Non-isofix car seat for a newborn

[Flutterby8]

Currently pregnant with our first and we have stepped into the minefield of choosing a car seat.
Neither of us have the option in our cars for an isofix base.
We're looking for something that will last a decent amount of time and not just a year (if at all possible).
Ideally if it rotates then perfect but I dont think this is possible without an isofix base?
I saw online there is a Maxi-Cosi solid base that can be belted in with a foot for the floor as well, but seems to be discontinued?
Can anyone offer any advice at all, I dont know where to even begin!!

No, no seats without an isofix base (from reputable brands) can rotate (except the maxi Cosi axiss but this is forward facing only). There are newer car seats that have a roaring base for the removable car seat but these are more gimmicky as you usually tend to put baby in the car before taking them to the car (and they tend to be more expensive!)

There’s many options for seat belted car seat. For the first year or so, the best option would be to get an infant carrier car seat (ones with the handle) as they are more reclined so offer better positioning for a newborn. As you’ve said there’s the option to use a seatbelt base or you can install the car seat with a seatbelt—most do this though there are a few that are exclusively isofix.

Maxi Cosi have the easy fix which can be used with the cabriofix as a belted base, joie also do the click fit which is belted and can be used with the Juva (not compatible with prams) or the Gemm (compatible with universal adaptors on prams). I believe the nuna pipa LX is belted too but I think it’s been discontinued as I can’t seem to find it anymore.

Best option would be to get an infant carrier seat then get the next stage car seat which can go up to 18kg/25kg

I didn't have isofix in my car and we had the maxicosi belted base and a normal maxi Cosi infant carrier, that worked really well as it also went on the same but isofix base in DPs car. Will be the other way round with this baby but I'vee no hesitation in using the belted maxicosi base again. I then got a Joie belted seat for my car (the Tilt) which I don't like but again it does the job, it just has irritating features that I didn't experience with the infant carrier and belted base.

Have a look on eBay, Facebook marketplace etc as people will occasionally have the belted base for sale, that's where I got mine from. I know you shouldn't buy second hand car seats but I think that's more to do with any possible damage to the crumple protection in them, you'd soon see if there was anything up with a second hand base I think?

Thank you @8dpwoah and @teaandlotusbiscoff for your replies!
You have both been really helpful!
I have been looking more so at the Maxi-Cosi range, purely because many people I know have had them and they are such a well known brand. But now you have mentioned other alternatives Im going to do some research into them as well!
It is just a minefield. There are so many things to consider and it is such a necessary thing to have that I just want to get it right!!

I've got to be honest, I really rate maxicosi. I got my travel system from them which I have loved (Adorra) and managed to split the shopping basket after a while, my fault, they sent one out no problem. Their outlet section on their shop has good discounts on end of line/old colour stuff too.

I've got the Joie tilt and the 360 in the cars and they both do my head in to be honest, although I've no safety concerns or I'd have got rid of them. Just silly little things that make me wonder why people rave about them so much!

Its good to know how much you rate the Maxi-Cosi range @8dpwoah.
It does seem to be the most popular to be honest. I think my main worries have been the fitting because of not having access to isofix. But then my rational head tells me there was life before isofix and to stop being silly 😂
I found looking online so overwhelming. There are so many options and combinations I did not have a clue where to begin!
I'm so glad I found these forums, they really do offer lots of great advice!

Intersting comments about the Joie 360 and Tilt above - we own one 360 and two Tilts (husband's car and parent's car) and really rate all of them. 90% of my mum friends probably have the 360. I think it was money very well spent!

We have a MC cabriofix and it's quiet a tall fitting seat compared to the pebble, you don't know how big or small your baby is going to be but DD is tiny and still fits at 2.5yrs (she measured 50th percentile on scans, came out 7th!!) DN fit in her pebble till 13/14 months and she is 98th percentile.

We don't have a car so I've belt fit it in many cars, it's not hard and doesn't take long and also allows for a bit more adjustment to avoid the head flop problem

I know I'm in the tiny minority @bigtoejoe 😂 I find the straps get in the way, they twist easier than the maxicosi did, and I find the spin lever really hard to get to and release in ours, that's because it has to be rammed right up to the seat to stop it wobbling (in a very 'normal' isofix car). The tilt has had to go forward facing in the car it's for because it was sliding all over the place with the belt fitting when facing backwards, and I bought it so we could ERF. Luckily we only use that car to run her to nursery and back, or very locally.

But the padding is good and DD seems to sit well in them, so I grit my teeth and crack on!