To ask if you bought an ISOFIX base?

[cmjwx]

Just received our Joie travel system from DM for DS1 today.

Want to ask, did you get an ISOFIX for your DCs or simply use the seatbelt? I'd imagine ISO is much easier, just want others opinions before I fork out for the base.

Thanks!

I bought a base. It’s safer I think? And my childs safety is worth more than any amount of money.

@VelvetPineapple that is true! Agree they are safer.

Should they not be a legal requirement now?

It's both safer and so much easier to click the seat on and off.

Definitely ISO Fix. Absolutely fool proof, sages faffing about trying to get the seat in and the belt around it etc

No, it's not particularly safer, as long as you know how to strap it on properly.
I'm sure maxi cosi cabriofix actually tested better without.
Basically thought it wasn't worth it.

It's safer and sooo much easier than messing about with a seatbelt.

We didn't, but then we never travelled regularly in the car. DH had it for work so during the week I was always on foot. How much will you use the car?

I think a correctly applied seatbelt is as safe as an isofix base, but it is very easy to fuck up a seatbelt fastening and very hard to fuck up the isofix. I loved mine. Godsend when it's shitting down with rain and you can just click baby into the car in a few seconds rather than arsing around with a seatbelt that decides to.jam while your back and bum get wet.

@SparklingTwilight I will be using the car a lot to visit parents as they live a drive away.

I think it would be worth getting the isofix as I'd be terrified in case I didn't put the seatbelt on right!

I don't know if my car is compatible with ISO though.. I've never really looked.

I use it multiple times a day and it's so easy to have the base to click in and out, if you can afford it then yes I'd say worth it

It can't be a legal requirement yet as lots of cars still don't have the fittings.

It does make it easier to put it in and out, but after about 3 months I stopped taking the seat in and out much as it was so heavy with my kids! I used the isofix base for the next size up seat for Joie though as it works for all the seats. So have used 2 bases for up to 3.5 years so good return on the money.

Isofix is absolutely a no brainer. I wrote my car off with both dc in the car with me. Both in Isofix seats and they came away with a bruise each. Don't hesitate to buy it.

Easier, not safer if you know how to put the seat belt on properly. Which to be fair you need to know anyway if you need to use another car without the base.

We did and was definitely worth it for sheer convenience, if nothing else.

Thanks @Queenie8

They are pricey but I'd rather pay for my child's optimum safety! God forbid something happened..

I have a 2006 Fiat Grande Punto, no idea if it has ISO points. I need to have a look

I bought the base (well actually 3) clipping in and out of cars is so convenient and you know it’s secured correctly.

Yes. Worth every penny for convenience and peace of mind.

I didn't - old car wasn't isofix compatible (2004 reg), and then we sold it and just use Zipcars/taxis now (live in a city with good public transport so no need for a car), and I'm not faffing about trying to install an isofix base in different cars every week.

Seatbelts are pretty easy to learn once you've done it once or twice. Depends on the seat, obviously, but I watched a youtube video and checked the manual when I did the first couple of installations to check I had definitely done it right, and now I know what I'm doing it's just as easy as an isofix. Main issue is that some cars' seatbelts are a bit too short for the toddler seat in the rearfacing position, but usually it will fit if you adjust the carseat angle (ours reclines), or put the carseat in the front passenger seat instead. Never had any trouble fitting our maxicosi pebble in anything, but the toddler seat is obviously quite a lot bigger.

Isofix made our lives so much easier, in, click, off you go! No faffing with the seat belt 😊

They're not safer, they just minimise the risk of user error. We bought one for the first two kids, used it with a maxicosi.

Didn't bother for #3, as I was quite confident using the seat.

We couldn't practically because we don't have our own car and depend on lifts and taxis. One of the reasons I don't think they should be compulsory btw. But I do think if you have your own car it's easier with a base.

None of our vehicles have isofix so we didn't buy a base. We have had 2 car accidents (one each for DH and I, neither our fault!) since having children and they were fine both times bar a bitten tongue. I required a trip to A&E after my accident. As PPs have said, the key is knowing how to fit them but a good retailer like the In Car Safety Centre will talk you through that.
DCs are long out of infant carriers now but when they were, strapping the carrier in was no huge onerous task. Once you knew what you were doing and well-practised it took maybe 10 seconds?

Also is there a reason you'd be taking the car seat in and out? We leave ours in place for as long as we have the car... We'd take DS to the car in our arms (assuming car directly outside our house, buggy if not), transfer to waiting car seat, drive to where we were going, and take him out and put him in the buggy again, and reverse on way home. You're getting the buggy out of the boot anyway, why remove the car seat?

@Sashkin If we are visiting family etc? We're not going to lug the buggy in the house when we can carry him the car seat.