Safety Notices

FAQ

Q. Are the cup holders and infant positioning inserts sled tested? Will their use void the warranty?

A. The cup holders and infant positioning inserts have been sled tested and are approved by BRITAX for use with the new BRITAX convertibles (infant/child seats). Their use will not void the BRITAX warranty.

Q. Are the harnesses interchangeable from traditional to Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats)?

A. No, they are different lengths.

Q. Are the SafeCells a replaceable part?

A. No, they are integral to the seat design and cannot be replaced. Consumers should follow the user guide recommendation to discontinue use of a child seat that has been in a moderate or severe crash.

Q. Does the black shell resin hold more heat than the traditional gray & beige shells?

A. Only if the black shell resin comes in direct contact with sunlight. Consequently, the choice of cover set plays a more significant role in our Next Generation convertible (infant/child) seat’s ability to hold or dissipate heat.

Q. How can BRITAX claim that they have world-class head excursion performance when other car seat manufacturers do not publish their results?

A. BRITAX has access to sled facilities all around the world and has tested the Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats) against all global standards. Additionally, BRITAX has tested competitive seats and have been unable to duplicate the head safety performance results of the BRITAX Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats). Although these results are not public record, BRITAX can defend them if challenged.

Q. How do I reattach the cover to the head restraint on my traditional BRITAX infant/child seat?

A. For step-by-step instructions on how to reattach the cover to the head restraint on a DIPLOMAT, BOULEVARD, BOULEVARD CS, or ADVOCATE CS, please view our instructional demo.

Q. How long can my child seat be used or when does it "expire"?

A. Please refer to the user guide that came with your child seat to determine its recommended useful life. BRITAX recommends that the use of a child seat be discontinued after a certain number of years from the date of manufacture, depending on the seat, or if the seat has been involved in a moderate to severe crash. Expiration dates are provided for various reasons: technology has changed, components degrade from the environment (depending on how and where stored), parts get lost or installed incorrectly, or instructions and labels may not be available or not legible. After a child seat has met its expiration date, BRITAX requests that the child seat be destroyed.

Q. How should the Versa-Tether be stored?

A. When the Versa-Tether is being used to install the child seat in your vehicle, any excess webbing should be secured in the attached elastic strap. When the Versa-Tether is not being used to install the seat in your vehicle, it should be stored in the pouch on the back of the child seat. To avoid damage or injury, be sure that any excess webbing is contained within your vehicle at all times.

Q. I have been told not to position padding between the child and the child seat. Is it okay to use the infant positioning system?

A. Yes. BRITAX certifies both with and without the infant positioning system. The system was designed and tested with the products. BRITAX, however, recommends against using third-party accessories purchased separately that are not made by BRITAX for BRITAX products.

Q. Is there a standing height limit for rear-facing?

A. Refer to your product user guide for the appropriate height and weight ranges for your child seat.

Q. The base of my infant/child car seat is missing a screw/nut. What should I do?

A. Please review our statement and contact the BRITAX Consumer Services Department at 888-427-4829 if you have experienced this issue with your infant/child car seat.

Q. The Side Impact Cushions on the new ADVOCATE 65 CS claim to reduce side impact energy by 45% versus 50% on the original ADVOCATE CS. Why has the claim changed?

A. All Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats) have 50-65% improved side impact crash energy management performance versus our prior convertibles (infant/child seats), so our starting base line performance for comparison is much higher. Therefore, the new ADVOCATE 65 CS, which reduces side impact crash energy by an incremental 45% versus the rest of our Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats), has superior side impact crash energy management performance versus the original ADVOCATE CS.

Q. The tether on my car seat has an extra webbing (a loop) under the cover. What is this?

A. In 2006, BRITAX began to introduce an energy-absorbing tether assembly to its convertible (infant/child) car seats. It consists of a loop of webbing with colored (red) stitching held under the cover at the top of the seat shell. In the event of a severe crash, the colored stitching will break and the loops will partially pull through the back side of the shell, reducing G-force effects on the child's head and body. If the colored stitching has broken on your tether assembly, discontinue use of the child seat.

Q. What are the new standards implemented by Transport Canada for car seats on January 1, 2012? Can I still use my BRITAX car seat if it was manufactured before January 1, 2012?

A. Please be assured that there is no need to replace your car seat due to the new regulations. All BRITAX car seats manufactured before AND after January 1, 2012 are compliant with Transport Canada’s current dynamic test standards. For information about the new child car seat safety regulations, please visit Transport Canada’s website: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/releases-2011-h145e-6605.htm.

