Are Isofix bases only compatible with the relative makers car seats?

[Dandileeno]

Hi everyone,

I'm already 8 and a half months pregnant and it seems like I have spent an age trying to get my head around car seats / buggies and prams and so I still haven't bought one! It all seems much too confusing and none of the sales websites seem to give specific details on what is compatible with what / what comes with what! I am simply far too confused by it all and urgently need your help!!

Specifically, my question is: do you know if Maxicosi Isofix bases are compatible only with Maxicosi car seats and likewise any other make being only compatible with their own brand? I am assuming that they are and that this therefore means if I were to buy a Maxicosi Isofix base, then I would be limited to ensuring a Maxicosi car seat is bought each time my child needs an upgrade to a bigger size car seat (up to the age of 12). What do you think?

Also, if this is the case, which is the best make to go for that will last without the need to buy a different make Isofix base for future use?

Many thanks in advance! :)
Dandileeno.

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Hi there,

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MNHQ

Most only fit with one seat, the maxi cosi toddler seat has a diff base to baby seat.
I'm not sure about the new pebble seat, they may have addressed this. but the older maxi cosi has a base which is either isofix or seat belt fixed.

Recaro use same base for both infant baby and toddler seat. Their junior age 4 ish seat has isofix bars which you slide in for cars with no isofix.

I have used both and like recaro.
Not sure which buggies they fit on these days though.

the new maxi cosy base called family fix will take both baby and the toddler seat but isofix bases are only semi universal you need to check they fit in your car

I wouldnt buy the familyfix as it ties you into puting your child forward facing when extended rearfacing is 5 times safer

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1463361-Would-you-like-your-baby-to-be-five-times-safer?msgid=31631829#31631829

I have the maxi cosi easyfix base. Its half the price of the family fix. Mothercare price matched it for me when I ordered over the phone (amazon was cheapest at the time) and I took it instore and they fitted it for me. As i ordered by phone they gave me a £10 voucher as they price matched it. Works when you do it online too. They can also price match instore too if you take a print out of the webpage you found it on.

They price match to anything they stock so you could also look at a britax.

Of course no all seats/ bases fit in all cars so the main thing is to work out what fits your car. Do you have storage boxes? If so no base/ seat with a foot prop will fit.

Then work out if you want it to be buggy compatiable and go from there!

Thanks everyone - though I have to say, I'm remain confused!!! - I have since been looking all over for an Isofix Rear Facing car seat for Group 1, but need to know now if this would be compatible with a Group 0, or if you have to buy a new Isofix base each time you move up a level? It's absolutely ridiculous that they are not universal - why keep buying an Isofix base each time you have to change car seats!!!?!!! It just doesn't make any sense.

I hear that the Familyfix is compatible with the Isofix original base however it's only Forward Facing which doesn't sound great as it's not as safe as Rearward facing! - plus I hear that some mums move their child up to a Group 1 car seat after 6 months if they are then too tall for the Group 0 Car seat which sounds awful - I particularly don't understand when you see the clear advice here: www.securatot.co.uk/why-rear-facing-is-safer.

Anyone able to offer any help on this?! (Am 2 weeks away from my due date and still can't get a straight answer from any retailer on this subject!!)

Thanks! :)

....Hoorah!! I've found one Isofix car seat which apparently lasts from birth to approx 4 years and it's rearward facing (from Sweden) and is only £300.

www.securatot.co.uk/why-rear-facing-is-safer

Any thoughts?

I can't see link as on phone but is it the klippan kiss ? If so good seat!

Ps what car you got? Does it have storage boxes?

Does it have to be buggy compatiable because the klippan is apparently compatible with one buggy but I don't know what one!

Most group 1 seats don't need a separate base as the fixings are already on the seat.

@Lagoonhaze: It is the Klippan Kiss - Still not sure if I'm going to go for it though...

Dandileeno- if I had my time again and I didn't have storage boxes I would have brought it!

Having read this (and done some research here) I'm still not much wiser on the subject! I thought ISOfix was going to clear matters up, but I've ended up just using standard seatbelt fastenings to avoid making an inadvertent misstep.