Car Seat Duffer: What is Iso-fix and can I put a base in any car?

[twelveyeargap]

Hello. Just searched ISOFIX in the products section and am none the wiser.

If I buy a Maxi Cosi Isofix base, can I install it in any car using the 3-point seat belt (looks that way on website but now not sure!), or do I have to have special Isofix fittings in the car.

I currently have a tired old Rover, which I'm assuming does not have fittings, but will be changing the car before baby's arrival anyway. Changing to what I don't know, but if "fittings" are necessary, and I get a car without them, can Halford's or somewhere install them?

One last thing, what's the difference between the cheaper maxi-cosi base, Easybase and the dearer Easyfix (Isofix)? Can the dearer one be used with the bigger child seats or something?

Looked on Maxi-cosi website and was blinded by the info. I think child seats had barely been made complusory when I had my last child. Thanks muchly.

Isofix is a child car seat fixing system which anchors the child seat directly to the car so you don't need to use seat belts.

In your car, if isofix compatible, on the back seats there are two metal bars - often found in the gap where the bottom of the car seat meets the back. In newer cars they may be visible and surronded by black guiders.

An isofix car seat will have two metal grippers. To anchor the seat you push the grippers onto those metal hooks int he car, and it securely fastens the seat to the car itself. Means less chance of error and fast fitting.

An isofix car seat can be fitted into any car using the seat belts. However, you can only use the isofix grippers system if your car has the isofix metal loops in the back.

Not sure if you can have them fitted at a later date. Many new cars now come with them as standard or as an no cost option.

Isofix seats are almost always dearer than their non-isofix comparisons.

Isofix systems are generally considered very safe and certainly in the case of baby and toddler (up to 4 years) seats they score highest on the independent Which tests.

HTH.

(BTW, the Britax website is good for explaining isofix)

Superb. Thanks very much.

Liked the idea of being able to "click" the baby-carrier type seat into a base instead of messing about with seat belt.

Will go and look at the Britax website now.

Isofix is either in yiur car or not - can't fit it later.

i have: 1 base which fixes onto isofix bits in my car.

1 infant carrier car seat which clips in an out the base. it can also be used in a regular car with belts (same one as normal)

i've the isofix one.

We like it. lots. a)easy to fit and unfit b)know you've got it right c)feels v secure. In fact both my kids (3yo and 3 mo) are in icofix seats

there is a website where they tell you which cars have isofix, and which moidels are compatible with which seat (not all isofix car seats fit in all cars - to do with amount of clearance in front of seats)

Hi, you really need to know that your new car has Isofix anchorage points before you buy your base.

Maxi Cosi Easifix bases need Isofix in the car to fit to (exactly how Hulababy describes). The Easybase is fitted to the car with the seat belt instead. Then, the Cabrio car seat clicks down onto either base in exactly the same way, basically making it easier to fit and remove every time. Isofix pretty much removes the margin for error in fitting so you know its always correctly fitted.

The Cabrio can also be fitted without the use of a base. You just need to route the seatbelt around the car seat in the usual way. Bases make your life a bit easier but you can use your car seat in other cars without them if you're getting a lift or someone else is looking after the baby.

Honda and Toyota have had Isofix anchorage points for a few years now, may be a good place to start looking for you new car if its Isofix you really want.

Good luck!

Forgot to mention, these bases only fit the Cabrio. When you need to move to the next stage (forward facing) car seat these bases become obsolete. You need to buy an Isofix ready second stage seat.

Alternatively, Recaro make an Isofix base which fits their Infant carrier (Young Profi Plus) then, you can fit a forward facing next stage car seat (Young Expert Plus) to it. This base is Isofix only, there is no option for a seat belt fitted base.

Recaro and Maxi Cosi both cost about the same, so theres not much in it, whichever fits your car best.

Hope I havn't made this too confusing.

That's great, thanks. I have the first stage Maxicosi for putting on the buggy. Makes sense to have the base too, so I'm not messing about with seat belts.

I'll get the base that also fixes with a seat belt so that if we have to get another ancient car, it won't matter about the Isofix.

Thanks for all the help.