulders are below top harness slots. If shoulders are above top harness slots, child is too large for built-in harness.
To properly adjust the harness to your child: 1. Loosen the harness straps by fully pushing in the red adjustment button on the front of the seat and pulling the straps out at the shoulders as shown . 2. Unthread one strap from the harness clip . 3. Push the red release button on the buckle of the crotch strap . Unbuckle both harness straps. Move the straps apart to make room for your child. 4. Place your child in the seat with his bottom flat against the seat back. 5.
6. To adjust the position of the harness straps, remove your child from the car seat in order to make the adjustment. Look behind the car seat to locate the ends of the straps as they loop around the metal junction plate. Remove the ends of the two shoulder straps from the junction plate . 7. From the front of the car seat, pull the strap ends through the slots and reinsert them through the appropriate slots as determined in step 5 above. 8.
9. Inspect the harness straps from the front and back of the car seat to be sure the straps are inserted at the same level and that they are not twisted. Twisted belts can create slack in the harness straps and reduce the protection provided by the car seat. 10. Pull on the harness straps from the front of the car seat to be sure the straps are secure. 11. Check the crotch strap. There are two possible positions for it. Choose the position that is closest to but not under your child.
5.2 Selecting a Suitable Location for the Car Seat Some seating positions in your vehicle may not be safe locations for this car seat when used with the built-in harness. In fact, some vehicles do not have any seating positions that can be used safely with the car seat. Improper placement of the car seat increases the risk of serious injury or death. Follow the instructions in this section and in your vehicle owner’s manual to select a location for the car seat.
Be Sure Your Vehicle Seat Belt Meets These Requirements The vehicle seat belt must be designed to hold the car seat tightly at ALL times. There are a variety of seat belt systems that are NOT safe for use with the car seat because they will not hold the car seat tightly at all times. We will first describe the seat belts that are NOT safe for use and then we will describe those that ARE safe for use.
DO NOT use a lap belt that stays loose and can move until it locks in a crash or sudden stop . This belt has an Emergency Locking Retractor, E.L.R. It is often seen in combination with a motorized shoulder belt. Since these lap belts will loosen if pulled on slowly, the car seat may shift to an unsafe position. This vehicle belt will NOT safely restrain the car seat. However, you may be able to convert your E.L.R. belt to one that is safe to use.
DO NOT use vehicle belts that are attached to the door in any way or that move along a track to automatically surround the passenger when the door is closed . These vehicle belts will NOT safely restrain the car seat. DO NOT use a vehicle belt that is anchored forward of the seat crease . This vehicle belt will NOT safely restrain the car seat. If you have one of the above vehicle belt systems, DO NOT use it to secure the car seat.
B. Vehicle Belt Systems that are Suitable for Use with the Car Seat The following vehicle belt systems can be used with your car seat, IF the seat location meets all other requirements of these instructions AND THOSE IN YOUR VEHICLE OWNER’S MANUAL. Lap belt that is manually adjusted and stays tight . This type of vehicle belt is tightened by pulling on the excess belt once it is buckled. This type of vehicle belt is most often found in the rear center seating position.
harness, you must use a vehicle seat with a lap/shoulder belt. Lap/shoulder combination belt with a locking latchplate . Once it is buckled, this type of belt has a latchplate that will not allow the lap portion of the belt to loosen. This vehicle belt does not require a locking clip. Lap/shoulder combination belt with a latchplate that can slide freely along the belt . This type of belt MUST be converted to prevent movement of the lap portion of the belt.
5.3 Positioning and Securing the Car Seat in Your Vehicle Installation of your car seat varies depending on the type of seat belt system you have in your vehicle. Carefully review the following pages to determine the proper installation requirements. There are many kinds of vehicles, seat belts, and occupant protection systems. As a result, it is not possible for this manual to tell you everything you need to know about putting this car seat in your vehicle.
2. If a front passenger seat is used, slide the vehicle seat rearward as far as possible from the dashboard. If a rear seat is used, make sure the seat in front of it is moved forward enough and is upright enough to allow room for the car seat. 3. Be sure that the vehicle seat back is locked in position. 4. Place the car seat firmly against the back of a forward-facing vehicle seat. If you are using the tether, lay it over the back of the vehicle seat so it won’t get hidden behind the back of the car seat.
