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Do I need isofix in a high back booster?

5 replies

babyblabber · 15/03/2016 18:25

DD1 is 4 in june but tall for her age so getting too big for her 2nd stage car seat. Car seat safety is very important to me and i want whatever is safest but i'm finding it hard to find official info on whether isofix is safer once you reach the high backed booster stage. moving her from rear facing is scary enough! I'm guessing it is as the car seat is anchored to the car rather than just held in with the seatbelt but i really want to see how much safer, officially!

we actually have a non-isofix high back booster in grandparents house which we could just take (and money is very tight at the moment!) but am only happy to do this if it's as safe as an isofix seat. her big brother who is 6 has one with isofix so i could put him in the non-isofix one as he's a bit bigger but that feels a bit like sophie's choice!!!!

anyone has any info, not just personal experience but actual knowledge?!!

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PennyHasNoSurname · 15/03/2016 18:31

Isofix is no safer than a correctly installed non Isofix seat.

The benefit of an Isofix HBB is that you dont need to belt it in when not in use. A loose carseat in the back will be lethal in a crash.

The absoloute safest seat is a (Isofix or belted) Extended Rear Facing Seat which lasts up to 25kg, of which there are a few on the market at around £200/£250, however these start at 9months ish so you may only get two more years out of it instead of the six or so they can last.

The long and short of it is that a belted HBB which is correctly installed is of equal safety as an ISOFIX HBB. The Isofix removes the room for error.

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babyblabber · 16/03/2016 19:54

Thanks penny. How do you know that?! Where is the info?

We have the britax two way elite, still rear facing, which I think is up to 25kg but although very skinny & light, DD is tall for her age and her head is just at the top of it. And we have another DD about to outgrow her infant carrier too so moving them both up makes sense.

I just hate going to seatbelt! Got the advansafix for DS but then it was recalled and now I'm not sure we can afford it!!!

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RudeElf · 16/03/2016 19:58

I may be wrong but i think isofix is only safe up to 18kg. Worth checking out.

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PennyHasNoSurname · 16/03/2016 21:12

I used to work for a high street retailer, around the time that Isofix became available and all our training (even that from companies selling Isofix seats) was peppered with "isofix and correctly fitted belted seats are equally as safe. Isofix removes the margin for error"