Graco Contender 65 User manual

1
PD306817A 2/15
CONTENDER
TM
65
CHILD RESTRAINT
www.gracobaby.com
Do not install or use this child
restraint until you read and
understand the instructions in
this manual.
FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE
THIS CHILD RESTRAINT
INCREASES THE RISK OF
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH
IN A SUDDEN STOP OR
CRASH.

2
2-A Car Seat Features
1 Important Pages 6-23
2 Features Pages 24-29
1-A A Quick Guide to Your Manual
1-B Welcome to the Graco Family
1-C Right Mode of Use
1-D Before You Begin
Register This Car Seat
If You Need Help
Certification
Car Seat’s Useful Life
Vehicle Seat Protection
Warm Weather Use
1-E Safety Warnings

3
4-A Forward-Facing
4-B Install Forward-Facing with LATCH Strap
4-C Installing With Vehicle Seat Belt
4 Forward-Facing Use Pages 45-58
3-A Rear-Facing
3-B Install Rear-Facing with LATCH Strap
3-C Installing With Vehicle Seat Belt
3 Rear-Facing Use Pages 30-44
5-A Securing Child 5-Point Harness
5 Securing Child Pages 59-66

4
7-A Moving the LATCH Strap
7 Moving LATCH Pages 69-71
6-A Accessories
6 Accessories Pages 67-68

5
8-A How to Remove LATCH and Tether
8-B Choosing Vehicle Seat Location
8-C Unsafe Vehicle Seat Locations
8-D Vehicle Seat Belts
8 Additional Information Pages 72-82
9-A Cleaning Seat Pad
9-B Cleaning Buckle Strap
9-C Cleaning Harness and LATCH Straps
9 Care & Cleaning Pages 83-86

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1-A A Quick Guide to Your Manual
This car seat is for children: Rear-Facing: 5-40 lb (2.2-18 kg)
Forward Facing: 22-65 lb (10-30 kg)
• Children less than 22 lb (10 kg) MUST use this car seat rear-facing.
Review section 1-C for more information.
Get to Know Your Car Seat
What Seating Location Should I Use?
Review section 2-A to see all of the features of this infant car seat.
The best seating location for this infant car seat is one that:
• Is recommended by your vehicle owner’s manual, and
• Results in a secure installation of this car seat.
Some vehicles have specific requirements for where the car seat can be
installed, so be sure to check your vehicle owner’s manual for available
seating positions, if any.
Review section 8-B, 8-C of this manual AND your vehicle owner’s manual.

77
Which Installation Method Should I Use?
This car seat can be installed in your vehicle using either the vehicle seat
belt OR the LATCH system. Both are equally safe to use. DO NOT USE BOTH
AT THE SAME TIME.
Vehicle Seat Belt: Review section 8 and your vehicle owner’s manual to
learn how to install your car seat with the vehicle seat belts.
LATCH: The LATCH system allows you to securely attach your safety seat
in your car without using the vehicle seat belt and possibly to get a better
fit. All 2003 and newer model year vehicles are required to have a LATCH
system, although some manufacturers began including LATCH earlier. Some
vehicle owner manuals use the term ISOFIX to identify the LATCH system.
According to accident statistics, the safest
place for your child in any vehicle is the
back seat. The center of the back seat can
be the safest during a possible side impact.

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LATCH consists of lower anchors and top tether anchors, which are built-
in to your vehicle, and connecting hooks that are built-in to your car seat.
Lower anchors are used INSTEAD of the vehicle’s seat belt to secure the
child seat to the vehicle. Top tethers are used IN ADDITION to the lower
anchors OR the vehicle’s seat belt to secure a forward-facing car seat to
the vehicle.
Review your vehicle’s owner manual for exact location and use.
What is LATCH?
Vehicle Top Tether
Anchor Points
Vehicle Lower
Anchor Points
Typical seat in a passenger
vehicle. Other vehicle types
may have different LATCH
locations.
Vehicle Seat Bight
continue next page

99
When Installing Rear-Facing & Forward-Facing
Vehicle Seat Belt
There are two types of vehicle seat belts
that can be used. Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
or Lap Only Seat Belt.
Review section 3-C & 4-C of this manual
AND your vehicle owner’s manual.
LATCH System
LATCH consists of two lower anchors, which
are built-in to your vehicle, and connecting
hooks that are built-in your car seat.
Review section 3-B & 4-B of this manual
AND your vehicle owner’s manual.

