Twisted Harness Belts or Seat Belt Positioner

[janasmama]

We called Britax about it and they said that they had changed the straps so they sent us new ones. They appeared exactly the same but we changed them out anyway and they are still twisting. We literally have to untwist them everday....which we don't...so DD ends up sitting in the seat until the straps get so twisted that they are too tight.

Not only is this annoying but as far as I know it's also dangerous for the straps to be twisted. Am I correct?

DD is over 40 pounds, not by much. Legally she could ride with the SBP. I'm sure most of you would say to buy a different seat but that isn't going to happen unless I sell this seat to someone else and I feel awful doing that. Like "here...this is a great seat!" and not say anything about the straps.

So, my question isn't whether I should use a SBP with her or not...I know where most of you stand on that. My question is which is safer, twisted up harness belts or a SBP that is straight, without twists?

[BeckC]

It sounds like your seat is the Britax Frontier, is that right?

The twisty straps are a common issue that people have with the Frontier. The new straps they sent you likely have to do with the recall. They probably have a smaller loop where the splitter plate goes.

You're right that twisted straps are not safe. They need to be untwisted each time a child is buckled in. It's a PITA but it's necessary to keep a child safe.

How old is your daughter? Depending on her age, using the seat as a belt positioning booster may also be unsafe (and possibly illegal depending on your state).

[janasmama]

Originally Posted by BeckC

It sounds like your seat is the Britax Frontier, is that right?

The twisty straps are a common issue that people have with the Frontier. The new straps they sent you likely have to do with the recall. They probably have a smaller loop where the splitter plate goes.

You're right that twisted straps are not safe. They need to be untwisted each time a child is buckled in. It's a PITA but it's necessary to keep a child safe.

How old is your daughter? Depending on her age, using the seat as a belt positioning booster may also be unsafe (and possibly illegal depending on your state).

Yes, it's a Britax. I couldn't see one visual difference with the new straps but like I said we did put the new ones on the seat and the same problem occurs just as frequently.

I agree with most people here that a child should stay in a 5 pt. as long as possible...and DD is of legal height, weight to be in a booster with a belt positioner. So that's why I was asking that if she is of legal age (which I understand isn't necessarily the safe way to go) is it safer than a twisted harness belt?

I can't even get the damn things untwisted half the time. The seat has to be taken out of the car which we have to use the LBP and I have a 4 month old and a 2 year old....it's just not going to happen...I'd have to get on some damn anxiety meds and hire a freakin' mother's helper if I'm to add something like that to my daily 'to do's'

[BeckC]

Well is she of legal age? How old is she? Does she sit properly in a booster every time for every trip?

It's entirely possible that neither situation is safe.

ETA: I can hear that you're really frustrated and I don't blame you. I know that you want your daughter to be safe, or else you wouldn't be posting here. But as you know legal and safe can be two different things. I couldn't say that yes a booster would be safe without knowing more about her.

[janasmama]

Originally Posted by BeckC

Well is she of legal age? How old is she? Does she sit properly in a booster every time for every trip?

It's entirely possible that neither situation is safe.

ETA: I can hear that you're really frustrated and I don't blame you. I know that you want your daughter to be safe, or else you wouldn't be posting here. But as you know legal and safe can be two different things. I couldn't say that yes a booster would be safe without knowing more about her.

I did say that she can legally ride with in a booster with a SBP. Thanks for being thorough though so you can make sure you're giving good info. We're in Oregon and Oregon law is that they are 40". She is over 40" and over 40 pounds. By what, I'm not exactly sure. Probably about 3" and 3 pounds. She is 4.5

[DahliaRW]

If you're unwillling to untwist the straps to keep her as safe as possible in a 5 point, then I would use a high back booster.

[mamapixie]

Honestly, I'd complain to Britax enough to get your money back, and go buy the Graco Nautilus, those straps don't twist at all. And it's got just as tall slots as the Frontier.

[janasmama]

Originally Posted by mamapixie

Honestly, I'd complain to Britax enough to get your money back, and go buy the Graco Nautilus, those straps don't twist at all. And it's got just as tall slots as the Frontier.

I had thought about this but I didn't think I could find the receipt of purchase. Then I decided to search my inbox since I have gmail and viola....there is the receipt! So I did call them and give them a copy of the receipt. They are suppose to get back to me.

Hooray! Now with the left over money from buying a less expensive Nautilus we'll be able to apply that money towards DS HBB since he is outgrowing his convertible.

I sure hope they don't expect me to pay shipping back to them. That's going to be expensive.

[Ironica]

Hmm... while I don't like the fact that the strips *can* twist in the Frontier, unlike the Marathon, we've only had them twist "bad" once (where we had to spend a couple minutes reaching under the cover to untwist at the shell), and they only get folded over in the buckle tongue slot a couple times a month at most. We're able to keep them straight and flat, and they're even less twisty than the Snug Ride straps. OTOH, DS1 doesn't like to buckle himself in; he pretty much insists on us doing it for him. Maybe that's the difference? We're able to keep them straight because we're doing the buckling? He's the same age as your DD.

[janasmama]

Originally Posted by Ironica

Hmm... while I don't like the fact that the strips *can* twist in the Frontier, unlike the Marathon, we've only had them twist "bad" once (where we had to spend a couple minutes reaching under the cover to untwist at the shell), and they only get folded over in the buckle tongue slot a couple times a month at most. We're able to keep them straight and flat, and they're even less twisty than the Snug Ride straps. OTOH, DS1 doesn't like to buckle himself in; he pretty much insists on us doing it for him. Maybe that's the difference? We're able to keep them straight because we're doing the buckling? He's the same age as your DD.

She does have to buckle herself in and that probably does make a difference. I mean I can't even so much as touch the belts. None the less, they twist and that is a safety issue. With Britax being Britax...I expect more and I expect them to stand behind their product.

I had to email them some pics of it twisted. It gets twisted everytime she gets in.

[Ironica]

Originally Posted by janasmama

She does have to buckle herself in and that probably does make a difference. I mean I can't even so much as touch the belts.

Can't as in it's physically impossible, or can't as in sometimes four-and-a-half-year-olds are absolutely explicit in the most shrieking tones about what we may and may not do for them? ;-)

If the former, it might be worthwhile to look into how to rearrange things so that you can help. If the latter, though... my approach would be, "You need to be safe in your car seat. I can teach you how to keep the straps flat (you can; once in a blue moon, my son wants to buckle himself, and I guide him through keeping the straps straight). If you aren't able to buckle yourself in safely (which includes keeping the straps straight), I have to help you. It's my job to keep you safe." If she thinks it's unfair that you're springing this on her now, tell her that you just learned this, but from now on, this is how it will be. Give LOTS of extra time to get sorted in the car when you need to go somewhere, and discuss this new rule ahead of time. And just don't go until she's buckled in safely.

Also, it's easier (whether a grown-up is doing it or the child is self-buckling) to keep everything lined up if the straps are loosened first, then tightened after buckling. That's what Britax recommends in the manual, too; to re-tighten every time you use the seat.

Honestly, I think a 5-pt. harness is easier to use correctly than a seat belt for a small child, so if she can't do this on her own, switching to the seat belt is probably less safe. :-/

[janasmama]

^ As in she's 4.5 and has to do it herself.

You're right...thanks for that pep talk. I am still frustrated that they twist up so much....they just shouldn't do that.