Anyone have a solution for keeping car seat straps from twisting. I have never washed the straps and I take the time to straighten them each time I put my kids in their seats and am not haphazard when taking them out. It just seems to me that somewhere out there someone must have figured this out.
I have looked at this strap holder online before but haven't tried it myself but thought it might work. It is called buckle pals seatbelt strap holder.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...
generally you can't wash car seat straps (it will say so in your manual) because it causes the structural integrity to weaken.
unfortunately some makes/models of car seats have straps that are 'twistier' than others. if the straps seem twistier than when the seat was new, you could try ordering new straps directly from the manufacturer.
and this is what one certified child passenger safety tech says about cleaning harness straps (from http://www.carseatsite.com/FAQ.htm):
"How should I clean the harness straps?
Soaking the straps will remove the chemicals that make the harness fire resistant. The water won’t damage the fibers. Using detergent on the straps can weaken the harness fibers. Also, putting them in the washing machine can stretch the fibers if they get caught around the agitator. Never iron the straps to try to flatten them or use any other chemicals such as a fabric softener, bleach, starch, etc. If in doubt about how to care for the harness, use a damp wash cloth and wipe it down. A toothbrush is great for getting in the little crevices of the straps. Each car seat manual will have instructions in the last few pages telling you how to clean the straps. Caution: some harness straps cannot be removed from the car seat, so it's essential to treat them carefully. You may not be able to order a replacement set if they are ruined. (Source: Professional CPS Discussion Board, Various Child Restraint Manuals)"
If you have a Cosco or Dorel seat, you just have to deal with it. They are very thin material and its nearly impossible to keep them from twisting. But I'm glad to hear that you do untwist them every time, as its horribly dangerous to have twisted up straps, they need to lie flat.
Do NOT submerge the harness in water, do not machine wash them, and do not use starch! These will all damage the fibers making the harness weak and susceptible to breaking, and it removes the flame retardency of the material.
I agree with Suz K. I believe it depends on the seat. I have never had problems with our 2 Britax seats or the Chicco bucket seat we have but the cheap seat my Mom got for her car is awful. I do find with hers it helps to not leave the straps pulled loose. You could try keeping them close to the length your child needs and slip them out a little instead of pulling the straps out all the way. Our seats also came with velcro pads for the childs shoulders. These may help yours from twisting if they sell generic pads for any seat.
I have the same issue myself. Like others have said here, I've heard to spray starch on them to keep them from twisting. It is suppose to work like a charm.
I think it is a devilish ghost that goes into the car at night and twists them.. or when you are in the store or other places. They go from car to car twisting the straps just to teach you patience. That's my story and I am sticking to it..lol
I don't really have much of a solution for you, but we have 2 of the same car seats that we bought at different times. I have noticed that the straps on one seems to get twisted & pulled the wrong way through the buckles more easily than the other one does. I want to say that one is the older one, but I'm not really sure. But you'd think that the other one (which I use 95% of the time) would get bad too...
I like Kimberly's idea thought. Take the straps off and wash them, and maybe add starch. Let it dry out flat. Maybe lay a towel over it and iron it flat?? lol
I wonder if it's possible to buy new straps for the car seat?? Surely it is...
my friend told me it was wha material th straps are made of. The cheaper car seat (which I own!) twist while the more expensive car seats have straps made of better material so they don't twist / twist as much.
Does anyonne have experience w/ this? We have the Eddie Bauer seats from I believe Evenflo or Costco(??). They both twist horribly. Does anyone out there have a higher priced seat that the straps don't twist on?
I have wondered that myself. Here is an idea that just popped in my head. Take them out and wash them and starch them. Maybe they would be stiff enough to stay straight. I mean, when you first purchased the carseat, the straps were somewhat stiff and after much use the are now soft and twist easy. Maybe starching them would make them stiff enough to prevent twisting. I may try it myself.
