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Original poster

To Isofix or not to Isofix???

24 replies

LG1979 · 10/01/2015 18:04

As the subject mentions.....I'm looking at Maxi Cosi car seats as have been recommended them by quite a few mummy friends. However should it always be Isofix these days or is normal car seat fittings just as safe/good?

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polkadotdelight · 10/01/2015 18:10

Isofix makes life a whole lot easier. I wouldnt be without ours.

Firstimemummy15 · 10/01/2015 18:11

Hi. I have got this one and have it in the car ready to go (I'm 38+4!). I liked the idea of it as have seen family and friends struggle with using the seatbelt when it's cold and dark outside so I'm going for the easy option! Either are perfectly fine, it's just personal preference and what works best for you

dorasee · 10/01/2015 18:15

Isofix didn't exist when my eldest was born. We struggled with Isofix with DC2 mainly because we really needed to get people in and out of the car and often make room for extra passengers quickly. With DC3 we did not go with Isofix.

But here's the thing that you ought to know. I don't drive. Hubby does. Our kids are in the car practically never. I think if I were putting daily mileage on the car and running all over the landscape, I'd take a different view.
I have a Maxi Cosi and it's a great car seat. Like I said, no Isofix. But it's one of the most supportive seats I've used. Better than the ones I had for DCs 1 & 2.

PeppermintInfusion · 10/01/2015 19:10

I just picked up our car seat today (not maxi cosi though, but Jane). DH's colleague had the same travel system and said he only used seatbelts. We got it home and the seat just would not sit securely with the seatbelts in our car, v obviously not safe and we definitely had it in correctly. So we went back for the isofix base, the shop said some makes of cars and car seats work better than others- depends on shape of seats, length and position of seatbelts etc. So probably best to try it and see.

Only1scoop · 10/01/2015 19:12

Yes isofix for sure

HerewardTheTired · 10/01/2015 19:15

I didn't get the Isofix and regretted it. Hated faffing with seatbelts, especially in the rain and the seat didn't sit right and his head kept flopping forwards once he was a bit bigger. Ugh. Should have spent the money at the start!

MuffinMcLay23 · 10/01/2015 19:16

isofix is much safer so a no brainer for that reason alone but also more convenient for getting infant carrier in and out of car

Zebrasinpyjamas · 10/01/2015 19:22

Imo you need to know (properly know not just have a vague idea) how to secure the seat with just seat belts just in case you ever take the seat in another Car. however once you've pracriced this, get the base. Both ways are safe if done correctly but the Base is much quicker. When it's raining or dc is crying, the least fiddling about the better! I wasn't going to bother but I lasted a week before I ordered the base!

We have a Nissan and the seats are quite dipped/seat belts quite short so the base means I can clip it on in 1 second vs a couple of minutes getting the seat belts sorted.

Inbl00m · 10/01/2015 19:43

ISOFIX!!!

Makes life so much easier, and let's face it anything that does that during the first 3 months of having a baby is worth its weight in gold. It's one of only 3 things we bought for dd and has been worth every penny.

Dogsmom · 10/01/2015 20:13

We've got an isofix base but it's fitted to the car by the seatbelt then we just click the car seat on.

We have two cars and switched the base between the two fairly regularly and it was so fiddly getting it to click to the car, only my husband could do it and even then it was a faff.

I wouldn't have one where we had to strap the baby seat in every time as it is awkward to get in tightly, I found it often twisted on the seat, quite often at the weekend we can be popping to 4 or 5 different places so the baby seat is in and out a lot.

moggle · 10/01/2015 21:10

If you've got a car with isofix I would get an isofix seat, but if your car doesn't have isofix don't buy a new car! Non isofix is just as safe as long as its fitted correctly. Buying a base for your car seat will help it be fitted correctly every time. We have no isofix and have a maxi cosi cabrio and an easy-fix base. The base was fitted with the seatbelt very firmly and stays in the car. The seat clicks in and out. I wouldn't be without the base. However as someone else mentions I really should learn how to fit it without the base just in case...

NeedaDiscoNap · 10/01/2015 21:12

Get the isofix! It's so much safer and much easier to secure the seat.

ThursdayLast · 10/01/2015 21:14

We didn't bother with isofix.

We move the seat around between two cars no bother.

Misty414 · 10/01/2015 21:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ohmygoshohmygosh · 10/01/2015 21:45

Isofix without a doubt!! Didn't have it with DC1, all that faffing with the seat belt, got one with Dc2, o my god it makes life a hell of a lot easier. Worth every penny.

sockmatcher · 10/01/2015 22:56

The easy fix base can be fitted with the isofix or seat belt. The family fix base is over priced.

The question isn't really about whether to isofix but whether to get a base.
In which case YES. So much easier.

The main thing is you know how to use the seat whether you are fixing it in with belt or using it on the base. Also handle up on maxi cosi when traveling.
Also consider rear facing when older. Www.rearfacing.co.uk

Wormatthebottomofthegarden · 10/01/2015 23:25

We have 2 DC and isofix bases both sides, I wouldn't be without them. Just click in and out, so easy. We have the family fix bases for the next stage seats.

NKfell · 11/01/2015 00:21

Isofix for sure...unless you need to swap it between cars and in that case i'd say to get 2 bases. Swapping isofix bases is a real pain!

WrappedInABlankie · 11/01/2015 00:36

My car doesn't have isofix but I'm buying the Alton 2 base which can be put in with isofix or a seatbelt and hen you clip the seat onto it. It's good for us as my DP has an isofix car and I don't

Scotinoz · 11/01/2015 08:32

Crumbs, get IsoFix. Where I live has only just approved IsoFix so our capsule and current seat are the old fashioned seat belt fitted ones. What a hassle - much cursing, and swearing by husband seems to be involved in fitting them. Utterly fab when we visit family in the UK - we have a UK seat there and it's click, click, click done. 30 seconds instead of 10 minutes of farting about!

forwarding · 11/01/2015 08:42

I got a family fix base off eBay and used it with both the group 0 and group 1 car seat.

It owes me nothing!

If you're taking the baby seat out a lot to fix on a pram base or just to carry baby around, the Isofix makes it very easy.

sockmatcher · 11/01/2015 08:50

Please do your resarch between the familyfix and 2 way fix if that's what you buy. In my opinion by or borrow a easy fix base (£90 compared to £150/£175 ) and save the money for a non maxi cosi extended rearfacing seat.

LizzieMint · 11/01/2015 08:52

Isofix every time. I've had them for all mine and it makes life sooo much easier. Plus you know for sure that it's properly fixed to the car, I was shocked when I saw a seatbelt-fitted seat at how much they can move around, whereas with isofix they are solid. We both have isofix connections in our cars so very easy to move between cars.

Foxeym · 11/01/2015 10:01

It depends on the car, in our zafira the maxi cosi seat wasn't at all stable with with car seats it wobbled around so we bought the isofix for safety and it's brilliant. DS is now 15 months and has progressed to the next size chair which was the maxi cosi pearl and it lifts the chair really high so he can see out of the windows

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