Car Seats

Century has analyzed recent testing conducted by the Ford Motor Company on its inflatable seat belt system, and our recommended use is as follows for use in Ford and Lincoln vehicles with inflatable seat belt systems. 
Rear-Facing Only Infant Car Seats: Century allows the use of Ford vehicle lap shoulder inflatable seat belts with rear-facing only infant car seats when installed without the base.  At this time, Century does NOT allow the use of inflatable vehicle belts for installation with rear-facing only infant car seats installed with a base. Century strongly encourages consumers to utilize the LATCH system for rear-facing only infant car seats installed with a base.

All-in-One Car Seats: All-in-One car seats are approved in all modes, but when installing do NOT use the shoulder belt lock-off (if included) with inflatable belt systems. 

Due to changes in vehicles, regulations, new technology, and general wear and tear, we recommend that a car seat be replaced on or before the expiration date. Do NOT use after the expiration date. Century labels expiration timing information into the bottom/back of each car seat so you know how long the seat is safe to use. Expiration dates can range anywhere from seven to ten years after the date of manufacture depending on the car seat so it is important to check the Date of Manufacture on the white serial number label on your seat.

Used or expired car seats can be dangerous, especially if you do not know the car seat's history. Once the seat has expired, check to see if there is a recycling center in your area. If throwing the seat away, you should first take measures to make the seat unusable by cutting the harness straps, removing the seat cover, and by writing "DO NOT USE/EXPIRED" on the seat. 

For more information please visit the JPMA website on car seat expiration: https://www.jpma.org/news/455401/Useful-Life-of-Car-Seats.html

Century allows the use of mild or gentle soap and wet wipes to clean your car seat harness straps. If you choose mild or gentle soap, take a soft cloth and wet it in a bowl with warm water and mild or gentle soap. The cloth should be damp, not dripping, to surface wash the harness straps.

After cleaning the harness straps, let them air dry. If you choose mild or gentle wet wipes, gently rub the wipes directly on the harness webbing. After cleaning the harness straps, let them air dry. 

Things to Remember:  
DO NOT use a hairdryer, an iron or any other heating product to dry the harness.
DO NOT immerse the harness straps or latch strap in water.
DO NOT use bleach, abrasive sponges like scrubbing or brillo pads, or cleaning solutions that are not labeled or mild.

Doing so over time may tear, break or weaken the fibers of the straps. Inspect the harness for damage, there should be no cuts or excessive fraying of the fibers visible to the unaided eye.
If the harness straps or LATCH belt are frayed or heavily soiled and they are no longer useable, contact our Product Pros.

For a pdf with steps on how to clean the central front adjuster on your Century Car Seat Please go to our Contact Us page.

Century® car seats are certified for use in aircraft, when used according to manufacturer's instructions. Please refer to your owner's manual for specifics on any seat. If your seat has been approved for aircraft use, there will be a sticker (either on the back, bottom or side of the seat, depending on the size of the label) that says "This restraint has been certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" in red lettering. However, even though the seat is FAA approved when used according to the manufacturer's instructions, we recommend calling the airline you are traveling with ahead of time as each airline has its own policies. Booster seats are not certified for aircraft use because aircrafts do not have a shoulder belt.

The products manufactured for the United States and those manufactured for other countries may be different due to differing requirements and regulations. We recommend that you purchase the products made for your country of residence. Products listed in our website catalog are USA models only.

Century recommends replacing the car seat in the event of any type of accident. Even if there appears to be no damage to the car seat on the surface, the impact and force of a collision can cause unseen internal structural damage to your car seat. Any such damage may prohibit your car seat from properly protecting your child in the event of a sudden stop or crash.

FAQs on Accident Replacement Policy

Q: Why do you recommend replacing a car seat after any type of accident?
A: Sometimes there can be internal damage to the car seat that is not externally visibly. This internal damage could affect the safety performance of the car seat, so we err on the side of caution to protect our consumers. That is why we recommend consumers replace their car seats after an accident.

Q: Do I need to replace the car seat if my child was NOT in the car seat at the time of the accident?
A: Yes. During an accident, the car seat may experience crash energy that damages the seat, externally or internally, even if the seat was unoccupied. 

Q: I don't see any damage to my car seat [after an accident]. Do I still need to replace it?
A: Yes. The car seat may have experienced internal damage that you cannot see. The damage could reduce the car seat's safety performance and effectiveness in the future which is why we recommend replacing the car seat.

Q: What type of damage may occur during an accident that I would not visibly see?
A: We do not know the specifics of your particular accident, but any of the following may have happened to the car seat during the accident that could affect the safety performance and effectiveness of the car seat:
Side impact foam that lines the shell of the car seat may be cracked or dented. Hairline cracks in the plastic that cannot be seen. If a child is in the car seat during the crash, the harness may have stretched. Internal fractures to the car seat shell that cannot be seen. Tether strap is stretched if it is attached to the car seat at the time of the crash. Damage to the internal components of the buckle. Any of these situations could cause the car seat to fail if it were to be involved in a future crash, which is why Century recommends car seat replacement after any type of accident.

All Century Infant Car Seats can use the European Belt Path routing to install without the use of a base.

Century recommends using the top tether for all forward-facing car seats in accordance with your vehicle and car seat owner's manuals. 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. In the event of an accident, the top tether secures the top of the car seat to limit forward movement and head excursion.

Anything in your vehicle can become a potential hazard during a crash. A mirror could break, or cause additional injury if it came loose from the headrest and became a projectile. Toys hanging from a seat (particularly the handle of a rear facing only seat) can hurt the child if they go flying into the seat, or can pose a strangulation hazard if the attachment is long and flexible. If you feel it is necessary to see your little one via a headrest mirror, perhaps due to a health issue, you should be aware of the risks involved. Century permits the use of vehicle seat covers as long as you are still able to achieve a secure installation that moves less than 1 inch front-to-back or side-to-side.

The safety of our products and the consumers that use them is our top priority. Century car seats include uniquely designed and removable infant head and body supports to help provide the best fit for a growing child. While we prefer consumers use the supplied infant head and body support in accordance with the owner's manual, the National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program recommends the use of a small rolled wash cloth between the child and the harness buckle if additional support is needed. Century permits this practice if the supplied infant body support is unavailable or if additional support is still required when in use. Per the National CPST manual and training program, consumers should make sure the child is secured in the car seat with the 5-point harness, passing the pinch test, before inserting the small rolled wash cloth between the child and the harness buckle. As always, please contact our certified Product Pros for any additional questions.

Always refer to your manual for care and maintenance instructions specific to your car seat.

To clean the buckle, place in a cup of warm water and gently agitate the buckle. Press the red button several times while in the water.

DO NOT SUBMERGE THE BUCKLE STRAP.
DO NOT USE SOAPS, HOUSEHOLD DETERGENTS or LUBRICANTS.

Shake out excess water and allow to air dry. Repeat steps as needed until it fastens with a click. Re-insert the buckle into the same slot it was removed. Pull up on buckle strap to make sure it is secured.

WARNING! Inspect and clean buckle from time to time to remove any objects or debris that could prevent latching.

As part of our car seat safety testing, we evaluate how weighted objects that are stored in the cupholders, like cups, react during different types of tests. The car seat cupholders are tested and will retain weighted objects stored in the cupholders under normal vehicle operation and sudden braking.