Baby Trend FLEX-LOC User manual

FLEX-LOC
INFANT CAR SEAT
Convenience through innovation and thoughtful design
www.babytrend.com
KEEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE USE.
Carefully read and understand all instructions and warnings in this
manual. Failure to properly use this infant car seat increases the
risk of serious injury or death in a sudden stop or crash.
Store this manual in the pocket provided on the bottom of the seat.
OWNER’S MANUAL
Child Weight: 5 to 30 lbs (2.2 to 13.6 kg)
Child Height: 30” or less (76.2 cm)
Fixed Back Adjustable Back
E30FL0809U
CS0190A0809

TABLE OF CONTENTS
WARNINGS TO ALERT YOU TO POSSIBLE DANGERS ............................... 4
HOW TO REGISTER YOUR SAFETY SEAT ................................................... 5
SAFETY INFORMATION .................................................................................. 6
3.1 About your child .................................................................................. 6
3.2 About your vehicle................................................................................ 6
3.3 About Active Air Bags........................................................................... 8
3.4 About an unoccupied Safety Seat........................................................ 8
3.5 About this Safety Seat.......................................................................... 9
3.6 About use as a carrier.......................................................................... 9
SELECTING THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE SAFETY SEAT ................... 12
4.1 Overall Considerations in Selecting a Location ................................. 12
4.2 Check that the Vehicle Seat Meets the Following Requirements ...... 13
4.3 Check that the Vehicle Seat Belt is Safe to Use ................................ 14
SAFETY SEAT FEATURES AND THEIR PROPER USE ............................... 20
5.1 5-Point Harness ................................................................................. 20
5.2 Rear view of Adjustable Back Model.................................................. 21
5.3 Rear View of Fixed Back Model......................................................... 22
5.4 Base................................................................................................... 23
5.5 Use of the Safety Seat with the Base ................................................ 25
5.6 Other Features................................................................................... 25
5.7 Operation of the Carry Handle........................................................... 27
5.8 Attaching the Canopy......................................................................... 28
5.9 Adjustment of the Shoulder Straps .................................................... 28
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USING INFANT RESTRAINT.......................................................................... 34
6.1 Securing your Child in the Safety Seat / Carrier ................................ 34
6.2 For the 5-Point Harness..................................................................... 36
SECURING THE SAFETY SEAT OR BASE IN THE VEHICLE ..................... 37
7.1 Preparation ........................................................................................ 38
7.2 Installation of the Safety Seat / Vehicle Belt Installation of Base:...... 39
7.3 Installation of the Base using LATCH ................................................ 43
7.4 Setting Proper Recline of the Safety Seat / Base .............................. 46
FINAL SAFETY CHECKS............................................................................... 49
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ........................................................................ 50
9.1 Using the Safety Seat in an Airplane ................................................. 50
9.2 Using your Baby Trend Safety Seat with a Baby Trend Stroller......... 50
9.3 Cleaning and Maintenance ................................................................ 50
9.4 Replacement Parts ............................................................................ 52
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This product is protected by one or more of the following US patents:
6,834,915 6,811,216 6,913,313 6,916,066 7,040,694 7,004,541 6,979,057

1.0 WARNING
WARNINGS TO ALERT YOU TO
POSSIBLE DANGERS
The ultimate safety of your child depends on the proper
installation of the Safety Seat in your vehicle. Proper installation
requires that you read and understand this entire manual and
your vehicle’s owner’s manual before placing your child in the
Safety Seat. DO NOT allow others to install or use this safety
seat unless they completely understand it’s proper use and
installation.
Improper use of this Safety Seat can result in death or serious
injury from a crash, sharp turn or sudden stop.
Your child’s safety depends on:
1. Choosing the best location within your vehicle for the Safety
Seat. Seating positions with Active Air Bags must be avoided.
2. Adjust the harness shoulder strap locations to the appropriate
height for your child.
3. Adjust the harness length to be snug around your child.
4. This Safety Seat is only to be used in the rear-facing position.
5. Proper use and routing of the seat belts in your vehicle is
essential for proper installation. Not all vehicle seat belts will
adequately secure the Safety Seat.
6. Proper recline angle of the Safety Seat is required for maximum
protection of your child.
4

