Britax Offers Free Product Update Kit to Owners of Regent(R) Child Restraints

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 9 -- To enhance the performance of its Regent(R) child restraint manufactured between November 10, 2005 and June 18, 2007, Britax Child Safety Inc. is offering a free product update kit to product owners whose model numbers begin with "E9L39."

Britax has recently modified the Regent product and revised its instructions to now require the long belt-routing method of installation with LATCH, lap-shoulder belt, and lap belt, for use with children weighing 22 to 40 pounds, and the short belt-routing method of installation with LATCH, lap- shoulder belt, and lap belt for children weighing 40 to 80 pounds. All Regent child restraints manufactured after June 18, 2007 have been produced with this modification.

The update kit includes a revised user guide, a belt-routing label to be applied over the existing label located on the fabric cover, a longer LATCH connector strap, and adhesive slip-resistant strips.

Consumers who own a Regent child restraint manufactured between November 10, 2005 and June 18, 2007 with model numbers beginning with "E9L39" and have registered their restraint will be automatically sent an update kit along with complete instructions. The model number and date of manufacture may be found on a white label on the lower left side of the child restraint underneath the fabric cover.

Consumers who have not registered their Regent child restraints should contact Britax Consumer Services at 1-888-427-4829 Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. EST and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. EST or register online at www.BritaxUSA.com to receive their update kits.

Product update kits will begin shipping to registered owners on or before July 10, 2007. Britax strongly advises all current owners to utilize this product update kit as soon as it is received.

According to Britax, the current LATCH connector is acceptable for use in the short belt-routing installation for children weighing 40 to 80 pounds, however the length of the connector will not allow for the long belt-routing LATCH installation for children weighing 22 to 40 pounds. Until the longer LATCH connector is received with the product update kit, consumers are advised to use the long belt-routing method using either the vehicle lap-shoulder belt or vehicle lap-belt for enhanced performance.

Instructions for the long and short belt-routing methods can be found at www.BritaxUSA.com.

  For more information, contact Britax Consumer Service, 1-888-427-4829.

  About Britax

Britax Child Safety Inc. is the North and South America operating company of Britax Childcare Group Limited, a global leader in the child car-seat and travel-system markets. Founded in 1996, Britax Child Safety Inc. is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. It produces and distributes quality child seats ranging from rear-facing infant seats to seat-belt-positioning boosters for older, larger children. For more information, visit www.britaxusa.com.