Question Is it bad to overtighten harness straps?

purplemama · Dec 8, 2008

I can never figure out how tight to get the harness. I've tried the pinch test and I can never pinch it so I'm pretty sure I have it tight enough. But when we got home from the store today I looked at his shoulders and he had red marks. When I tighten he kinda grunts but he doesn't like getting in the car seat. So I don't know if he's being his usual self or I'm squishing him. I'm thinking too tight but I'm SOOOO paranoid about having everything right with his seat.

wendytthomas · Dec 8, 2008

As long as you can't pinch you're fine. It sounds like you have him too tightly. I don't know that harm would come of it, other than the marks and discomfort and dislike, but it's not doing any additional good.

Wendy

MomToEliEm · Dec 8, 2008

Here is a good thread showing how to tell if the harness is just right.
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=49030

safeinthecar · Dec 8, 2008

If you push the harness release, and the straps loosen by themselves as the kid decompresses, the harness is too tight.

skaterbabs · Dec 8, 2008

Yep. My 12 yo often helps by putting Joy into her seat - but he does over-tighten the harness occasionally. (Better than the alternative, I say!) I just pull the release lever and have Joy wiggle a bit, then I give the adjuster strap a light tug.

Maedze · Dec 8, 2008

safeinthecar said:
If you push the harness release, and the straps loosen by themselves as the kid decompresses, the harness is too tight.

So the hissing noise I hear when I unhook my boys means the harness is too tight

:duck:

skylinphoto · Dec 8, 2008

Maedze said:
So the hissing noise I hear when I unhook my boys means the harness is too tight

:duck:

LOL . I was totally thinking the same thing. :ROTFLMAO:

safeinthecar · Dec 8, 2008

Maedze said:
So the hissing noise I hear when I unhook my boys means the harness is too tight

:duck:

If the hissing noise is accompanied by relieved looking children taking in large gasps of air, then yes

MustangMama · Dec 8, 2008

safeinthecar said:
If the hissing noise is accompanied by relieved looking children taking in large gasps of air, then yes

LMAO!!!

:yeahthat:

ilo · Dec 12, 2008

I probably also over tighten. I have very small fingers and I can always get them in between DD and the harness. I use to tighten it as tight as I can get it and i guess DD is use to it. Now when I joined here I read about the pinch test. As I'm so use to very tight harness the one that can not be pinched seems very loose to me. I'm trying to get better so it would be more comfortable for her.

I'm just so paranoid about car safety. It takes me twice as much time to secure DD in the car that other mommy's take to secure their 2-3 kids!!!!!

MustangMama · Dec 12, 2008

ilo said:
I probably also over tighten. I have very small fingers and I can always get them in between DD and the harness. I use to tighten it as tight as I can get it and i guess DD is use to it. Now when I joined here I read about the pinch test. As I'm so use to very tight harness the one that can not be pinched seems very loose to me. I'm trying to get better so it would be more comfortable for her.

I'm just so paranoid about car safety. It takes me twice as much time to secure DD in the car that other mommy's take to secure their 2-3 kids!!!!!

SO I just always tighten it pretty tight, what is correct? She if FF in a Graco Nautilus. Is it ok to be a little loose as long as I can't "pinch an inch"?

wendytthomas · Dec 12, 2008

No, if you can pinch an inch it's WAY too much. If you can pinch anything you need to tighten it more. But just to the point where you can't pinch anything. Not to the point of cutting off bloodflow to the arms.

Wendy

Jeanum · Dec 12, 2008

Pinching less than an inch is more of a dieting and weight loss thing.

Ideally you wouldn't be able to pinch any slack in the harness. The link that was posted up above to Defrost's article about the pinch test illustrates it really well at http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=49030

Oops, slower typing and pokey internet connectivity = delayed cross posting with Wendy.

MustangMama · Dec 12, 2008

Jeanum said:
Pinching less than an inch is more of a dieting and weight loss thing. Ideally you wouldn't be able to pinch any slack in the harness. The link that was posted up above to Defrost's article about the pinch test illustrates it really well at http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=49030 Oops, slower typing and pokey internet connectivity = delayed cross posting with Wendy.

AHhhhhhhhhh gotcha! I must have skipped over that part of the thread.

Thank you!

Question Is it bad to overtighten harness straps?

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