2.0 REGISTER
HOW TO REGISTER YOUR SAFETY
SEAT
Please complete the following information regarding this Safety
Seat:
Model Number : _________________
Manufactured in : _________________
Purchase Date : _________________
The model number can be found on a label on the side of the
Safety Seat. The manufactured date can be found on a label on
the bottom of the seat.
Please ll out the prepaid registration post card attached to the
safety harness and mail it today. In addition, we may nd a need
to update this instruction manual from time to time.
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 Baby Trend, Inc, 1607 S. Campus Avenue, Ontario,
CA 91761 or call 1-800-328-7363.
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 5

SAFETY INFORMATION
3.1 About your child
• This Safety Seat is designed and tested to accommodate
a child of a specic range of HEIGHT and WEIGHT. Using
the Safety Seat for a child whose weight or height is
outside of these limits will increase the risk of death or
serious injury in the event of a crash. Please see the
Warning label on the Safety Seat located on the child’s
right side for weight and height limits for your model. Also
noted on manual cover.
• Special needs children, such as pre-term babies, may suffer
difculties in using this Safety Seat. The angle of recline in this
Safety Seat may not be appropriate for Special Needs babies.
If your child has special needs or any breathing difculties,
please discuss vehicle Safety Seats with your pediatrician, or
other competent health care provider, to ensure the safety of
your child.
• Never leave your child unattended, even for a moment.
• Do Not Dress your child in bulky clothing or other garments that
will hinder the harness from being snug around your child and
properly latched between your child’s legs.
3.2 About your vehicle
• Proper installation of the Safety Seat in your vehicle and proper
securing of your child in the Safety Seat are essential to ensure
3.0 SAFETY
6

3.0 SAFETY
the safety of your child. Quick turns, sudden stops, or other
maneuvers in avoiding a crash, as well as a crash, can injure
your child if not properly secured in the seat or if the seat is not
properly installed in the vehicle.
• There are many different types of vehicles, seat belt systems,
or other occupant restraint systems in use today. Accordingly,
this manual can only give guidelines for proper installation in
your vehicle. In addition to this manual, you must also read
and understand the vehicle owner’s manual, which should
address use of child restraints. If your vehicle owner’s manual
does not address the installation of child restraints, please
contact your local vehicle dealer, or the vehicle’s manufacturer,
to obtain this information before using this Safety Seat.
• Some vehicles do not have any safe location for this Safety
Seat to be installed. In addition, many vehicles do not have
seat belt systems that will adequately hold this Safety
Seat in the required position. Please refer to both this manual
and your vehicle owner’s manual for complete information for
proper safe installation of this Safety Seat.
• Never combine this Safety Seat or Base with any other Safety
Seat or Base from any other manufacturer. If you are in need
of an additional Base, please contact your local dealer or Baby
Trend, Inc. to obtain one.
• This Safety Seat is certied for use in Motor Vehicles and
Aircraft and conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
7

3.3 About Active Air Bags
NEVER PLACE THIS SAFETY SEAT IN A VEHICLE SEATING
LOCATION THAT HAS AN ACTIVE AIR BAG. If an Active
Air bag inates, it can hit the safety seat with great force and
cause death or serious injury to your child. Refer to your vehicle
owner’s manual for additional information and warnings about
Active Air bags, and supplemental restraints, and their proper use
with Safety Seats.
3.4 About an unoccupied Safety Seat
• Never leave the Safety Seat or Base unsecured in your
vehicle. An unsecured seat or base can y through the vehicle
in the event of a crash, sudden stop or sharp turn and cause
serious injury to the driver, who may then loose control of the
vehicle, or to passengers. When not in use, either remove the
seat and or base from the vehicle or make sure that both are
securely belted to the vehicle according to these instructions.
• The Safety Seat may become very hot if left in direct sunlight.
Your child may suffer burns from hot plastic components.
Always check the seat for hot surfaces that may come into
contact with your child before placing your child in the seat.
We suggest that you cover the seat with a blanket or towel if
it will be subject to direct sunlight while you are away from the
vehicle.
3.0 SAFETY
8

