is Isofix worth it?

[Melissad]

Is Isofix worth it? I'm 33 weeks pregnant and we haven't bought carseat yet. When I had my eldest daughters, Isofix wasn't available. I've had a look at Isofix options and looking at about £100+ for a base and £100+ for the seat, so about £200 in total! Which is a lot more than we were intending to spend. But it does look very very convenient and easy to use. Not to mention very safe for baby. What Isofox options have you got? There appear to be a few different bases and I want one which can take the baby seat and up to 4 years?
Thanks

[SurprisEs]

Go to Mothercare for advice and demonstrations. Many stores offer a free car seat fitting service an you don't have to buy.

Britax have the best isofix IMO. Check their website and go on fit finder to see if they have crash tested their isofix in your car.

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

We found the Isofix base really useful (and you can use it with a seatbelt too) as it meant we just had to click the baby seat into it, so no phafing around strapping DD in as the base just stayed fixed into the car. We preferred this as it was quicker and easier. We haven't bought isofix stage 2 & 3 carseats though as they stay fixed with the seatbelts anyway. We just didn't fancy having to keep strapping DD in with the seatbelt everytime we took her out in the car.

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

Meant to say we had a Maxi Cosi Cabriofix carseat with isofix base. The carseat can be used without the base too, so you could buy that and see how you get on.

[NinkyNonker]

We love ours, we had to buyIsofix bars to go in our car which DH ordered from the dealer and fitted himself.

We got the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix with Family Fix base...this base can also be used with the next size car seat up which would be a cost saving, although we think we're going to go for an extenteded rear facing seat so it won't get used for that purpose. (Will be used for next one due in May anyway.)

We had second hand all sorts of things and are in no way precious but a car seat was something we didn't mind splashing the cash on.

[Dancergirl]

Is isofix worth it?

Yes!

We had the same as purplecrazyhorse - the Maxi Cosi one with the isofix base. It's so easy to click in the seat, no more faffing around with the seatbelt. And it's so solid, it just felt safer to us. Def worth the money imo.

[CurwySwide]

Agree that isofix is worth it - we also had the maxi cosi first car seat - and it made putting the car seat in and out of the car so easy - no fiddling with seatbelts needed. Would definitely recommend as long as your car has the fittings for it.

[Risette]

Most definitely!

It is so much easier. I was using my dad's car for a while (without isofix) and it was that I then realised how much I preferred the ease of isofix. Plus the base can still be used for the next size car seat, so worth the extra expense I think.

[sleepevader]

Yes. I got mothercare to price match the easyfix base to £65 ish from amazon. Got seat from dorel (Maxi cosi) outlet on eBay bay. Yes it was alot more money than I spent first time round.

I don't like the familyfix base as it can only be fitted with isofix. Like the option using belted if necessary. Plus I wouldn't use the next stage as planning on doing extended rear facing.

Also watch out if you have storage compartments in your car. Isofix bases have leg props that can rest on a storage box. You can get foam fillers/spacers for some cars (vw and ford do them) or you need to take lid off and see if leg extends to bottom of box.

[CatsRule]

I really liked the Maxi Cosi seats too and wanted isofix but it is quite an expensive option by the time you buy the base even the familyfix base.

We're planning on buying the Saftey 1st Primeofix car seat which is also made by Dorel, it's isofix and secures with the top tether too. I liked this one as it also goes from birth to 4 years too. It retails at £180 but I've seen them on various websites from £150.

[ellesabe]

We don't have isofix but my friend does and our dd is always strapped in and ready to go before her's is.

So I'm not really sure what the point is. Maybe I'm missing something.

[helebear]

we have maxi cosi cabriofix seat and family isofix base. Isofix base feels really safe and saves having to faff around with seatbelt BUT we have a golf and the back seat is at a bit of an angle and its impossible to adjust the isofix base so that the carseat is level so although she was OK at first when she got to being a few months old DD was sort of hanging forwards in the harness and her head would loll forwards if she fell alseep which looked really uncomfortable. DP looked it up online and it seems to be an issue that others have experienced with golfs so I wouldn't bother if you have a golf as I don't use mine anymore as the carseat is at a much better angle if its just on the backseat with the belt around it. Am hoping that the isofix base will work with the next seat up!

[jjazz]

dare I say it.... theres always second hand. i got a pram/ push chair, carseat, base (isofix) for £20. ...I sold it to a delighted gentleman for £50....

[TheGhoulsAreJewelled]

Another cabriofix fan here. Just ordered a Britax Duo for the next stage - isofix being the main draw (apart from safety, obvs).
Kiddicare have fab service and often have special offers. I think they price match too.

[PotteringAlong]

we've just got an isofix base from halfords and they price matched it off the internet for us in the shop - they took it down to £85 so worth asking.

[BartletForAmerica]

Yes, it means that the carseat is always securely fastened, whereas with the seatbelt fitting, that might not always be the case, so it might move in an accident and not provide as much safety.

Our current car doesn't have Isofix (too old) so we've been using the MaxiCosi infant seat just with a seatbelt. Now DS is getting too big for that, we are getting a newer car so we can keep him rearfacing and in an Isofix seat.