Q. What is NCAP testing and why do many of our competitors claim they pass NCAP testing? Does BRITAX NCAP test?

A. NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) is a requirement for automobile manufacturers to test car seats in their vehicles. Although other car seat manufacturers claim that they conduct NCAP testing, they do not disclose which vehicles they have tested within. All vehicles have different crash force “pulse” rates that the child experiences during a crash. Therefore, any car seat manufacturer can duplicate a pulse rate for a vehicle that has low crash forces and claim that they NCAP test. BRITAX performs tests that represent the forces experienced by NCAP tests across a range of aggressive pulse rates.

Q. What is the difference between a harnessed seat and a booster seat?

A. Booster seats differ from a harnessed car seat in that a booster seat, by definition, simply “boosts” the child up so that the vehicle seat belt is positioned correctly across the child’s hips and shoulder/middle of the chest. Booster seats rely on the vehicle seat belts to hold both the child and the booster seat in position.

Harnessed seats have an internal harness system that is used to restrain the child.

Q. What parts are replaceable on Next generation BRITAX convertible (infant/child) car seats?

A. EPP foam head rest, EPP foam side pieces, forward facing lock-offs, rear facing lock-offs, harness assembly, Versa-Tether, user guides, adjuster assembly, comfort foam in the seat, Canadian back comfort foam, recline handle, headrest apron, and cover sets are all replaceable parts.

Q. When does a child outgrow or not appropriately fit in a BRITAX convertible (infant/child) car seat forward facing?

A. If any of the following conditions exist, then the child has outgrown or does not appropriately fit a BRITAX convertible car seat forward facing (example given for a 55 pound (24.9 kg) seat):
  • the child is less than one year of age OR
  • the child is less than 20 lbs. (9.1 kg.) in weight OR
  • the child exceeds 55 lbs. (24.9 kg.) in weight OR
  • the child exceeds 46" (116.8 cm) in height OR
  • the top of the ears are above the top of the child seat shell OR
  • the top harness slots fall below the child's shoulders.

Q. Which rear-facing lock-off do I use?

A. In rear-facing installations of our Next Generation convertible (infant/child) car seats, the lock-off closest to where the vehicle belt is buckled should be used. In rear-facing installations of our previous convertible (infant/child) car seat models, it is recommended that the lock-off farthest from where the vehicle belt is buckled be used.

Q. Why do the side walls on the Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats) appear to be more flexible than the traditional BRITAX convertibles (infant/child seats)?

A. The side walls have been designed with integrated steel bars to strengthen the car seat shell and limit flex in a frontal impact and therefore limit head excursion, while allowing the seat’s side walls to flex for optimum side impact crash force absorption.

Q. Why has BRITAX changed the energy-absorbing foam that lines the convertible (infant/child) seat shells and head restraints from EPS to EPP?

A. EPP and EPS have comparable energy absorbing characteristics. However, EPP foam is a more flexible and durable material, which reduces the potential for breakage, thus ensuring that the foam will be in place in the event of a crash. EPP will also result in fewer warranty return requests, thus improving consumer satisfaction.

Q. Why has the shell color changed from the traditional gray & beige to black?

A. The plastic used for the Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats) is a proprietary resin which has been engineered for optimum energy management and durability in a crash. The black pigment is a natural UV inhibitor and aids in preventing sun degradation of the plastic over time. As a result, the Next Generation convertible (infant/child seat) life has been extended from 6 to 7 years.

Q. Why is the bottom of the base on the Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats)a semi-open design?

A. The semi-open-bottom design of the Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats) is integral to the revolutionary performance of the seat’s energy management properties. This new design features an anti-slip rim which grips and protects the vehicle seat while offering optimum vehicle fit.

Q. Why is the head restraint on the TSIP Next Generation convertible (infant/child) seats narrower than the traditional BOULEVARD head restraint?

A. The head restraint on the Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats) has been enhanced for optimum head containment in a side impact crash. Because the shell side walls are deeper, the head restraint no longer flares at the outer edge. The child occupant now has (2) fully extended EPP foam layers for twice the protection between the child and the intruding door in a side impact crash.

Q. Why is the seating area in the Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats) narrower than the traditional BRITAX convertibles (infant/child seats)?

A. The width of the front of the seating area has been strategically reduced by 2 inches to optimize protection during a side impact crash along with the deeper side walls and energy-absorbing foam. The width of the back of the seating area is comparable to traditional BRITAX convertibles (infant/child seats) and competitive with other manufacturers.

Q. Why is there a gap behind the BRITAX Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats) when installed in a vehicle?

A. With the addition of the integrated steel bars in the BRITAX Next Generation convertibles (infant/child seats), the plastic columns at the back of the traditional BRITAX convertibles (infant/child seats) are no longer required, which creates a small gap between the car seat and vehicle seat back when installed. We have added a second forward-facing recline position to allow the car seat to install closer to the seat back for those sensitive to this concern.

Q. Will pressure on SafeCells during installation cause them to compress inadvertently?

A. The force required to compress the SafeCells in a crash far exceeds the force to install the seat and therefore will not compress them inadvertently.