Graco Assura User manual

Instruction
Manual
Avoid injury or death -
Read and understand this manual!
Use rear-facing only!
www.gracobaby.com
ISPC014BB 02/03 US

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Information.....................................1
Warnings.........................................................2
Basic Information.............................................4
What is LATCH ?..............................................6
Vehicle Seat Belts............................................22
Locking Clip............................................27
Additional Information....................................28
• Care and Cleaning
• Aircraft Use
• Second Hand Car Seat
•LATCH Storage
Replacement Parts.........................................30
❃Before You Begin
❃Special Information
Height & Weight Limits.....................................7
Seat Pad Assembly............................................8
Installation with Vehicle Seat Belt...................12
Installation with LATCH.................................14
❃Use
Instruction manual is for:
• Graco Assura®Infant Car Seat/Carrier
Instructions for all models are the same unless
otherwise noted.
Placing Child in Car Seat............................... 16
Operations and Adjustments......................... 18
• Buckle
• Chest clip
• Adjustable Handle (on certain models)
• Adjusting or Changing Harness Straps
• Changing Crotch Strap Positions

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
No car seat can guarantee protection from
injury in every situation, but proper use
helps reduce the risk of serious injury
or death.
Child restraints (car seats) could be recalled for
safety reasons. You must register this restraint
to be reached in a recall. Fill out the
registration card attached to car seat and mail
today or send your name, address, and the
restraint’s model number and manufacturing
date to:
Graco Children’s Products
150 Oaklands Blvd.
Exton, PA 19341
or call 1-888-224-6549
For recall information:
• Call the U.S Government’s Auto Safety
Hotline at 1-800-424-9393
(202-366-0123 in D.C. area)
• www.nhtsa.dot.gov
• Call Graco at 1-888-224-6549 or
www.gracobaby.com
✔Read and understand instruction manual
and car seat labels.
✔Use car seat rear-facing only.
✔Do not use in vehicle seat with air bag.
✔Secure children in back seat whenever
possible.
✔Never leave child unattended.
✔Install car seat securely with vehicle seat belt
or LATCH.
✔Do not use after date shown on back of
car seat.
✔Do not allow anyone (babysitter, relatives,
etc.) to use car seat without first
understanding all instructions.
1
❃Registration Information
❃Safety First Check List
❃LATCH
This car seat may be installed in a vehicle
using either the vehicle seat belt or the
LATCH system (for vehicles equipped with
LATCH).

WARNINGS - Prevent serious injury or death:
Never put a car seat in a front vehicle
seat unless recommended by vehicle
owner’s manual. National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
alerts vehicle owners that according to
accident statistics children up to age 12
are safer in the back seat. For vehicles
with air bags, refer to vehicle owner’s
manual for child restraint installation
information.
If car seat is in a crash, it must be
replaced. DO NOT use it again!. A crash
can cause unseen damage and using it
again could result in serious injury or
death.
DO NOT use car seat if it is damaged or
missing parts.
DO NOT use accessories or parts other
than those provided by Graco. Their
use could alter the performance of the
car seat.
This child restraint is NOT compatible
with any base, stroller or shopping cart.
Failure to follow these instructions and
car seat labels can result in child striking
the vehicle’s interior during a sudden
stop or crash. Secure child restraint with
a vehicle seat belt or LATCH as shown in
this manual.
Select a suitable location for the car seat
in your vehicle.
Use car seat rear-facing only. Serious
crippling injury or death can result if
infant faces front of vehicle.
Vehicle seat belt system MUST hold
car seat securely. Not all vehicle seat
belts can be used with a car seat. If
vehicle seat belt does not hold car seat
securely, read “Vehicle Seat Belts”
section.
DO NOT use rear-facing child restraint in
a vehicle seating position equipped with
an air bag. Child’s head and neck may be
seriously injured when an inflating
air bag hits back of child restraint.
2

3
Car seat must be properly leveled:
• Too reclined can result in injury or
ejection.
• Too upright can result in breathing
difficulties.
Never leave infant unattended, even
when sleeping.
DO NOT remove LATCH system from car
seat. If using vehicle seat belt to secure
car seat, LATCH connectors must be
stored. (see section “LATCH storage”)
Never attach two
LATCH connectors
to one vehicle lower
anchor point unless
specifically allowed
by the vehicle
manufacturer.
Strangulation Hazard: Child can strangle
in loose harness 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 countertops, tables or other elevated
surfaces.
Suffocation Hazard: Infant carrier can
roll over on soft surfaces and suffocate
child. Never place carrier on beds, sofas
or other soft surfaces.
Avoid serious injury due to falls. Always
use harness to restrain child. On models
with handle, be sure handle “locks” into
carrying position before carrying infant.
If handle is not securely locked, car seat
can flip forward causing unrestrained
infant to fall and be seriously injured.
WARNINGS - Prevent serious injury or death (continued):

