Graco help

flummadiddle85

We just got a Graco MySize65 for DS yesterday. Today was the first day we actually tried to put him init in the car, and we were failing horribly. When I tried to tighten the strap, I could barely move it, even though it was way too loose. I was able to eventually tighten it by unbuckling him, tightening, buckling, pinch test, unbuckling, tighten, etc. but then the straps ended up way uneven. One shoulder was too tight, DS was crying, and the other too loose. On his infant seat, if I messed around with the straps at his hips, I could even them out again.... It I couldn't seem to do that. Google says to leave the chest clip undone, tighten, then buckle the chest clip. Are there any other tips? What about evening out the straps when he's in the seat already? This all seems overly complicated, and DH was saying we should just return it if it doesn't work...

oliversmommy32912

We have that seat and I don't have any issues tightening it but I occasionally have issues with the straps tightening unevenly. I unbuckle everything and loosen the straps all the way. Then I tighten them back up a bit, rebuckle, and tighten it up. It's worked for us every time so far.

I found our Diono really difficult to tighten. It helped to grab the straps from the back of the seat and pull them down and then tighten. I actually find the MySize much easier to tighten than our Radian. I was surprised.

runningyogimama

I've never had issues adjusting with that seat, either. If they're uneven, I loosen both so they're the same length and then tighten again

Rrrrrachel

I have that seat and I have had trouble, mostly when. Need to move straps up a slot.

CLLDLL

We have that seat in DH's truck. The first one we bought was crazy hard to tighten. We took it back and exchanged for another one. The new one is much easier, but still not easy for me. I find leaving the chest clip un-clipped and pulling the tightener in short quick pulls works best.

welly01

Ugh, I HATE our Graco car seat.  We have the Headwise 70 one.  The straps get uneven all. the. time!  I may have to try the suggestion to leave the chest clip unbuckled.  Its so frustrating!  We had the Chicco infant car seat and I really wish we had spent the money to get the Chicco convertible seat.

flummadiddle85

Ugh... I hate this seat... We might just return it. So, recommend a decent convertible with a similar price point. DS is just barely under 30", 23lbs, and 15mo. So he's 25% for weight, and 10% for height (we just got back from the doc). DH and I are both on the smaller side, so I doubt DS is going to jump up percentiles much at all. Why isn't the Evenflo Triumph a recommended seat on CSFTL, but the SureRide is? I didn't much care for the SureRide when I checked it out.... @Nana_Osaki06‌

nanabanana06

The SureRide is recommended because it has the highest harness slots out there. It's the only seat where the seat will expire before your child outgrows it (if you buy it around 1 year and have an average sized kid). Plus since it's so cheap it makes a good seat for people on a budget. It does fairly good RFing and great FFing. The only downside is that it may need a pool noodle for the proper recline (which many budget seats need).

As for the Triumph. I don't know. It's not a terrible seat, but it's not the greatest either.

runningyogimama

We have a triumph, also, and it's much easier to adjust than the graco (I know I said I don't have a problem with it, but this one is easier). We like it...DD1 is also on the lower end for height and weight.

bumpuser9353653

I really like our Safety First Alpha Omega Elite.  Never had any issues tightening the straps, and Rae seems very comfortable in it.  She's also 15-25th percentile for height and weight. We just flipped her forward facing due to adding a second car seat in the vehicles (DH is tall and needs the extra leg room, so two RF would have been hard), but she was definitely not cramped RF.

CLLDLL

I know Britax seats aren't usually recommended because they are outgrown RF so quickly. That being said we have one that I really like. Boulevard I think. The straps rarely tangled or get uneven. With your LO being in a pretty low % height wise, you might be ok with it. We plan to swap ours out for a Radian or something else we can use RF for a bit and FF for a long time after if G outgrows the Britax RF before he hits three.

I also hear good things about the Nextfit and if you watch sales you can get it for just a little more than the Graco.

Rrrrrachel

I've got my eye out for a good deal on the nextfit. I have a britax and I do like it better than the graco.

flummadiddle85

JmeJme said:

We have a triumph, also, and it's much easier to adjust than the graco (I know I said I don't have a problem with it, but this one is easier). We like it...DD1 is also on the lower end for height and weight.

DH just went out to get this one at a different BRU since the one we went to didn't have it. It does seem a lot easier to tighten, easy enough that even babysitters could do it.

Angela814

I love my MySize. I actually just bought a second one. I have more trouble with the straps of my TrueFit. For that, I loosen the straps, buckle the chest clip, and pull out to even them out. Then I buckle the bottom, put my whole hand under the straps so I'm pulling them out evenly, and tighten with my other hand.

The reason I like the MySize so much is that DD2 was able to rear face in it all the way up to 40 lbs - 3y11m and ~43". When we bought our 1st one, DD1 was 7 years and 52", and she still fit into it. I think it's a great long lasting seat. But, if your kids aren't 95%+ for height, there are other seats that will last to booster age. Britax seats are easy to use and should be absolutely fine for a child in the 10% for height. The Chicco NextFit is supposed to be awesome too.

flummadiddle85

We got the Evenflo Triumph, even though the RF height limit is less than other seats out there. But hopefully with a short short kid that won't be an issue. I do like it, and I think it will be easier for others to get him in the seat right (even straps, pinch test, etc). But we got it on Thursday, went OOT for a wedding 3+ hr away on Saturday, and 30min away from our destination, in the middle of no where, DS pukes ALL. OVER. So much for his nice new seat. I spent this morning getting the rest of the puke off.