1010
Does Your Car Seat Fit Your Child Correctly?
To make sure your child is secured properly, review section 3 and 4 to
understand all of the actions you need to take to properly adjust the car seat
to fit your child.
Harness Height, Rear-Facing(A)
Harness straps at or just below the child’s
shoulders and
top of head must be 1” (2.5 cm)
below the headrest adjustment lever
(B). Review
section 5.
Buckle Position (C)
The correct slot is the one that is closest to
your child without being underneath them.
Review section 5.
Harness Tightness (D)
If your fingers slide off the harness straps
without pinching the straps, it is tight enough.
Review section 5.
For Rear-Facing, You Need to Adjust:
A
C
B
D
continue next page

1111
Harness Height, Forward-Facing (A)
Harness straps at or just above the child’s
shoulders and top of child’s ears below top of
headrest (B). Review section 5.
Buckle Position (C)
The correct slot is the one that is closest to
your child without being underneath them.
Review section 5.
Harness Tightness (D)
If your fingers slide off the harness straps
without pinching the straps, it is tight enough.
Review section 5.
For Forward-Facing, You Need to Adjust:
A
C
B
D

1212
Car Seat Does Not Move More
than 1” (2.5 cm) at the Belt
Path (A)
Review section 3
Check level indicator (B)
Review section 3
Harness Straps at or Just
Below Child’s Shoulders (C)
Review section 5
Chest Clip Even With Armpits(D)
Review section 5
Cannot Pinch Harness Straps
at the Shoulder (E)
Review section 5
Rear-Facing Installation
B
A
D E
C

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Use the top tether strap when
using forward-facing (A)
When used properly, the top
teather helps reduce injury in a
sudden stop or crash.
Review section 4
Car Seat Does Not Move More
than 1” (2.5 cm) at the Belt
Path (B)
Review section 4
Harness Straps at or Just
Above Child’s Shoulders (C)
Review section 5
Chest Clip Even With Armpits(D)
Review section 5
Cannot Pinch Harness Straps
at the Shoulder (E)
Review section 5
Forward-Facing Installation
A
D E
CB

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1-B Welcome to the Graco Family!
Your child’s safety depends on you. No car seat can guarantee protection from injury in
every situation, but proper use helps reduce the risk of serious injury or death.
Even if this car seat seems easy to figure out on your own, you must follow the detailed
instructions in this instruction manual to ensure the steps below are performed correctly.

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Note: Preterm or low birth weight infants may be at special risk in a vehicle or aircraft.
According to the AAP, these infants may suffer breathing issues if improperly reclined in a car
seat. When rear-facing, use the corrected age for preemies. 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.
5 lb
(2.2 kg)
22 lb
(10 kg)
40 lb
(18 kg)
65 lb
(30 kg)
Rear-Facing with 5-Point Harness
5-22 lb (2.2-10 kg) less than 1 year old MUST be
rear-facing.
22-40 lb (10-18 kg) CAN be rear-facing.
Forward-Facing with 5-Point Harness
22-40 lb (10-18 kg) can sit upright unassisted CAN be
forward-facing.
40-65 lb (18-30 kg) SHOULD be forward-facing.
1-C Right Mode of Use

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1-D Before You Begin
Please fill out the prepaid registration postcard attached to the harness and mail
it in today or register online at www.gracobaby.com/carseatregistration.
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:
Graco Children’s Products, Inc.
Attn: Customer Service
3 Glenlake Parkway Atlanta, GA 30328
or call 1-800-345-4109
or register online at
www.gracobaby.com/carseatregistration
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.
Register This Child Restraint

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Model Name_________________________
Model Number _______________________
Date of Manufacture __________________
Date of Purchase _____________________
For future reference or if you change addresses, record the model name, model
number, date of manufacture and purchase date of this car seat on the below.
You can find this information either on the registration card if you still have it or
on the date label located on the back of the car seat.
In the U.S.A, please contact our Customer Service Department with any
questions you may have concerning parts, use, or maintenance. When you
contact us, please have your product’s model number and date of manufacture
ready so that we may help you efficiently. These numbers can be found on a
sticker on the back side of your car seat.
For additional resources or to get your car seat checked by a child passenger
safety technician, please visit the following web sites:
www.nhtsa.gov • www.seatcheck.org • www.safekids.org • www.cpsc.gov
If You Need Help

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STOP using this car seat and throw it away 7 years after the date of
manufacture. Look for this sticker on back of the car seat.
Graco Children’s Products Inc. advises against loaning or passing along a car
seat unless you know the complete history of the product. We also advise
against purchasing a car seat second hand.
This child restraint meets or exceeds all applicable requirements of Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 for use in motor vehicles.
This child restraint is certified for use in aircraft.
Contact the airline for their specific polices.
Certification
Car Seat’s Useful Life
Protect vehicle seat. Use a car seat mat, towel, or thin blanket under and behind
car seat.
Vehicle Seat Protection

1919
Car seat parts can get very hot in the sun or warm weather. To avoid burns,
always check before putting child in car seat.
1-E Safety Warnings
No car seat can guarantee protection from injury in
every situation, but proper use helps reduce the risk of
serious injury or death. READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY.
Warm Weather Use
Failure to follow these instructions and child restraint’s labels
can result in child striking the vehicle’s interior during a sudden
stop or crash.

2020
! NEVER PLACE THIS CHILD RESTRAINT REAR-FACING
IN A VEHICLE SEATING LOCATION THAT HAS AN ACTIVE
FRONT AIR BAG.
If an air bag inflates, it can hit the child and car seat with great force
and cause serious injury or death to your child.
! Review your vehicle owner’s manual for more information
about air bags and car seat use.
! If your vehicle does not have a back seat, review your vehicle
owner’s manual.