BASIC INFORMATION
This car seat meets or exceeds all applicable
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 for use in motor vehicles and
aircraft.
Always secure car seat with a vehicle seat belt
or LATCH, even when unoccupied. An
unsecured car seat can injure passengers.
4
Do not use car seat on rear-facing or
side-facing vehicle seats.
❃Certification
❃Unoccupied Car Seat
❃Dangerous Vehicle Seats
DO NOT use rear-facing
car seat in a vehicle
seating position
equipped with an air
bag.
WARNING

DO NOT use after date shown on back of
car seat due to changing requirements and
normal wear and tear.
Look for:
Protect vehicle seat. Use a car seat mat, towel
or thin blanket under and behind car seat.
Car seat parts can get very hot in the sun
or warm weather.
To avoid burns, always check before putting
child in car seat.
5
Do not use this car
seat after December Year
❃Car Seat Useful Life
❃Vehicle Seat Protection
❃Warm Weather
BASIC INFORMATION (continued)

6
Vehicle
Lower Anchor
Points
Vehicle
Seat Crease
Typical seat in a passenger vehicle. Other
vehicle types may have different LATCH
locations or different markings.
United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards have defined a new system for
installing car seats in vehicles. The system
is called LATCH. LATCH stands for:
Lower Anchorage and Tether for CHildren.
LATCH System for Vehicles:
Some vehicle owner manuals use the term
ISOFIX to identify the new car seat
anchorage system. This carseat with
LATCH can also be used in vehicle seating
positions equipped with ISOFIX.
Newer vehicles may have one or more seating
positions equipped with LATCH anchor points.
If vehicle is equipped with LATCH, the vehicle
lower anchor points may be visible at the vehicle
seat crease. If not visible, they may be marked
with a symbol (Fig. a) or a colored dot.
See your vehicle owner’s manual for exact
locations, anchor identification, and
requirements for use with a car seat. (Fig. a)
WHAT IS LATCH?
Thank you for contacting Graco. LATCH is defined
as anchorages 280mm (11.02 inches) on center. As a
manufacturer, we do not recommend using the LATCH
system in the center position if it exceeds this length. If you
have further questions regarding LATCH usage, please
contact NHTSA at 1-800-326-4236 or www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

This car seat is designed for rear-facing use
ONLY by an infant whose:
• Weight is less than 22 lbs (10 kg) and;
• Height is less than 29 inches (73.6 cm)
HEIGHT & WEIGHT LIMITS
A preterm or low birth weight infant may
be at special risk in a vehicle or aircraft.
According to the American Academy of
Pediatrics, these infants may suffer breathing
difficulties if improperly reclined in a car seat.
Graco advises that you have your physician or
hospital staff evaluate your infant and
recommend the proper car seat or car bed
before you and your infant leave the hospital.
❃Preterm or Low Birth Weight
Infants
7

SEAT PAD ASSEMBLY
❃Remove Harness
On back of car seat, press in tab
and lift metal rod up and out
of slots (fig. a).
Slide metal rod out of loops of
harness strap (fig. b).
From front of car seat, pull harness
strap out of harness strap slots (fig. c).
5-Point Models:
Remove chest clip from each harness
strap (fig. d).
3-Point Models:
Remove harness strap by pressing
button on front of car seat to release
buckle (fig. e).
5-Point Models:
Remove harness strap by pulling harness
strap from tongues (fig. f).
DO NOT remove harness strap from car
seat shell.
(fig. a) (fig. b)
(fig. c) (fig. d)
(fig. e) (fig. f)
1
2
3
4
5
Tab
8

9
SEAT PAD ASSEMBLY (continued)
❃Pad Assembly
Loosely lay seat pad in shell (fig. g).
Slip bottom pad flap over bottom of
car seat (fig. h).
5-Point Models:
Thread harness straps through slots in
seat pad (fig. i).
Adjust strap so each side is the same
length.
Slip top pad flap over top of car
seat (fig. j).
Thread elastic loops on each side of seat
pad through holes and hook over slanted
pins under car seat (fig. k).
HolePin
(fig. g) (fig. h)
(fig. i) (fig. j)
(fig. k)
1
2
3
4
5

10
SEAT PAD ASSEMBLY (continued)
❃Harness Assembly
5-Point Models :
Thread each end of harness strap from
back to front through slot in tongues (fig. l).
DO NOT twist harness strap.
3-Point Models :
Make sure tongue and chest clip are on
harness strap as shown (fig. m).
5-Point Models :
Thread each end of harness strap through
chest clip.
Chest clip MUST be re-threaded exactly
as shown. (fig. n)
Thread each end of harness strap through
matching slots of seat pad and car
seat (fig. o).
Read instruction manual for proper
harness strap adjustments.
Adjust harness strap length by inserting
metal rod into loops that will position
harness strap for proper snugness (fig. p).
Make sure the ROD is threaded through
the same loop position on both sides.
Replace metal rod into side slots and slide
metal rod down below tab (fig. q).
Make sure tab holds metal rod securely.
Only use metal rod supplied by Graco
or child will not be restrained.
WARNING
1
2
3
4
5