3.0 SAFETY
3.5 About this Safety Seat
• This Safety Seat is constructed of plastic that can deform over
time if left with any object in the seat while stored. DO NOT
leave heavy objects in the seat while not in use. DO NOT
store the seat in the trunk of your car with heavy objects on it
or with pressure on the seat from the trunk lid.
• Replace the Safety Seat and Base after an accident of
any kind. An accident, even a minor accident, can cause
undetectable damage to the Safety Seat or Base that may
cause the Seat or Base to fail in a subsequent accident. DO
NOT use the safety seat if it is damaged or broken.
• Discontinue use of the Safety Seat and Base after six (6) years
from the date of manufacture. The date of manufacture can
be found on the label located on the underside of the Safety
Seat or Base. When discarding an out of date seat, please
ensure that someone nding the seat will be unable to use it.
We suggest that you disable the seat by removing the pad and
harness and discarding the pieces at different times.
3.6 About use as a carrier
Never Leave Your Child Unattended, even if they are asleep.
Very often when you arrive at your destination you will nd
that your child has fallen asleep in the Seat. Do not leave the
child unattended, even for a minute. Your child can tip or move
the carrier by their movements, kicking or grabbing on to their
surroundings. If the carrier tips over, your child can suffocate
9

from the surface that the seat is on as well as from the pressure
on their chest from the safety harness. In addition, if the carrier
is placed too upright, the child’s head can fall forward and cause
the child to have difculty breathing. To avoid death or serious
injury from suffocation, falls and other hazards:
• Always place the carrier on a rm and level surface. Never
place the carrier on soft or plush surfaces such as a bed,
comforter, couch, sofa, chair, etc. The carrier has a very
high possibility of tipping over if placed on a soft or plush
surface.
• Fall hazard: Child’s movements can slide carrier. Never place
the carrier near the edge of high surfaces such as tables,
counter tops, shelves, or other elevated surfaces. To prevent
falls, stay within arm’s reach whenever the carrier is not on the
oor or ground.
• Child can strangle in loose safety harness straps. Never leave
child in carrier when straps are loose or undone. Always use
the safety harness as instructed in this manual when the child
is in the carrier.
• Before lifting the carrier with the handle, check that the handle
is rmly locked into position. The carrier will pivot about an
unlocked handle and can result in injury to your child.
• When using the carrier with a shopping cart, check that the
seat is rmly locked onto the shopping cart. If the carrier will
not rmly lock on always place the carrier into the interior of the
shopping cart.
3.0 SAFETY
10

• Strings and cords can cause strangulation:
- DO NOT place items with string around a child’s neck, such
as hood strings, pacier cords, etc.
- DO NOT suspend strings on or over carrier.
- DO NOT attach strings to toys.
- DO NOT place the carrier near a window where cords from
blinds or drapes can strangle a child.
3.0 SAFETY
Never leave child unattended.
SUFFOCATION HAZARD: Infant carrier can roll over on
soft surfaces and suffocate child, NEVER place carrier on
beds, sofas, or other soft surfaces.
STRANGULATION HAZARD: Child can strangle in loose
restraint straps. Never leave child in carrier when straps are
loose or undone.
FALL HAZARD: Child’s movement can slide carrier. Never
place carrier near edges of counter tops, tables, or other
elevated surfaces.
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WARNING

