Joie 360 spin fit issue

[ThelastRolo20]

@bertiebottsso sorry to immediately tag you again but I have a question about the fit of the Joie 360. Everywhere online says the wedge is the last part of the 3 part insert to go - but I don't think that's giving the right fit.

I've tried with the insert out and wedge in (which is what is recommended online - the manual I have isn't actually that clear) but the straps are coming across her thighs as opposed to hips.

I've then swapped it so the wedge is out, insert is in and that seems to fit better? What do you think? Any other comments welcomed too!

For completeness here's a picture with both the wedge and insert, not the extra headrest piece. This is what the manual says she should have for her age

It looks right to me with the wedge and the insert. There is too much space at the sides when the insert is out, which is why it looks odd, and they look fairly young so they probably do still need the extra recline of the wedge. At a guess this baby is not yet sitting unassisted?

If you send pictures to Joie, they can tell you for sure and I've heard sometimes they approve the use of the insert without the wedge? But I think your baby looks fine with both parts in. This seat is a bit unusual in the way that the straps look in this in between stage. You can tug the shoulder/chest pads a bit before fully tightening the straps to get them more even and to sit more centrally on her chest, closer to the neck. Sometimes I found because they are so grippy, it helps to position the pads while the straps are still very loose and hold them in place as you pull the slack through, otherwise they can catch on the child's clothing too far apart and make a "V" shape. BTW, the pictures are all fine - none of them have a bad pad position. The last picture could possibly be a tiny bit more centred but it's not a problem where they are there.

You'll know to remove the insert part when it feels like their arms can't relax and are pushed out by the side cushioning.

Thanks @BertieBotts:) I'll leave both the inserts in for now until she's older. She's just over 4 months so not sitting unassisted yet!

Then wedge and insert sounds perfect :) Where did you get told to take the insert out? I have never heard that advised so young before.

Looking back at pics of DS3 I removed the insert at about a year old and the wedge came out somewhere around 18 months. For DS2 he went into that seat at 10 months and didn't have any inserts at all, but looking back he should have had the wedge in up to about 18 months as well - there is a big gap by his tummy with nothing there.

@BertieBotts not for this car seat but you know with the newborn car seats (up to 15 months max) you typically take out part of it/ a wedge once they hit 60cm? I guess I thought it might be the same but of course the multi stage seats are a lot bigger so that wouldn't make sense 🤦🏻‍♀️

I blame sleep deprivation

Ah OK yes - that makes sense, with a lot of seats even the multi stage ones, the insert is only for the newborn period so is removed around 3-4 months.

This one is different so just the head piece is like that, and the wedge/body insert sort of cover the whole time you'd use an infant car seat.

Not to worry, easy mistake to make :) A good example of where it works to look in the seat's manual rather than following more general advice, because sometimes individual seats are different.