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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

Do I need an isofix base?

17 replies

oohlaalaa · 08/10/2012 11:30

We're buying the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix car seat.

We don't know what to do about isofix base. I don't mind the inconvenicen
of putting a belt around car seat, as the base is a lot of money. We'd always make sure the seatbelt is correctly put on.

Is the base very important for child safety?

I understand I can't buy the carseat secondhand, but can I buy the isofix base secondhand on Ebay.

Also which base? Easyfix or Familyfix?

We have a Golf with isofix in place.

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oohlaalaa · 08/10/2012 11:33

inconvenience even.

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SeveredEdMcDunnough · 08/10/2012 11:34

I heard somewhere that no, the base is only a way of ensuring that you put it in properly. It ought to be just as safe without, provided the belt is on right etc.

Saying that I'd use isofix if our car had it, purely because it seems better to have the seat attached with solid metal brackets to the chassis of the car - rather than being free to move more under a seatbelt.

It ought to fit onto the Easyfix base - I don't think the cabriofix seat fits the familyfix base, though I am not sure. It might do. I think that one only supports the pebble and the pearl.

It's really confusing.

oohlaalaa · 08/10/2012 12:36

I just don't know. I thought base, but monies so tight, then a friend who didn't bother with it, said there wasn't much safety benefit, as long as seat belt is put on correctly.

The Familyfix base does both the Cabrio and Pearl. However the Pearl is not rear facing, so don't know if we'd want the Pearl as next step up. We'd have to pay more for Familyfix.

May be better with just the Easyfix.

Can we buy base second hand? I assume so...

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SeveredEdMcDunnough · 08/10/2012 17:58

Actually I think we've got one. We're in Kent. I don't know if you would want to have it - £25 is what I paid so happy to take the same, might need posting though and is very heavy!!

I ought to just check it is the isofix one as well, I can't remember. My folks have got the Familyfix one, I got this one in error as our car hasn't got isofix. So then had to buy an easybase 2. (we have pebble - also second hand!)

You could also look on ebay, for ones nearer to you if we're too far away.

SeveredEdMcDunnough · 08/10/2012 18:00

Shucks - no it's not. Sorry - it's the Easybase, which does fit the Cabriofix seat but NOT the pebble. And we have the pebble. So it's no use to us.

Well it's still available if anyone does want it!

BikeRunSki · 08/10/2012 18:07

I have just sold mine. It was incredibly useful, was able to click my babies in and out v quickly without leaning over them, disturbing them and waking them up, also great for putting car seat on/out of car in narrow spaces. We had two cars and all these things were occasional problems in the other car if we didn't move the base. I loved it!

oohlaalaa · 08/10/2012 21:42

SeveredEdMcDunnough - I'd buy it from you in a second, but I live in North Wales. Anyone with one from Shropshire, Cheshire, N Wales, and I could collect.

I take it I can buy second hand.

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Dordeydoo · 08/10/2012 23:47

Definitely get a base. I have cabrofix with easy fix base? I think. Would be lost without it.

SeveredEdMcDunnough · 09/10/2012 09:12

I don't think it matters having a second hand base, no. People might feel differently, I have never worried about it. They are so solidly built I think it would be hard to damage them!

ShhhhhGoBackToSleep · 09/10/2012 09:21

I probably wouldn't buy it secondhand off eBay personally, because they are some stupid/immoral people who do sell seats etc that have had knocks or accidents and really shouldn't be used.

The isofix base is fantastic, and makes it so much easier to get them in and out. When you have the seat belt on in is hard to get the baby out and leave the seat in the car, and it is also impossible to have a blanket over the top. I think it's worth every penny. Remember you will be using it for at least a year, and possibly for future DCs too.

Again, there are a surprising number of seemingly intelligent people who don't fit seats right with seat belts. Several of my university educated friends have used a car seat with a seat belt incorrectly such that an accident could have been disasterous. The isofix has a red/green indicator which is impossible to get wrong.

melliebobs · 09/10/2012 09:24

Just get the easy base2. Hell if a lot cheaper. Does the same job. If grandparents want to take baby somewhere n don't have isopod they can still have the base. Plus in the middle of winter when it's lashing it down u don't want to be faffing with a seatbelt!

SeveredEdMcDunnough · 09/10/2012 09:35

Think the easybase 2 is the one that attaches to the car using the belt, not isofix btw.

We have it because we don't have isofix points. I would prefer isofix if it didn't mean getting another car.

badmumalert · 09/10/2012 09:49

I think an isofix base is essntial. It is safer than a seat-belt fixed carseat when the latter is secured correctly but it is thought that 70% of standard sats are installed incorrectly. We used the ISOFIX bases for both children. We just clicked them in and we knew they were in correctly. A second hand base should be fine though.

Our children are now in Grp 3 seats, still with ISOFIX but I have to admit my DH doesn't always strap them in correctly - so as soon as we've introduced the human element the safety has been reduced. I often have to stop the car when I notice what DH has done.

oohlaalaa · 09/10/2012 11:09

ShhhhhGoBackToSleep - you mentioned not buying the base second hand.

I wouldn't dream of buying the car seat secondhand, unless it was from a family member/ close friend. However, can I buy the base secondhand?

SeveredEdMcDunnough - I'd also assume the base to be safe secondhand.

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lynniep · 09/10/2012 11:14

we had an easybase which I got for £25 for DS2 and I found it made life much easier (partially I guess because I also had to deal with a wriggly 2 year old as well as the baby - it wasnt such a hardship to unstrap DS1 when he was a baby)
If our big car had isofix points, I would have bought the isofix base, but it doesnt.
I really recommend them, and I do believe that the isofix version would be safer than just a carseat with the seatbelt. I dont think the non-isofix version is any safer, just more convenient.

lagoonhaze · 10/10/2012 18:13

Bases are subject to the same concerns second hand as car seats.

Isofix doesnt make it safer just reduces chance of user error.

oohlaalaa · 11/10/2012 11:27

Thanks lagoonhaze, that means I need to buy the base new, with the cheapest working out at £90. I thought for some reason it might be different than car seat.

Money is really tight at the moment, so we'll have to not have one, and just make sure we put seat belt on correctly each and every time.

My friend said it wasn't much of an inconvenience and our parents managed without a base. It's more the safety issue I was concerned with.

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