car seats

A: Mint latch has been tested on various inclines/reclines of vehicle seats, and each vehicle seat creates a different amount of space between the car seat and the vehicle seat; if the level line on the label is level with the ground, and the LATCH connectors are properly connected, the seat will work as intended.

A: The harness pads are required for children weighing up to 22 lb. The harness pads are optional from 22 lb. up to 40 lb. The harness pads MUST be removed when your child reaches 40 lb. They should also be placed ON TOP of your child's shoulders. 

A: For an infant that is rear facing, the harness straps should be even with or just below the baby's shoulders. If the harness is above the baby's shoulders with the straps in the lowest position, do not use the car seat until the baby grows into it.

For a child that is forward-facing, the harness straps should be even with or just above their shoulders.

A: No. Joie Baby car seats are currently only approved for use in the United States. It would be considered illegal to use a car seat that is not compliant with the Canadian Safety Standards for car seats.

A: While you cannot apply chemical disinfectants to your Joie car seat, you can briefly set the car seat in the sunlight. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can kill germs and surface bacteria.  Be mindful, prolonged sun exposure can compromise material color and integrity.

A: You can install chili spin 360™ with any type of seat belt. When installing rearward-facing with a lap-only belt, the seat must be in recline position 4. 

A: There are typically no issues installing a car seat in a seating position that is next to a side curtain air bag, but please consult your vehicle owner’s manual before determining which seating position you want to use for your car seat. Your car seat manual should also be consulted prior to install for any noted air bag interference warnings.

A: This is highly dependent upon the type of vehicle you have and the type of car seats being used.  We recommend testing out your desired setup ahead of time.

When installing three car seats next to each other, please make sure the following conditions are met:

• Each car seat must achieve a correct and tight installation.
• The positions of the car seat on the vehicle seat are not changed by contact. Each car seat still aligns properly with respect to the seat belt or lower anchors that secure them and do not overlap the adjacent car seat.
• If the vehicle seat is adjustable front-to-back, both portions of the vehicle seat must be adjusted to the same position.
• Only one lower anchor connector is connected to a single lower anchor point.
• There is no contact or force that would bend or deform any of the car seats.
• The lower anchor belt or seat belt used to install each car seat does not rub on each other or crossover in a way that they interfere with each other.

A: Generally, no, the vehicle seat that the car seat is being installed on needs to be at an upright angle similar to what an adult would use. Many of our car seats come with the ability to recline the car seat itself.  Please consult your vehicle manual for specific direction.

A: No, we cannot advise the use of a vehicle seat protector under your seat. 3rd party accessories have not been crashed tested with our car seats and can keep the seat from being installed correctly, thus, compromising crash performance. 

A: When cleaning the plastic portions of your car seat, please use a damp cloth with a bit of ph.-neutral soap if needed.  The car seat should not be soaked, hosed out, or power washed.

A: Some Joie car seats are FAA approved and can be used on an airplane.  Booster seats are not approved for use on an airplane due to the majority of airplane seats having only a lap belt. Please refer to your car seat’s user guide and labels on the car seat to determine if it is FAA compliant.  The text on the label will be in red font.

A: If your vehicle does not have lower anchors, or the lower anchors are difficult to reach (even with the included LATCH guides), you may use the vehicle seat belt (lap & shoulder, or lap belt) to install your car seat. Be sure to lock your vehicle seat belt to maintain installation. If your seat belt does not lock, contact joie customer service for a locking clip. 

A: Currently, mint latch™ does not have a matching base, but installs with mint latch™ are so easy, you do not need one! Rotate the integrated LATCH connectors to the appropriate angle (so the level line is even with the ground), line up the connectors with your vehicle's anchor points, and click in! Both indicators will turn green when they're properly connected. You can also use the vehicle belt to easily install the car seat. 

A: No. Wearing bulky clothing can prevent a proper harness fit. A large “puffy” coat or clothing can compress in a crash introducing slack into the harnesses which need to stay tight on the child. You should not put your child in any car seat wearing bulky clothing or jackets. Instead, remove any bulky clothing and cover your child with a blanket or jacket after securing your child in the seat. We do not recommend using any products or accessories that are not approved by JOIE. To determine if the harnesses are tight enough, the caregiver should use the “pinch” test. If you can pinch the harness between your fingers at the shoulders, then tighten till you cannot pinch any of the harness between your fingers.

A: Most Joie car seats will require that 80% of the car seat base (front to back) be on the vehicle seat.  The 80% applies to front-to-back space only, namely for vehicles with a narrow center seating position like some minivans.  

A: No. The rue™ is a rear-facing-only infant seat and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to keep their children in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height or weight for their seat. Rue is meant for children from 4 lb. up to 30 lb. and up to 30 inches. Also check with your local authority for the car seat laws in your state.

A: The rue™ infant car seat can also be installed using your vehicle seat belt. Please refer to the instruction manual or call customer service for instructions.

A: The tether can not be used in rear-facing mode, only in forward facing mode. 

A: Yes. All Joie car seat covers meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302, Flammability of Interior Materials Standard, and are designed to prolong the amount of time it takes for a flame to spread across a car seat cover.

A: The chili spin 360™ can rotate when the seat is used both rearward and forward facing.

A: The chili spin 360™ features joie's LockTight™ lock-off that works with your vehicle belt to aid in a strain-free and secure installation.

A: If you are able to pinch the fabric of the harness together (at the shoulder), it is too loose. According to Safe Kids; with the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap at your child’s shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you’re good to go.

A: All fabrics will get warm as the car seat is exposed to hot temperatures. If you are concerned about the temperature of the car seat, you can park in the shade to help prevent the seat from getting too warm. We also recommend using the buckle holders (when available) to make sure children's skin does not come in contact with the hot metal. Turn the A/C on in your vehicle prior to loading your child.

A: Spot cleaning is acceptable for all Joie gear. All of our car seats have removable fabrics that you can machine wash and air dry. Please check your manual for the best way to clean your car seat's fabrics.

A: While LATCH installation is intended to make installing your child's car seat easier, depending on your car model, that is not always the case. Our car seats are able to be installed with either LATCH connectors or the vehicle seat belt (never both).  The lower anchors do not need to be used if there is a difficulty using them – instead, install with the seat belt. Review both the vehicle’s and car seat’s instruction manuals to ensure the seat can be installed in the location where you want to use the lower anchors. If the issue continues, use the vehicle’s seat belt to install the seat.  

A: If your instruction manual is missing or you need another copy visit the support section of our website where you may download instructions for any Joie product.

A: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommends that car seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash. Car seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.
A minor crash is one in which ALL of these apply:

• The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site.
• The vehicle door nearest to the car seat was not damaged.
• None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash.
• If the vehicle has air bags, none of the air bags deployed during the crash; and
• There is no visible damage to the car seat.

Any crash that does not meet all of the above criteria for a minor crash is considered a moderate to severe crash. NEVER use a car seat that has been involved in a moderate to severe crash.
Information from nhtsa.gov

A: No. Rue has been crash-tested with either LATCH or the vehicle seat belt, not both. Using both methods will not enhance the safety of the seat in the event of a crash and could actually prevent the seat from working properly. 

A: Yes – it is not a safety concern for a child’s feet to make contact with the vehicle seat back when in rear-facing mode.