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Original poster

Isofix Base - worth it? Pros and Cons?

40 replies

RL20 · 07/03/2015 08:24

Just that really!
Have been thinking about it for a while.
I'm aware they're quite expensive but if the pros outweigh the cons (if there are any?) then I will be happy to purchase.
I have checked for the Isofix points in my car and I do have them.
My main reason to purchase is because we are currently living in a flat. Only first floor but I'm thinking I won't want to lug the pushchair up and down the stairs every day and will just carry baby in car seat, will the Isofix make this 'easier', and would you even recommend leaving the pushchair in the car? (Boot).
Thanks in advance

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MrsHende · 07/03/2015 12:01

I find it much easier but would agree that it's worth having a look around gumtree or eBay for a second hand one, they're quite dear.

We used ours till DD was out of her baby car seat, around 14 months (depends on the size of your child!).

AnythingNotEverything · 07/03/2015 12:08

You can use those first seats until 13kg, or until baby's head reaches the top of the seat. My daughter is 16 months, about 80th centile and tall, and has only just outgrown hers.

They become too heavy to carry in the seat way before they outgrow them.

I believe most safety issues with infant car seats are down to user error rather than design, so anything that makes it easier to get it right is good in my mind.

Original poster
RL20 · 07/03/2015 12:20

That's the only thing that's putting me off - the car seat being too heavy to carry up the building stairs with baby in anyway! So will I really be taking the car seat in and out that much anyway (my main reason for getting Isofix).

Wow 20% safer is a very random statistic lol! It's either safer or it's not, in my eyes.

I don't know whether I trust myself to do the belts up correctly each time especially if I happen to be in a rush. Although this is most certainly because I've never even done it before! Would halfords show me how to it the seatbelt way too, or would they make it look more awkward than it actually is just to make a sale on the Isofix? Hmm...

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StaircaseAtTheUniversity · 07/03/2015 12:26

We didn't get one and said if it became a faff we would invest later. Never did find it a faff so didn't bother and now DD is 8 months and in a totally different car seat I'm glad we didn't bother. It's a lot of money for what it is imo and it's really not hard to put the seat in another car.

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/03/2015 12:27

I loved ours was worth the money, I have rheumatism that can effect all my limbs but when it effected my shoulders, there's no way I would been able to faff around with a seat belt, also I could leave the car seat in the car and just carry the baby if I wanted.
We were in a flat as well, pram base lived in the car and sometimes the car seat. Saved space.
If I was going out walking I would either use a sling, or take baby out to the car, set up the pram and put the baby in it.

BitchBags · 07/03/2015 12:38

We have one and it's fab! Ds is 8 months now and still has at least 3 or 4 months left of using it. I'm also pregnant with dc2 so will be using it for them when they come along. I have a cybex aton and the base can be used with iso fix or can be secured with a seat belt so you can still use it if you don't have iso fix. We also got the mammas and pappas sola so I can clip the car seat on the frame if I am going somewhere where I don't want to take the whole pushchairs part.

TarkaTheOtter · 07/03/2015 13:02

I thought isofix wasn't actually any safer than a correctly installed by seatbelt seat - it's just easier to install correctly.

gallicgirl · 07/03/2015 13:28

Some of it depends on type of crash I believe. Google in car safety centre for info and advice.

yummymango · 07/03/2015 13:44

We never got one. I could only carry my daughter in the car seat for a few months before she got too heavy. Then it stayed in the car. We borrowed one at one point but it didn't make us want to buy one. It's not that much of a faff putting the seatbelt around it once you're used to it.

squizita · 07/03/2015 15:16

We bought our non iso fix seat from mothercare. We were told it was purely down to installation: a correctly fitted seat is key.
The one we ended up purchasing as part of a system isn't even iso fix compatible.

It was a moot point for us as our car is 14 years old. Blush Even a base would therefore be seat belt fitted making it equally prone to user error.
I'm just very thorough and slow fitting the seat in the correct way/place.

weeblueberry · 07/03/2015 17:32

I think the reason it's safer is that it remains in the car once 'installed' and so there's not the constant belting up of the car seat, for which every time you've got a possibility of error in the securing of it.

We had one and I loved it to bits. Initially I had the idea of always taking the baby out the car seat then realised all those times she fell asleep in the seat I was bloody glad I could just bring the car seat in with her sleeping in and enjoy some time to myself while she napped!!

JammyTodger · 07/03/2015 18:20

We never had one with DS1 and seriously, once you've got used to the seatbelt method (about 2 days probably) it really is no more faff than a base. Someone has just given us a base for DS2 and so far it honestly has more cons than pros - mainly having to stay in place in the car, not being easily transferable, feeling that we "need" to take the car seat out all the time just to get our money's worth out of it, etc. Some people (most of the above) love em though.

Chocness · 08/03/2015 21:20

I have just bought the maxi cosi family isofix base. £150 from john Lewis and will last from birth until 4 years old (approx). For the piece of mind and ease of use, I think that's money well spent. Plus the car seat is easily transferred to my pram so no faffing about in bad weather. The base signifies (via lights and a beep) when everything is properly fixed in place so piece of mind when in a hurry or travelling on our busy roads.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 08/03/2015 23:01

I think they are handy to avoid faff. If you use a seat belt you have to redo it every time, even if you leave the seat in the car.

It will be masses easier to carry the baby up and down stairs in your arms than in the seat though.

Original poster
RL20 · 09/03/2015 09:36

Thanks everyone.
We did end up purchasing one yesterday, have ordered one from mothercare which they are going to fit for us this week.
Have bought the SilverCross Ventura as it's the only one that will fit SilverCross Monodot Travel System we have.
With regards to taking up a seat space in the car, we will mostly have baby in car when we are in it anyway and don't tend to have a car full of people, ever, so that's not a problem. Have bought it for peace of mind that the seat is in correctly, and for easiness for my partner to be able to do it too Grin

Thanks everyone for your help

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