Fitting the True Fit problems

Unregistered · Mar 11, 2010

Hi There! We're getting ready to fit the True Fits into mine and hubby's cars and I was trying to adjust it for LO so it'll be ready for her once installed, but I'm having problems... I can't seem to get the straps really tight on her. She's at the first height notch and the straps are slightly under her shoulders, if I put it to the second they're too high. The straps don't seem to be snug to her - the more I tighten them, the more they pinch at her shoulders and the straps seem to buckle a bit instead of lying flat, but they're still loose across her abdomen (I can easily slide a few fingers under there). Is this the way it's supposed to be, am I just used to her baby bucket being tighter? We're having them installed tonight, and her bucket will have to be un-installed to fit them, so I'm worried we'll take her bucket away and these seats won't fit her right and we'll be sort of stuck.
She's almost 10 months, 18lbs10oz, about 26.5 inches long.
Thank you!

syd'smom · Mar 11, 2010

I can only speak to one part of your question. For rearfacing, the shoulder straps MUST be at or below her shoulders. You should do the "pinch test" on the shoulder straps and be sure the chest clip is in the right place. Be sure the lap portion is hitting the right spot on her hips as well.

I'm sure that some of the other wise mamas/carseat techs can chime in with more specifics for you!

jess71903 · Mar 11, 2010

That's fine for there to be space at her tummy. You only check for tightness at her shoulders. It may be tight-feeling at the abdomen on chunkier babies, and sit away from the tummy on thinner babies.

Unregistered · Mar 11, 2010

Yeah, that's the problem... her shoulders are a bit higher than the straps, and when I get it tight enough not to pinch any at the shoulder it's still loose on the chest/tummy area... I tighten it up on the leg and pull it tighter and all it does is push down on her shoulders and buckle on the shoulder, but still loose on the chest/tummy. I keep the chest clip pushed right up to her underarms too.

TechnoGranola · Mar 11, 2010

You could also make sure you have the harness set to the shorter length (at back there is a splitter plate with a couple of different loops for length). I don't believe this is your issue since it sounds like there isn't too much harness, but just in case you could check this and adjust if necessary to see if it helps. Refer to the section in your manul called "Harness Length Adjustment" to ensure you do it properly if you change anything.

Unregistered · Mar 11, 2010

Thank you, everyone! I feel better now, momentary panic over, LOL.

shauburg · Mar 11, 2010

Are you pulling all of the slack out from around the hips, moving the slack up to the shoulder area, and then tightening? If so, and there is no more slack at her shoulder (cannot pinch a fold in the harness webbing), then it should be tight enough.

Unregistered said:
We're having them installed tonight, and her bucket will have to be un-installed to fit them, so I'm worried we'll take her bucket away and these seats won't fit her right and we'll be sort of stuck.

Are you having someone install them for you? If so, I'm assuming that this person is a Child Restraint Systems Technician, so they should be able to help you adjust the straps and confirm for you that the straps are tight enough. Also ensure that you leave from your meeting with this person able to install the seats yourself.

In the unlikely instance that the True Fit straps cannot be tightened properly on her, you should not be "stuck". Why couldn't you just reinstall her infant bucket seat and use that until you get a convertible that does work?

Fitting the True Fit problems

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