True Fit questions

I have a true fit for my 2year old 29lb son. He has reached an awkward stage where he isn't quite tall enough for the next harness notch, but it is difficult to get the belts all sorted and put on right with them so "low" down below his back. The belts also rub on the buckles a lot and the side closest to the door has "creased" and now it likes to try to fold under when I buckle it so I have to straighten the belt every time to keep it from folding/twisting in side the belt.

I am sort of thinking about just getting a new seat because my husband hates the way this one installs (he is the one that does the installing generally) and he doesn't like the way the belt paths, and we have "deep" seats and it doesn't really install that great in them (2001 pontiac Bonneville).

Does anyone know what I am talking about with the akwardness of buckling when the child is almost tall enough for the next higher harness slot but not quite? Any advice on dealing with it? Is it normal for the belts to crease and start to want to fold after a few years of use? (our seat is a bit over 2 years old, we got it in 2011).

I'm assuming he's still rearfacing?

If so I tended to move up a slot even if they were a hair below it still if the lower slot was causing problems (it's not uncommon for the straps to start sliding off the shoulders when the straps start getting that low). If he has plenty of room above his head still (which I would think wouldn't be a problem in the Truefit) I'd move the straps up a slot and see how he fits. Sometimes they also sit taller when the straps aren't pulling down so much and it really isn't an issue.

It isn't unusual for the straps to get softer as they wear. You could check to see if you could purchase a new set of straps if it's really bothersome. The straps haven't been washed have they?

Yep, this is why my 6 month old has the infant insert back in the seat. I remembered that stage from my oldest and didn't want to deal with it again.

So if you still have your infant insert (assuming yours came with one) see if that would move his bum above that next harness slot until he gets those last few inches of torso growth.

Take it out when he gets a little taller and you've got some more growth time in the seat

I think it depends on how close "close" is to the next slot. I had the same problem with my son when it was almost time to move up in his myride. One slot was so far below his shoulders that it was pushing down on them and causing him to slouch in the seat and was also making it hard to pull them up over his shoulders without loosening every time which is a pain to do because then I have to get to the adjuster which is pressed up against the seat back when RF. He had less than 1/2 inch to the next slot so I just moved him up.

He is very close to the next slot but still below them even not strapped in, I remember taking the infant insert out because I read that it is supposed to come out at 22lbs in the manual (if I remember right) we kept it in there until he was 22lbs though, I think we actually had to move the harness down when we took it out.

Yes he is rear facing, and yes the straps slide off his shoulders and make him slouch, it is a major hassle getting him buckled in, it takes 5-10 minutes to make sure it is all right every time. No the straps have never been washed, but he has thrown up in the car several times, I just wipe the straps down with a cloth with water on them when he throws up (he throws up often in the car), so maybe that is what has softened them but it is a major hassle.

We had a boulevard that we used with my daughter, and I liked that we could just adjust the straps to where we needed them instead of worrying about notches, I wish I had gone for a seat with that type of system now, it is tempting to buy a new seat even though I was determined to use this seat until he outgrew it I am wavering in my resolve because it is becoming such a hassle to buckle him.

Hmm, I took mine out when my oldest was above the bottom harness slots, I think I need to go pull my manual out and look at it. Of course mine was manufactured in 2008, different years may have different rules regarding the insert....

ETA: My manual states that " The height insert is needed until the child's shoulder is at or above position 1." Again, though, mine was manufactured a while ago.

My True Fit Premier manual (early 2012 DOM) says that the infant insert can only be used up to 22lbs.

As already said, if he is really really close to the next slot, I would just move the straps up and see if the fit is better.

Keeyamah said:

Hmm, I took mine out when my oldest was above the bottom harness slots, I think I need to go pull my manual out and look at it. Of course mine was manufactured in 2008, different years may have different rules regarding the insert....

ETA: My manual states that " The height insert is needed until the child's shoulder is at or above position 1." Again, though, mine was manufactured a while ago.

Click to expand...

The insert thing has changed a couple of times. I believe now they say that you can use it while rear-facing, no matter what slot or weight. I know my 2008 True Fit said 22lbs, but my newer one just says RF (I think- no mention of 22lbs). The bolded above just means that it MUST be used if the kiddo's shoulders are below the bottom slots, in order to boost them up, and that's still true. After they hit the bottom slots without it, though, I *think* it's always optional while RF.

OP, I am fine with moving up to the next slot even if kiddo is still a little below the slot IF the child still has several inches of shell above their heads in the seat. For RF in the TF, that's almost always the case, so I'd do it. I've also noted in the TF that the actual slot is set so far back in the shell that it's hard to tell exactly where it hits unless you stick something like a butter knife in it to see.

Thank you for your responses. Mine was manufactured in 2010 and it does say the insert shouldn't be used beyond 22lbs but he is rear facing. I am going to look at his seat and see if I can get away with moving the straps up, I thought it was vital to keep them in the lower notch until they were for sure above the next one I didn't realize it was ok to move them if they are close, I suspect moving up the straps will solve most of my issues with the seat.

My straps fold at the buckle too. I just kind of slide the buckle up a little and back Dow to straighten it. I've read several comments saying the same.