11
SEAT PAD ASSEMBLY (continued)
(fig. l) (fig. m)
(fig. n)
(fig. o)
(fig. p) (fig. q)
Tab

12
INSTALLATION WITH VEHICLE SEAT BELT
Place car seat rear-facing on vehicle seat.
Thread vehicle lap belt through car seat Slots
and buckle belt.
NOTE: Vehicle shoulder belt must NOT be
placed through car seat Slots.
Press down firmly on car seat to compress
vehicle seat cushion while tightening vehicle
lap belt (fig. a).
1
2
3
4
5
6
Pull front to back and left to right to check for
secure installation (fig. b). Vehicle lap belt
MUST stay tight.
If not secure, see “Vehicle Seat Belts”
section, p.22.
Check level indicator on car seat.
Vehicle must be on level ground
and child in car seat when checking level
indicator.
Ball MUST be entirely in green zone (fig. c). If
necessary, place rolled towels under car seat, at
vehicle seat crease, until entire ball is in green
zone. Then re-check level indicator.
Adjust handle (on certain models) to a position
behind car seat.
Periodically check that car seat is securely
installed and properly leveled; adjust if
necessary.
LATCH belt MUST be stored when
using vehicle seat belt to install car seat.
See “LATCH Storage” on p. 29.
WARNING

13
(fig. a) (fig. b) (fig. c)
Towels
Slots
INSTALLATION WITH VEHICLE SEAT BELT (continued)
!El indicador debe mantenerse!El indicador debe mantenerse
en verde completemente!en verde completemente!
Vehicle
shoulder
belt
Handle
(on certain models)

Place car seat rear-facing on vehicle seat
equipped with LATCH anchors (fig. a).
Thread LATCH belt through car seat Slots.
Belt must lay flat and not be twisted.
For ease of installation, extend LATCH belt
to its maximum length.
Hook connectors to vehicle lower anchors
(fig. b). Pull connectors to be sure they are
securely attached to the anchor points. (fig. b).
Press down firmly on car seat to compress
vehicle seat cushion while tightening LATCH
belt.
INSTALLATION WITH LATCH
1
3
4
5
2
Pull front to back and left to right to check for
secure installation (fig. c).
Check that the lower anchorage belt stays
tight and does not slip from the tightened
position. If it does not stay tight, try another
seating position or contact Customer Service
(see back cover).
Check level indicator on car seat.
Vehicle must be on level ground
and child in car seat when checking level
indicator.
Ball MUST be entirely in green zone (fig. d). If
necessary, place rolled towels under car seat, at
vehicle seat crease, until entire ball is in green
zone. Then re-check level indicator.
Adjust handle (on certain models) to a position
behind car seat.
Periodically check that car seat is securely
installed and properly leveled; adjust if
necessary.
6
7
14
8

(fig. b) 15
INSTALLATION WITH LATCH (continued):
(fig. c) (fig. d)
!El indicador debe mantenerse!El indicador debe mantenerse
en verde completemente!en verde completemente!
Towels
Slots
Vehicle
shoulder
belt
Handle
(on certain models)
(fig. a)
LATCH

Place child in car seat with child’s back flat
against back of car seat.
Place harness straps over child’s shoulders and
insert tongue(s) into buckle to lock.
Pull up on tongue(s) to be sure they are
locked.
Close chest clip:
Position chest clip at arm pit level.
CHECK that the harness is snug. 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 (fig. a).
For 5-Point models, check that harness straps
on chest and thighs are snug.
A rolled towel can be used on each side to
support small children (fig. b). Be sure towels
do not interfere with harness system.
To prevent serious injury or death:
• Keep harness straps snug and
positioned on shoulders. 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. Periodically check adjustments.
• Do not use strap covers, blankets
cushions, or padding under harness
straps or child unless provided by Graco.
• Baby must be dressed in clothing with
arms and legs that will not interfere
with buckling harness.
1
2
3
4
5
16
PLACING CHILD IN CAR SEAT
WARNING
Check harness system:
• Harness straps must be through slots at or
just below shoulders.
3-Point Models:
Buckle tongue must be in slot closest to but
not under child.
5-Point Models:
• Crotch strap must be through opening
closest to but not under child.

17
2
3
2
3
3-Point
Models
5-Point
Models
(fig. a) (fig. b)
PLACING CHILD IN CAR SEAT (continued)

Adjustable Handle (on certain models):
• Handle has four adjustment positions.
• Push in red buttons on each side of
handle, rotate and release red buttons.
Continue rotating handle to desired
position until you hear a “click” sound and
both red buttons pop back out.
•IMPORTANT: Before lifting car seat, place
handle in “locked” upright carrying
position.
Buckle:
3-Point Models
• To buckle: Push buckle tonge down onto
seat.
Pull up on buckle to be sure it is locked.
• To unbuckle: Press red button and pull
buckle tongue out.
5-Point Models
• To buckle: Insert both tongues into
buckle. Pull up on tongues to be sure
they are locked.
• To unbuckle: Press red button and pull
tongues out.
Chest Clip:
• To open: Squeeze tabs on both sides
and pull apart.
• To close: Snap halves together. Make
sure chest clip is locked by pulling out
on each half.
OPERATIONS and ADJUSTMENTS
18
1
2
3