6. Buckle the vehicle belt. Make sure the buckle tongue goes into the correct buckle, and not the adjacent one . The vehicle belt should not be twisted or turned. 7. Now the vehicle seat belt must be tightened. Push down hard with your knee or free hand in the middle of the car seat . Then pull and tighten the vehicle belt. If you have a lap-only belt, go to step 8. If you have a lap/ shoulder combination belt, go to step 9. 8.
A manually adjusted lap belt is tightened by pulling on the excess belt while pushing down hard on the car seat. However, you may have trouble tightening the belt because of the upright angle at which you must pull. You may have to unbuckle the vehicle belt, estimate a belt length that will make the vehicle belt very tight, then buckle it again. 9.
A lap/shoulder combination belt with a latchplate that can slide freely along the belt requires the locking clip, unless your vehicle’s seat belt can be converted in another way that is described in your vehicle owner’s manual. See your vehicle owner’s manual to find out if your vehicle belt can be converted to prevent movement of the lap portion of the belt. Otherwise, the locking clip MUST be used. 10. To install the locking clip: a.
e. Re-buckle the belt and pull hard on the lap belt to be sure it does not move. f. Repeat this procedure if the lap belt is loose or lengthens when pulled. Remove locking clip from vehicle seat belt when not being used with a car seat. The belt will not properly restrain an adult or child and serious injury could occur. Store locking clip under its tab on the back of the car seat. Do not use locking clip as a vehicle belt shortener.
11. To secure the tether: a. Make sure tether is securely attached to the car seat. b. Fasten the tether clip to the anchor point . Styles and locations of the anchor points vary. Consult your vehicle owner’s manual about how to use an anchor point in your vehicle. c. Tighten the tether strap securely. To tighten, pull on free end of strap . You may need to retighten the vehicle belts after tether installation. d. To loosen, lift up on the metal tongue of the buckle .
Safety Check 12. Make sure that the car seat is properly secured by the vehicle seat belt system by performing the following test EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE WITH YOUR CHILD: Holding the car seat near the vehicle belt path, Twist and pull the car seat firmly forward and to both sides to make sure the vehicle seat belt does not lengthen or loosen and the car seat does not easily move .
5.4 Securing Your Child in the Car Seat with the Built-in Harness Failure to properly secure your child in the car seat increases the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a sharp turn, sudden stop or crash. In a crash, the car seat provides NO protection for your child unless the harness straps are properly secured. Follow these instructions carefully to properly secure your child. Adjust the harness system snugly every time you place your child in the car seat.
3. Place your child in the car seat so that the child’s bottom rests against the back of the car seat. 4. Pull the harness straps around your child (push the red adjustment button and pull on the shoulder straps to lengthen them if needed) and snap each buckle tongue into the buckle of the crotch strap . Make sure that you hear a “click” and check that the harness is securely latched by pulling the straps away from the buckle.
6. Rethread the shoulder harness strap through the harness clip . 7. Position the harness clip at the middle of the child’s chest, level with the armpits and away from the child’s neck. Final Safety Check 8. Check that harness straps are tight and not twisted. Check that the harness clip and all buckles are securely fastened. Recheck that the seat is tightly held by the vehicle belt. 5.
For the safety of your child, use the car seat in forward-facing aircraft seats only. Follow the flight attendant’s instructions about car seat placement. Install your car seat on an airplane the same way it is installed in an automobile. Always be sure that the airplane seat belt is adjusted so that it tightly holds the car seat in place at all times. 6.
Failure to properly secure your child and the booster seat in your vehicle increases the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a sharp turn, sudden stop or crash. The vehicle restraint straps must be properly positioned to fit your child according to the following instructions and those in your vehicle owner’s manual. In a crash, the booster seat provides NO protection for your child unless the vehicle lap and shoulder belts are properly secured.
DO NOT use shoulder belt loose or positioned under arm. Lap portion of lap/shoulder belt MUST be low and snug on hips, just touching thighs. DO NOT allow child to slide down in booster seat. This could position vehicle lap belt across child’s abdomen and vehicle shoulder belt over neck or face. If child will not keep vehicle restraint properly positioned, DO NOT use this booster seat. Use a different child restraint system. 6.
