ISOFIX car seatsYou've probably heard a lot of people talking about isofix car seats and rightly so - they are now recognised as the safest possible way to travel with your child and are being adopted by car seat and vehicle manufacturers worldwide. Here, you can find out all you need to know about this new car seat fitting system.
What is ISOFIX and how does it work?ISOFIX (International Standards Organisation FIX) is a new standard for car seat installation that's being adopted by car seat and vehicle manufacturers worldwide. The system operates through ISOFIX points on the back of the child car seat that plug into ISOFIX fittings in the car, creating a solid link between your child's car seat and your car. Why is it safer than traditional car seats?In addition to superior performance in crash testing, ISOFIX fittings remove the need to use the adult seatbelts to restrain the car seat; this significantly decreases the risk of the seat being badly fitted - a real issue in the UK where almost 70 per cent of seats are fitted incorrectly. Not only is the fit better and more solid, installing ISOFIX seats is quicker and easier! Does my car have ISOFIX?The best way to find out if your car has ISOFIX fittings is to contact your vehicle manufacturer or the dealership that you purchased it from. Alternatively you can consult your car's manual which should clearly indicate the ISOFIX fitting points. You can also look in your car for the two lower anchorages (telltale "staple-like" protrusions) that would be located in the seat bight (the intersection of the vehicle seat back and bottom cushions). A trained fitter would also be able to tell you. How do I know the seat will fit my car?The ultimate aim is that any ISOFIX child car seat you buy will fit your car simply by plugging it into the ISOFIX points. Manufacturers are also carrying out lengthy tests to ensure their ISOFIX seats are as universal as possible when it comes to fitting in different vehicles. However, the technical details of the ISOFIX standard are still being finalised so the seats currently require specific vehicle approval. This means that you need to match the ISOFIX seat you want with your vehicle to ensure that they are compatible. Most manufacturers' websites carry this compatibility information and retailers are also able to access it directly. Trained fitters will also be able to determine whether the seat fits your car if it's not a car type that's on a manufacturer's list. How do I buy an ISOFIX car seatFortunately, ISOFIX seats are becoming more widely available. Major manufacturers such as Bebe Confort, Britax, Jane, Maxi-Cosi and Recaro make ISOFIX seats. All good nursery stores should stock a range of ISOFIX seats and know how to fit them. Where to next?
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