Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Car seats

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here. For Mumsnetter-approved essentials, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails here.

Flip

Original poster

Maxi Cosi Rodi vs Britax Kidfix

18 replies

maggiethecat · 01/04/2010 23:26

It has come down to these two but not sure if Britax Kidfix is a real option as it uses the isofix system. Our car is more than 10 years old and I wonder if the Kidfix can be used without isofix - has anyone done so?

If anyone has had to choose between the two which did you go for?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GoldenSnitch · 02/04/2010 08:40

kiddicare says the Britax can also be fitted with a 3 point belt.

We've always had Maxi Cosis but are about to choose a bigger seat for our tall 3 year old. Might have to look at the Britax

waitingforbedtime · 02/04/2010 08:47

We have the Britax kidfix (but have isofix) I dont know how it would work with just the belt - Id be worried it wouldnt be very secure.

Otherwise it is good though.

Original poster

maggiethecat · 02/04/2010 10:28

do you reckon I should get a new car then?

OP posts:

GoldenSnitch · 02/04/2010 10:34

I love our ISOFix. Soooo easy to use. Isn't swapping the car a drastic option though.

waitingforbedtime · 02/04/2010 13:24

swapping the car is very drastic.

If youre being sarcastic all I meant was that I cant review it for you as a non isofix car seat.

nicm · 02/04/2010 16:57

hi, could you get a www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/kid-plus instead? it's the britax one only non isofix. the rodi sps is the narrowest seat if you need to fit it in with other seats?

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 02/04/2010 17:06

We have the Kid fix and have used it with and without the isofix (really simple to hide the catches away) but you would be probly better off getting the cheaper non isofix version much the same in every other respect i believe

Original poster

maggiethecat · 02/04/2010 19:54

To tell the truth I'd give any excuse to change the car (has the car scrappage deal ended now?) - just can't get the energy to figure out which we should get - buying a car seat is challenging enough!

I've heard of the Kid plus but it's often been described as a booster seat and I wonder if it offers less in the way of protection than the kidfix? (apart from the obvious benefit of the kidfix being secured without guesswork associated with the 3 point harness)

OP posts:

amazonianwoman · 02/04/2010 22:12

We have 2 Kidfix seats - used them in my old non-Isofix car until January this year when we got a new Isofix car.

They're fab, both kids like them, the seat was voted Best Buy by Which - marginally higher score than the Maxi Cosi.

I've always had Maxi Cosi seats until these, but thought the Isofix option was an advantage over the Maxi Cosi, knowing that we would eventually get a new car with Isofix.

LynetteScavo · 02/04/2010 22:16

I went for the Britax because we have isofix, but if we didn't I would have gone for the Maxi Cosi Rodi (which I got for my mums car)

TBH, I like the Britax better, and yest they are fine if you don't use the isofix fittings.

Original poster

maggiethecat · 03/04/2010 13:55

It's really great to hear from people like you all who have actually used the seats rather than just what the salesperson says.

Amazon, did you find the Kidfix easy to use with the 3 point harness? If you weren't getting a new car and you had to do it again which would you choose (in terms of apparent comfort for the child, ease of use?)

I gather they are both very safe seats so ease of use etc will make the difference for me.

OP posts:

Original poster

maggiethecat · 03/04/2010 13:59

Lynette, if you did not have isofix would you have gone for the Maxi Cosi thinking it did not make sense to pay extra for the isofix feature of Kidfix if you would not use it? (bcso I notice you say that you like Britax better)

OP posts:

amazonianwoman · 04/04/2010 23:34

Yes, it was fine using it with the 3 point harness in non-Isofix car - I understand the seat is equally safe in Isofix and non-Isofix cars once the child is restrained with the 3-point harness, ie the harness does all the work in the event of an accident. I think they are just safer in Isofix cars when the seats are empty, ie the unoccupied seat won't be thrown around the car in a crash. I think this applies to all Isofix seats in this group?

Nevertheless, I would still have bought (and would still buy if doing again) the Britax Kidfix. It's a great seat. When I bought ours I wasn't intending to replace our car so quickly and was perfectly happy with them in the old car.

I reckon you'll use it for up to 7 years - and you may well end up with an Isofix car in that time period, so may as well go for a future bonus now

I got ours from Kiddicare - cheapest available at the time.

amazonianwoman · 04/04/2010 23:37

Here on Kiddicare - only £12 more than the Maxi Cosi

Original poster

maggiethecat · 05/04/2010 01:51

Thanks Amazonian. Went to local shop on Saturday and looked at both. Maxi Cosi just looked like it would offer more protection , esp head protection, altho Britax looked quite sturdy. It would have been easier to go for Britax since my older dd has one (not Kidfix) and the possibility of a new car looms.

One complaint so far about Maxi Cosi is that it's not so easy to thread the belt through the belt hook - hopefully the seatbelt will not 'lock' too often necessitating re-threading of the belt.

I note what you say about the safety whether using isofix or harness. The salesperson pointed out that many assume that isofix's added safety is bcos of the fixed position of the seat. His view was that the main benefit came from the accuracy of fitting the seat with isofix compared to use of harness which people sometimes get wrong.

Many thanks again for your help.

OP posts:

3l15a8eth · 05/04/2010 12:26

We have four kidfix car seats I would get a kidfix my children find them very comfy as you are more likely than not to change the car before the child grows out of the seat get isofix. It does make it safer when the child in it but it does make it safer when he isn't as the seat is secured as children grow up you spend more time in the car without them.

bids1 · 08/04/2010 17:25

great topic... we have loved the old britax evolva (similar to kidfix) with isofix... but do you agree that the maxi cosi is more narrow??? even detaching one seat from the isofix points, i can't get three across the back of the car comfortably. (we need to move 2nd boy into the next size, keep using the britax plus add an infant in two months). if you know of another discussion on this, please let me know!! we are near luton - anyone know of good range to test out in the car? (ford cmax)

eightisseventoomany · 16/05/2010 18:08

We have bought 3 Maxi cosi rodi XP seats...which are great...
good side inpact protection all round and my boys can sleep resting their heads on the huge side "wings" !
As I also have 2 newborns...and they have the Jayne isofix seats...(my Mazda5 only has 2 sets of isofix bars...) so opted for non isofix for my older 3 as they were rated almost the best buy...but cheaper than the isofix alternative.
Have to say they are very good strong seats...
dont know of many cars that have all the back seats fitted with isofix fittings ??

Flip