Nextfit question

[kate1482]

Sorry for the car seat question. Thought it would be ok to ask since nextfits are popular in this board.

Do you find it is super hard to tighten? I feel like I have to pull so hard and it's not ever tight like the keyfit. Does it get easier over time? We just installed it yesterday. (RF in a 2014 Outback if it matters)

Thanks!

[Saudade]

Yes. It's awful. I hate it. I have the new one, with the soft strap protectors. I can never get it tightened. I just never use that seat anymore because it's awful.

[dcn]

Yeah a bit. It helps to pull out rather than up. Also I move the strap covers down, tighten, then move them up. Seems to make it easier.

[winemaker06]

Both of ours were quite difficult at first. Have been using them for over a year now and they have definitely improved.
I don't have a comparison to other seats but we have definitely liked them more over time.

[noodleskooze]

Are you talking about tightening the seat itself or the child harness?

I have major trouble with the child harness, and it's getting worse. I'm actually going to call Chicco about it, I think. One side is always a bit looser than the other no matter what I do.

[kate1482]

answer pp questions-

Seats are new and purchased over thanksgiving break. I bought two nextfits and one Nextfit zip.

Dh said it was super easy to install. It's the child harness that I'm having problems getting tight enough.


I'm so bummed that others have run into this too. Thanks for all the feedback.

[Brie]

We have no problems with ours.

When I tighten it, I slip a wrench or screwdriver through the loop at the end of the strap and use that to pull. I get a much tighter install that way.

[nextbigthing]

I could've written this post! We just installed ours last weekend and thought the same thing (the key fit was so easy!).

I do think pulling straight instead of at an angle to the side help, I've been pushing on the seat with one hand and pulling the strap with the other and it helps get some leverage too, but it shouldn't be this hard.

[nextbigthing]

After I posted earlier, I started googling and found this

bridgeovermeanderingwaters.blogspot.com/2015/01/chicco-nextfit-harness-wont-tighten.html?m=1

I just adjusted the headrest yesterday and the angle is at 1. The shoulder pads are kinda weird, definitely liked the key fit ones better. But I'm going to look more into it and see if any of these tips help

[Deleted]

Dec 12, 2015 21:55:13 GMT -5 noodleskooze said:

Are you talking about tightening the seat itself or the child harness?

I have major trouble with the child harness, and it's getting worse. I'm actually going to call Chicco about it, I think. One side is always a bit looser than the other no matter what I do.

Same here. One side of the child harness has more slack than the other no matter what I do. Which is crazy because the child harness straps are enclosed behind the back of the plastic. You can't access them like you can on the KeyFit. So how the hell did they become uneven?! I'm not happily with my NextFit frankly, which sucks because I loved the KeyFit.

[greycat]

I don't find tightening the straps too hard but I agree it is harder to tighten than the key fit.

A few things I've noticed:
-The straps seem harder to tighten depending on the height of the head rest. I can adjust the height slightly (usually lower) and it gets easier.
-I always pull slack from the bottom near DS's butt. I find it hard to pull this slack out only tugging on the main strap. I used this same method with the key fit.
-When I take DS out I loosen both sides equally. I haven't had trouble with the sides becoming uneven.

[kaycee]

Dec 13, 2015 8:29:26 GMT -5 swizz said:

I don't have a problem (it's way easier than the graco I have) but I do put the chest clip all the way down, tighten and then adjust the chest clip back up.

This is what I do. I never realized it was that hard, but I do notice my parents struggle with it a lot because they don't do this when they put her in.

I do think because of the sides and depth of the seat the angle to pull is awkward.

[noodleskooze]

I've honestly wondered if I'd have the same problem FFing.

[steamboat185]

The harness has gotten easier to tighten as DD has gotten bigger. When she was smaller I wasn't a fan, but at 2.5 find it to be really easy.