Graco Evo shoulder strap problems - too tight for my 8 month old

[PattyV]

Hi, has anyone else had problems with the Graco Evo pushchair?

It's been great until recently. My ds is only 8 months and the straps won't fasten over a snowsuit. The pram is meant to last until 3yo!

I took it into mothercare and an assistant made sure the straps were fully lengthened and agreed that they weren't long enough. I was told to contact Graco.
Graco refuse to help. They say straps are 18" and should fit the average child until they're 3. End of story.

Surely somebody else must have faced a similar problem with Graco? Advise would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[Ihateparties]

Are they 18 inches long? I've just measured the straps on my nearest pushchair, a red kite zumi and they are 18 inches at their longest from the seat back to the point they join the waist strap. They are plenty long enough, they fit over my 110cm 4yo, her 2yo sister uses them partially shortened. Which is making me think your straps can't be as long as graco say they are?

[AliceMum09]

Could you send some pictures to Graco? I remember my sister having the same problem with the straps on her Bebe Confort Loola Up a few years ago and they sent her a replacement set of straps immediately.

[SecretNutellaFix]

Have you moved them to the higher setting?

[Tiggywunkle]

Have you made sure the back of the harness is pulled fully through. So that it doesn't look like this?
I had my nearly 5 year old in the Graco Evo with length left on the harness, so I am very surprised that you are finding it short.
I would speak to Graco.

[PattyV]

Ihateparties - yes I've measured them they are 18". It's strange because my baby's a normal height (less than 75cm). The crotch strap is very short so that might be an issue but it is a real struggle to pull the shoulder strap over his body and he's completely squashed (& in tears) if I force it fastened.
Alicemum09 - I've sent pictures of my baby in the pram, the straps at their max length & my baby lay next to a metre ruler (to show his length). They're not interested.
Tiggywunkle - I took it into Mothercare 2 months ago and they lengthened it to the max for me (and commented that he wasn't going to last long in it!). I'm amazed that your 5 yo fits in it!!

I bumped into another Mum with the same pram yesterday who said she was having exactly the same problem.

But... I've spoken to Mothercare again on the phone and they have been brilliant! They have told me to come in to the store for an exchange.

So thank you for your help but it looks like Mothercare have come to the rescue.

I won't be buying anything from Graco again though!

[Ihateparties]

That would be a result if they exchange the whole pushchair!
This is 110cm approaching 5yo dd1 in our pushchair with 18" straps, she has loads of space in them.

[miki123]

PattyV did Mothercare simply exchange your Graco Evo with a non faulty version with longer straps or did they allow you to exchange with another brand/model? We are having exactly the same problem as you have described - we cannot fit the straps around our 8 month old and it just doesn't seem to make sense. Had you been using your Graco Evo since birth? Just wondering if we could also go forward to Mothercare...Thank you!

[shainamalhi]

hi pattyv
unfortunately my 10 months old has the same problem.but in our case neither did graco nor toys r us frm where we bought this graco pram,could help us.they jst try repeating the same thing that it's suitable till 3 yrs etc etc..seriously we r fed up now,spent so much money on this graco product n my son hardly fits into it..its a struggle putting him into the harnesses.pls suggest what should we do??

[shainamalhi]

pls reply ....would wait..thanks

[Glastoun]

FWIW, the straps on our Graco Evo XT have been sewn in the wrong place. On the back of the seat, the straps have a retaining buckle which looks thin enough to fit through the slots to allow repositioning of the straps. BUT, another buckle (the one that adjusts the length of the strap overall) has also been sewn in place BEHIND the seat, which won't fit through the slots; presumably this buckle should have been on the other side of the seat, but it means a) the straps will be too short and b) we can't get the straps through the slot to reposition them to a higher setting.

So this might not be an uncommon fault on Graco seats.

[Glastoun]

Edit - the straps are correct as-designed, it just almost takes a hammer to get them through the plastic slots because the slots are so thin. But once the adjustable buckle is through the slot there should be enough strap for larger toddlers.