I bought one of these to try in my car - RF 7mo ~20lb. I am struggling to get the straps tight enough. I’ve tried pulling from the back and not doing the chest clip until the end but it seems hard to pass the pinch test still!
Are there other tricks? Does it loosen /get easier to pull over time? I know lots of people love this seat so hope it can get easier!
nectarine / 2436 posts
I think the trick is you need to be the World's Strongest Human??
Anyone have a hack?
cherry / 105 posts
It gets easier! We've had ours for around 3 years but I still pull from the back just out of habit and it's easier. Maybe take the cover off to make sure nothing is caught?
nectarine / 2018 posts
It generally gets easier over time. I've also heard it gets easier as your LO gets taller and the headrest is higher. Other than pulling from the back I'm not sure there are any other tricks. But I agree with checking under the cover to make sure nothing is stuck, and also making sure the cushions are all sitting correctly.
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
@catgirl: I can pull them super easily without baby in it so I suspect it’s her weight combined with the level of the straps which won’t change for a while!
is there another graco seat you would recommend? Or another brand at a similar price point? (I know you know a lot about seats!) I don’t really need the extender I don’t think since we lived without one in the seat we are replacing ... I’d gladly trade for easier use. I do need a good recline to counteract my seat angle. I tried the Britax Emblem first and between its puffy headrest and paltry recline her head is ending up slumped forward. I got a little improvement with a pool noodle and may keep working on that but don’t love that seat either. Thanks for any leads!!
nectarine / 2018 posts
@bhbee: If you can get the extend2fit straps tight, you could then just leave them without loosening/tightening each time you take her out.
I have only played around with them emblem in store but it seems (and I have read) that it can be a pain to get it reclined properly.
I feel like all of the graco seats can have a similar issue with the straps, as far as difficulty tightening on the lower settings. There aren't a ton of seats at that price point other than graco or the britax you have that I would personally recommend - so I would probably stick with the extend2fit (or another graco like the sequel/sequence or size4me/mysize/fit4me if you don't think you will rear face to at least 40 pounds. The extend2fit has a large install if you forward face before 40 pounds).
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
@catgirl: thanks for the info! I just went through the csftl recommended list and it seemed like nearly all the seats mentioned difficult straps at lower heights! Ugh!
I’m really not a fan of the emblem but I may keep trying to make it work as at least I can do the straps! It seems like there is really not much space in it (and I have a chunk at the moment and overall tall kids). Hoping it seems better once she’s out of the infant seat cushion requirement at 22lb. I think I should have gotten the allegiance as it at least has less headrest padding, that seems like a really useless feature since it pushes the head forward. And the strap covers are ridiculousLy puffy too - I may try swapping them with my 4yo’s frontier clicktight strap covers if that’s allowed! I wish my marathon g3 hadn’t expired 
grapefruit / 4361 posts
.@catgirl: can you explain this:
"The extend2fit has a large install if you forward face before 40 pounds)."
We have had 5 extend2fits and all of them hust took some breaking in and not loosening the straps significantly when removing LO.
pear / 1697 posts
@DesertDreams88: It has a (large) required forward facing recline before 40lbs; after 40lbs it can be installed more upright. That recline is bulky front to back...it tends to take up more space than it did rear-facing. In some smaller seats (like the seats on extended cab trucks) it can cause too much overhang for a safe install. So long as you rear-face to at least 40lbs it is not an issue though.
nectarine / 2018 posts
@DesertDreams88: Basically what was said above. If you forward face under 40 pounds the seat is required to be on recline position 4, which is very reclined. It can also take up more space than it did rear facing. If you wait to forward face until at least 40 pounds, you can use the other positions.
cherry / 215 posts
I have the extend to fit, and so do both Grandmas. I know they have had a bit of a hard time with the straps, the back pull thing helps a ton! I do ok pulling down from the back while pulling up on the front strap. In fact I sometimes have to loosen it a touch after a good pull. It has gotten easier with use and with her getting taller, and its definitely easier when we can get some of these clothes off of them after winter! I had her in just a long sleeve shirt the other day, and was like, damn, this is so much easier! Good luck! Car seats are tricky. Side note, I have a tiny car (Scion XD) and the Extend to Fit has been one of the only reasonable convertibles that fit. I love it for that reason alone!
persimmon / 1310 posts
I'm so surprised to hear this is an issue with the extend2fit. We have two other graco convertibles (and 3 brands of carseats total), and our graco straps have always been the easiest to pull and most reliable for a snug fit. It's the reason they are my favorite seats; we have the Slimfit and Milestone.
To give your seat one more shot, maybe you could bring it inside and try to break in the straps? Just tighten and loosen a hundred times while you watch TV or something?
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
@Iced Tea: there is definitely something about that seat ... we had the graco snuglock infant seat and never had a strap problem! Liking that was one reason I tried this one.
I actually returned it today though. Not worth it to me!
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