SELECTING THE BEST LOCATION FOR
THE SAFETY SEAT
4.0 LOCATION
Not every location within an automobile may be safe for the
installation of this Safety Seat. In fact, some automobiles have
no seating position that is safe for the installation of a safety
seat. Improper placement of this Safety Seat within a vehicle
will increase the risk of death or serious injury.
Please follow the instructions in this manual and in your
vehicle owner’s manual carefully to ensure proper location and
installation of this Safety Seat. If you are uncertain about the
proper location of the Safety Seat within the vehicle, contact
your vehicle manufacturer directly, or through their dealer
before using this seat. You are also invited to call Baby Trend
at1-800-328-7363 for additional information or assistance.
4.1 Overall Considerations in Selecting a Location
• The rear seating positions have been shown to be statistically
safer for children than the front seating position.
• We recommend that you use the center rear seat position as
the safest location for the Safety Seat. In addition, whenever
possible, have an adult ride in the rear with the child in order to
monitor the child.
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WARNING

4.0 LOCATION
• If the driver is the only adult in the vehicle and the child
requires constant monitoring, then the forward seating position
may be used if there is no passenger side Active Air bag and
all of the following requirements are met for this location.
4.2 Check that the Vehicle Seat Meets the Following
Requirements
• Never place this Safety Seat in a vehicle seating location
that has an Active Air Bag! Active Air Bags inate with great
force! An inating active Air Bag can strike a Safety Seat
with enough force to cause death or serious injury to your
child. If your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger side
Active Air bag, please refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual for
additional information about Active Air bags and child safety
seat installation.
13
DO NOT place rear-facing child
seat on front seat with air bag.
DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY can
occur. The back seat is the safest
place for children 12 and under.
WARNING

14
• DO NOT place this Safety Seat in any vehicle
seat that faces to the rear or to either side of
the vehicle. (Fig. 14-1 & 14-2).
• DO NOT use this Safety Seat in a vehicle
that has a vehicle seat back that does
not lock into place. A seat back that folds
forward must have a latch or locking
mechanism to prevent it from ying
forward and striking the child in a sudden
stop or accident.
• Please review your vehicle owner’s manual
to determine the best location for the Safety
Seat or to determine if any locations are
unsafe for safety seat installation. If you
do not have the vehicle owner’s manual
or the owner’s manual does not address
child safety seat installation, please contact
the vehicle manufacturer to obtain this
information before using the safety seat.
4.3 Check that the Vehicle Seat Belt is Safe to Use
The Safety Seat is designed to be tightly installed at all
times. The vehicle seat belt must be capable of maintaining
tight installation at all times. A variety of vehicle seat belt
systems have been installed on vehicles that are not safe
4.0 LOCATION
Fig. 14-1
Fig. 14-2

15
4.0 LOCATION
for use with the Safety Seat. Even newer vehicles can have
seat belts systems that are not safe for use with the Safety
Seat. These systems may look safe but their method of
operation precludes their use with the Safety Seat. If you are
unsure if the vehicle seat belt is safe for use with the Safety
Seat, please contact the vehicle manufacturer for additional
information.
Seat belt systems that are NOT safe for use with the Safety Seat:
DO NOT use the following types of seat belt systems with
the Safety Seat. These belt systems will not hold the Safety
Seat securely in place at all times. In addition, the locking clip
provided with this product will not make these belt systems safe
to use.
Carefully analyze the operation of the vehicle safety belts
before using the Safety Seat. Being able to thread the vehicle
seat belt through the Safety Seat or Base is not an indication
that the vehicle seat belt is safe to use. Carefully read this
section on seat belt systems, review your vehicle owner’s
manual in detail, and heed any and all warning labels on your
vehicle’s seat belt. Your vehicle may require a modication
or special seat belt in order to be safely used with this Safety
Seat. Please see your vehicle dealer for this service.
WARNING

