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Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

Car seats

Two Way Elite driving me mad, help!!

16 replies

acatcalledfelix · 31/08/2011 19:05

I bought one for 22mo DS after he started to break out of his Kiddy Energy Pro. I struggled to get a extended RF seat that would fit in my car so was pretty limited in my choice. and ended up with the TWE.

So, we've been using it for just over a month and the straps are driving me to distraction!!!! No matter what I do, or how careful I am, they keep getting twisted. After the ease of the Kiddy seat, it seams to take me an age to get DS into the TWE, get the clasps in the right place, try and untwist it, then tighten it adequately. Just to complicate matters I have a little Houdini so I've just put on a 5 Point Plus to try and stop him, which means I've got an extra thing to contend with, argghh!!!!

Does anyone have any advice how I can stop getting the bloody straps twisted so I can just pop DS in and fasten it up? We really don't have the time in the mornings to be faffing as much as we are, and even when we don;t have a deadline, DS needs to be clipped in as soon as possible or he tries to break out.

Help!

OP posts:

Report

acatcalledfelix · 31/08/2011 20:00

Bump?

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acatcalledfelix · 31/08/2011 20:53

Another bump?

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GetThePartyStarted · 31/08/2011 21:01

I tend to loosen it a lot before I put DS in, then clip him in and tighten it up. It is a right PITA to get it clipped it in if it is still tight from last time so this is the best way I have found! But I don't get any twisting - what twists?

acatcalledfelix · 31/08/2011 21:06

The belts just keep getting twists in them, I can't for the life of me work out how. I moved the shoulder straps up at the weekend and made sure they were perfectly straight, and now, more bloody twists!!!!

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acatcalledfelix · 31/08/2011 21:07

Oh and I loosen it before putting him in too. I loosen it, and make sure the clips are accessible. Still doesn't help....

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ticklebumpkin · 31/08/2011 21:10

I've got two of these - a newer and an older model but both have two little pieces of elastic on either side of the seat that you can secure the clips under.

I've not really had a problem with my straps getting twisted (use one each for DD1 and DD2) so I don't really use the elastic things, but I would have thught they would have helped.

Has yours got those?

ticklebumpkin · 31/08/2011 21:12

JUst checking - it's not the strap pad things that are twisting is it? I find that those bits twist a bit themselves but as they aren't strapping them in I don't worry about it.

acatcalledfelix · 31/08/2011 21:12

Not that I've noticed unfortunately. So what am I doing wrong then?!

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thisisyesterday · 31/08/2011 21:13

no advice i'm afraid as not really had this problem

but can i ask how you find the 5 point plus?

ticklebumpkin · 31/08/2011 21:15

Not that you've noticed that you have the elastic, or not that you've noticed re: the strap pads twisting?

I can't work out why yours are twisting, it doesn't compute with how I've found that seat. Our stage zero car seat is a mamas and papas primo viaggio and the straps on that are a bugger for getting twisted within the clasp. It's been a relief both times to transfer to the TWE because I've found they don't twist at all. I can't picture why yours is doing this.

Hoopsadazy · 31/08/2011 21:24

We've had ours about 18mths and now have got twisty straps - but only in last few weeks.

Can straighten them a bit by unzipping the back and flattening. ultimately though, if it is tightly pulled and in the buckle, they are safe, aren't they?

acatcalledfelix · 31/08/2011 21:33

Thisis The 5 point plus was great till today when DS got his arms out of it . But, I think that's because the straps were twisted so not tight enough. Hoops if they are twisted you can't tighten them as much as you need to, which with my DS leads to him breaking out!
tickle I haven't seen the elastic bits.

I have no idea WHAT I'm doing wrong. Alot of the time when I try to attach the clips together before I clip them into the buckle they are completely the wrong way round. WTF is going on????

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ticklebumpkin · 31/08/2011 21:40

Hmmm.

Like I say, I can't picture what's going on with yours. I did find the straps confusing on mine to begin with then jsut realised that they were far simpler than I had realised.

To straighten my straps I put my index finger in right at the top under the strap, where the strap attaches to the top of the seat, then run my finger right down to the bottom. They should be in one fluid loop - if they're twisted they should untwist when you do that.

Then, once you've done that they may look twisted but if you lay it flat against the seat (try it without him in it) you just kind of pull the clasp across and it's really simple.

The elastic bits - so the seat itself is made up of a horizontal bit and a vertical bit. The elastic bits are on the left and the right side of the horizontal bit - when the straps are undone and loose the clasps should reach over the side and can be held in to prevent twisting.

So here there is a white band across the side of the seat kind of parallel with the straps but on the side of the seat, not within it.

I'm crap at explaining, sorry!

mybootsaremuddy · 31/08/2011 21:43

Our friends twe dosent have elastic straps on the side but little grey rubbery bits you slot the clasp into to keep the straps out of the way when not in use. I have never heard her mention about straps twisting....... only ever heard her rave about how good it is. Im hopping to get one for ds2 if he ever when he gets big enough. Hes 16mths and only 8kg. He is tall enough as ive sat him in friends one hes just not heavy enough yet! He is in a babysafe (britax) at he moment.

Everyone else who has the TWE is it realy as good as my friend says? I realy want to keep ds rear facing and just wonderd if that is the best one. I know it fits one of our cars as have had friends in it. So would need to check if it fits the transporter and dhs truck.

thisisyesterday · 31/08/2011 21:52

myboots it's a very good seat. yes. but there is plenty of choice out there ,the TWE is not the safest rear-facing seat, but it IS good and it can be used rear or forward facing, harnessed up to 25kg

I love ours, but if I were you I'd have a good look at all the possibilities before choosing one.
we also have a besafe which is one of only a few to top the Swedish Plus test for safety...

acat that's good to know! i haven't tried one but it seems like such a good idea and i have recommended it (with disclaimer) to a few people now!

mybootsaremuddy · 31/08/2011 22:12

thisis thanks. I will have to have a good look and prob try a few out as we also have 2mth twins who will eventuay need bigger rf seats although we have one very large vehicle (needed with 6dc). I only recently found out about extended rf otherwise id have kept my other dc fr for longer. I imagine by the time the twins are ready to move up there will be newer seats (and hopefully more widly available) to chose from.

Sorry for the highjack op

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