1. Behind the seat, remove the ends of the two shoulder straps from the metal junction plate (see figure 4, page 17). 2. In front of the seat, pull the strap ends through the slots. Do not remove the buckles or harness clip from the straps. 3. Underneath the seat, pull the straps down through the holes in the cover and the seat, guiding the buckles and harness clip as needed . 4. To remove the crotch strap, reach under the seat and push the metal retainer up through the slot sideways.
plate) on the rear of the seat . 7. Store the harness in a cool dry place until it is needed again. Then reinstall by reversing these instructions. See the illustration on page 46 to check the correct path for the harness. 6.2 Securing Your Child and the Booster Seat with the Vehicle Lap/Shoulder Belt 1. Use of the tether is not required when using the seat in this mode; however, it may keep the seat more stable. See section 5.3, step 11, “To secure the tether” (page 31) for instructions on tether use.
4. Have your child sit in the seat so that the child’s bottom rests against the back of the car seat. 5. Place vehicle lap belt across child’s thighs and through the cutouts in the sides of the booster seat. Place shoulder belt in front of the child. Fasten the buckle and pull up on the shoulder belt to tighten . Make sure buckle tongue goes into the correct buckle, and not the adjacent one . Seat belt should not be twisted or turned. 6.
7. Adjust positioner as high as possible without shoulder belt touching child’s neck. To adjust, unhook bottom of positioner, slide up or down to desired height and thread bottom hook into closest loop below . 8. Check to be sure shoulder belt is properly positioned over shoulder and snug against child. Final Safety Checks 9.
6.3 Using the Booster Seat in an Airplane This Restraint is not certified for Aircraft use. Aircraft seat restraints are not equipped with shoulder straps, so it would be impossible to properly secure a larger child in the booster seat on an airplane. 7. Cleaning and Maintenance BLOT THE SEAT COVER with a damp sponge using a mild soap solution and cool water. If necessary, the cover may be removed and machine washed.
you cannot get the harness to remain tight with the buckle securely locked, do not use this car seat. Call Graco at 1-888-224-6549 to purchase a replacement harness. TO REMOVE THE SEAT COVER FOR CLEANING: 1. Remove the ends of the two shoulder straps from the metal junction plate behind the seat. 2. From the front of the seat, pull the strap ends through the slots . Do not remove the buckles and harness clip from the straps. 3.
5. Under the front of the seat push in the tab to remove the adjustment button plate . 6. Turn adjustment plate sideways and work it through the hole in the seat cover . It will be a tight fit so be careful not to tear the seat cover. 7. Lift cover off seat, pushing harness straps, crotch strap and hardware through slots in cover. DO NOT USE car seat without the seat cover. 8. Machine wash cover in cold water on delicate cycle and drip-dry. DO NOT USE BLEACH. 9.
Push the fabric up so that the tab under the adjustment plate is under the cloth . Snap the adjustment plate back on the seat . Make sure that the adjustment plate is attached securely to the seat and that the strap moves freely when the button is pushed. Thread the harness straps through the appropriate holes in the seat cover. See the illustration at right and section 5.1, “Positioning the Harness Straps” (page 15) to properly secure the harness straps back on the seat . 11.
8. Registering Your Car Seat Model No. Serial No. Purchase Date Dear Customer, Please fill in the above information. The model and serial numbers can be found on a label underneath your car seat. Fill out the prepaid registration postcard attached to the seat cover and mail it today. Child restraints could be recalled for safety reasons. You must register this restraint to be reached in a recall. Send your name, address and model/serial numbers to: Graco Children’s Products Inc. P.O.
9. Replacement Parts Instructions for ordering car seat parts: Complete the form that follows. Your car seat model and serial numbers MUST be included on the form to ensure proper replacement parts. Your model number can be found on a sticker on the underside of your car seat. Payment must accompany your order. Price:* Parts List: Locking clip ........................... $ 5.00 Harness with buckles and harness clip ........................ $ 15.00 Seat cover .............................. $ 35.
Model No. Serial No. (Both numbers required) Locking clip Harness with buckles and harness clip Seat cover Crotch strap w/buckle Tether strap Subtotal: Shipping & handling*: $5.00 Sales tax**: Total: * $15.00 outside the continental U.S. **CA 6%, IL 6.25%, IN 5%, NY 8.25%, OH 5.75%, PA 6%, SC 5% Check or money order enclosed (payable to Graco Children’s Products Inc.
Keep this manual in the storage compartment on the back of the car seat. Graco Children’s Products Inc.