ClickSafe is freaking me out

[BayGirl2]

DS (~22lbs, 16 mos) is rear facing in a Boulevard CS. I knew when shopping for the Boulevard that the ClickSafe feature wasn't worth paying extra for, but I ended up getting a great deal on a pattern I liked that happened to be a CS model. We've been using it for maybe 10 months now and I swear, the ClickSafe feature is dangerous. It clicks - telling you its tight - but I can always give it at least one or two more clicks. If I look at behind the seat after it clicks I still see slack in the straps. Even worse, the CS makes it really hard to tighten further beyond the clicks, I never had that problem with the SnugRide, I just pulled until it was tight.

I'm concerned that DS is going to be too loose in there, especially if someone besides me or DH ever buckles him in. Plus I'm straining my wrists to tighten it to my liking. I'd rather not even have the CS, but I don't know if there's a way to disable it without damaging the seat. I'm planning to use this seat for is full usable life for DS or a 2nd kid, but its getting really annoying. Any thoughts or advice from the experts? Or just tell me that it doesn't matter safety-wise and maybe I'll feel better about it.

[jjordan]

Okay, first off, I've never used a CS seat, so take this with a grain of salt. :)

Second, if you don't loosen/tighten the straps each time you take him out/put him in, then you won't have to worry about adjusting them very often.

Third, I'm not convinced that it's the CS feature that is making it difficult to tighten the straps beyond the first click. The Boulevard (even without CS) does not have a smooth harness adjuster. You give one pull to get the vast amounts of slack out, and then you tighten the rest of the way with a tug-tug-tug motion, where each tug tightens the harness by a small amount.

Since the seat is rearfacing, you can help yourself adjust the harness by putting your hand behind the seat and pulling the slack to the back of the seat and then pulling the harness adjuster. That usually helps a bit.

[edurnemk]

I agree that the CS feature does not work, so I totally disregard the clicks and just tighten until it passes de pinch test. When I taught my mom how to use it I didn't even explain the CS part and just showed her how to tighten and then check by pinching. Only DH, my mom and drive DS.

To tighten more easily, I do what the PP suggested: pull the slack from behind with one hand and tighten with the other. I have no idea what I'll do when we start FF.

[BayGirl2]

Thanks for the replies. I understand the pull, then tug tug tug motion. That's how we tightened the SnugRide. But somehow the CS feature makes that harder, like it puts extra resistance on the straps, so I'm straining to get another click. I could stop loosening to get him out, but I feel like I have to contortion his arms. But he's young and flexible so maybe I'll give that a try.

I like the the pull from the back trick, that sounds like it will work as long as he's RF.

I just can't believe they charge extra for this feature and claim it makes it safer!

[Joolsplus2]

Remember to only check for tightness on the shoulders. Britaxes are always loose on the torso, rather unlike the Snugride...just tug tug tug then make sure it's snug on the shoulder and quit and don't worry :)