• DO NOT use a lap belt that stays loose after
installed and locks only in a crash or sudden
stop. These lap belts utilize an Emergency
Locking Retractor and are often found in
combination with motorized shoulder belts.
Because these belts will allow the Safety
Seat to move about on the seat, the chance
of the Safety Seat being out of the proper
position in a crash is very high. Accordingly,
do not use the Safety Seat with this type of
Seat Belt system. Please see your vehicle’s
dealer or owner’s manual for information on
converting this seat belt system to one that
is acceptable for use with a Safety Seat
(Fig. 16-1).
• DO NOT use a lap/shoulder belt system if
the lap belt and shoulder belt each have
retractors at one end. This type of seat
belt system will not adequately restrain the
Safety Seat (Fig. 16-2).
• DO NOT use a seat belt that is connected
to the door in any way. These types of seat
belts are designed to automatically
surround the occupant when the door is
closed. This type of seat belt will NOT
adequately restrain the Safety Seat.
(Fig. 16-3).
4.0 LOCATION
16
Fig. 16-1
Fig. 16-2
Fig. 16-3

• DO NOT use a seat belt that is anchored on
the seat more than 2 inches forward of the
crease between the seat bottom and the
seat back. This type of seat belt anchors
the Safety Seat too far forward and the
Safety Seat will not be safely restrained in
the vehicle (Fig. 17-1).
• DO NOT use a shoulder belt that moves
along a track. These systems typically
move to surround the occupant when the
door is closed. This type of belt system will
NOT adequately restrain the Safety Seat.
(Fig. 17-2).
If you have any of the above seat belt
systems, DO NOT use it to secure the Safety
Seat in the vehicle. Look in the vehicle for
a location that has a more suitable seat belt
system as described in the section following.
You may also contact your vehicle’s
manufacturer to inquire about installing a
seat belt system that is adequate to restrain
a Safety Seat.
4.0 LOCATION
17
Fig. 17-1
Fig. 17-2

Seat belt systems that are Adequate for use with the Safety
Seat:
The following seat belt systems can be used with the Safety Seat
provided, that all of the other requirements prescribed in these
instructions, including seat position, and all instructions provided
by your vehicle’s owner’s manual are followed.
• A lap belt that is manually adjusted and will
remain tight while the vehicle is in motion is
suitable for use with the Safety Seat. Pulling
the belt through the buckle after the buckle is
fastened tightens this type of seat belt. The
center rear seat belt is most often this type of
seat belt (Fig. 18-1).
• A lap belt that cannot be lengthened once
it is fastened is suitable for use with the
Safety Seat. These seat belts often have
an automatic locking retractor that will
allow the belt to be lengthened but once
fastened, must be unbuckled and allowed
to retract fully before allowing the belt to be
lengthened again (Fig. 18-2).
• A lap/shoulder combination seat belt with
a latch plate that locks the lap belt into
position is suitable for use with the Safety
Seat. Once this type of seat belt is fastened,
the latch plate prevents the lap belt from
18
4.0 LOCATION
Fig. 18-1
Fig. 18-2

loosening. This combination seat belt does
not require a locking clip (Fig. 19-1).
• A lap/shoulder combination belt system
with a latch plate that can slide freely along
the belt is suitable for use with the Safety
Seat if it includes a lockable retractor or if
a locking clip is used to secure the lap belt
into position and prevent loosening. Use
the locking clip provided with the Safety
Seat as instructed on page 42. Please
refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual
for additional information on locking this
style of seat belt. This style of belt must be
locked to prevent movement of the Safety
Seat (Fig. 19-2 & 19-3).
19
4.0 LOCATION
Fig. 19-1
Fig. 19-2
Fig. 19-3

20
5.0 FEATURES
SAFETY SEAT FEATURES AND THEIR
PROPER USE
5.1 5-Point Harness
Carry Handle
Canopy
Handle
Release
Button
Harness Clip
Vehicle Belt
Path/Hook
without base
Harness
Adjuster Strap
Harness
Straps
Seat Pad
Moving Seat
Back (Adjustable
Back Model)
Buckle
Harness
Adjuster Button