ISOFix stands for "International Standards Organisation Fix," It is a standard fitting for all car seat stages. In effect, it can be used from birth until 12 years old, provided there are ISOFix points anchored to the chassis of your car and your car has been approved by the car seat manufacturer. Brands such as Maxi-Cosi, Britax, Mamas & Papas, Recaro and Jané have utilised ISOFix in some of their car seat designs.
Why Does ISOFix Exist?
It is impossible to make a car seat completely universal because there are too many variations in cars. Seat belt lengths and their anchorage height vary from model to model, making it impossible to check a car seat fits without checking prior to purchase. Many surveys have found that a high proportion of seatbelted child seats are not fitted securely enough. By making one standard fitting system, eventually every car seat will fit every car.
Will an ISOFix Car Seat Fit my Car?
This information can be normally be found on the manufacturer's website. Some websites listing compatible vehicles are listed in the "References" section at the bottom. Your vehicle manual should state whether or not your exact model has ISOFix points, but if you are unsure, call the manufacturer of your car or drive it to a reputable nursery store where the staff can check on your behalf.
What Does ISOFix Look Like?
ISOFix points are two square-shaped bars located between the seat cushion and back rest in the rear of the car. They are not always immediately visible. In some cars, the ISOFix points stick out from between the seat cushions quite obviously. In other cars, they are encased in plastic, or placed within a slit in the fabric allowing easier fitting without the risk of damaging the upholstery. More often than not, they are hidden deep inside the seat and you will have to slide your hand between the seat cushions to find them.
Benefits and Drawbacks of ISOFix
The benefits of ISOFix:
- Peace of mind. ISOFix bases usually have red and green indicators, lights or sounds to confirm correct or incorrect car seat fitting. Therefore, the element of doubt is removed.
- In most cases, ISOFix car seats have seat belt routing in case they need to be fitted in non-ISOFix cars allowing a more universal fit.
- An ISOFix car seat is near-enough impossible to fit incorrectly.
- It is far easier to click in an ISOFix car seat onto a base or into the ISOFix points than to route a seatbelt.
- ISOFix keeps the car seat anchored to the car at all times. This is especially important when the child is in a booster seat because the seatbelt would usually hold the child and the seat in place, whereas ISOFix anchors the seat and the seatbelt anchors the child separately, meaning there is less chance of the parent forgetting to re-fit the car seat when the child has been dropped off at school.
The drawbacks of ISOFix:
- ISOFix car seats are more costly than regular car seats.
- The bases usually only last the nine to 15 months that a newborn spends in a group 0+ car seat. After this time, it becomes redundant and it is not advised to sell second-hand car seats or bases. One rare exception of the rule is the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix Base, which accepts the group 0+ Maxi-Cosi Pebble car seat and the group 1 Maxi-Cosi Pearl car seat which will last until your child is four.
- There is far less choice on the market for ISOFix car seats at this time.
- Only fairly modern cars have ISOFix installed as standard, and it will not become mandatory until November 2014. Unfortunately, ISOFix cannot be retrospectively fitted.
However, a non-ISOFix car seat is just as safe as a correctly-fitted car seat fitted with a seatbelt.
References:
Britax Website. "Fit Finder" (accessed August 28, 2010).
Child Car Seats Website. "Safety Standards: ISOFix" (accessed August 28, 2010).
Maxi-Cosi Website. "Car Fitting List" (accessed August 28, 2010).
Recaro Website. "ISOFix List" (accessed August 28, 2010).
Roxanne Clements - After graduating with an upper second class honours in Creative and Media Writing in July 2010, I decided that writing articles for ...
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