Important thing to remember is that the ISOFIX is everywhere … In fact, it is a standard that has been adopted by most countries. Europe for example is home to a lot of people and a lot of vehicles (whatever might be those) and all these vehicles have been fitted with this mighty little invention called ISOFIX.
Basically, the ISOFIX means stability — it looks after the kids in the backseat and gives them a better chance at life.
With this blog, let’s examine the things you need to know about Isofix Car Seat.
What is an ISOFIX car seat?
An ISOFIX car seat is a car seat that can be secured quickly and easily into an automobile by fitting onto the vehicle and securing it with a central latch. In fact, this is one of the factors that parents nowadays look for a baby product supplier. This allows parents to fit the car seat in an appropriate position in the vehicle and secure it safely when transporting their children in the car.
Also, it is a child seat system developed to reduce the risk of injury to infants and toddlers in the event of crashes. The name “ISOFIX” is an initialism for International Standard FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) Safety-belt Fixing System (standards).
If you have a car with ISOFIX, then you may wonder what it is and whether to use it. When your child has outgrown his infant car seat and booster, you will probably want them to sit in a right-size car seat that best fits their size. At this point, your kid becomes older and heavier than a newborn baby and so he requires a more restricting seat belt system. In fact, he will be too heavy for your old baby one-size harness belt mechanism. Also, the toddler child outgrows the baby one-size harness belt system due to his height limit. This is why you need to carefully compare several subject areas when choosing the best child car seat for your child’s age and weight.
Why ISOFIX is important?
The car seat is the most important piece of kit that you MUST have installed in your car if you have children traveling in it. And if you have young kids, you will spend a lot of time in this car, so comfort and safety are paramount.
ISOFIX is an international standard for fitting child car seats safely and easily.
When it comes to keeping your kids safe on the road, ISOFIX is your friend. Why? Because ISOFIX makes it easier to fit a child car seat, and therefore increases the chance that you’ll fit it correctly.
Every new Renault, regardless of whether it’s a supermini or a van, features ISOFIX anchor points as standard. These anchor points enable you to attach your child seat quickly and securely – and they provide peace-of mind as well.
A good quality child seat can be a costly investment, so why not make sure it’s fitted properly every time?
Here’s how an ISOFIX system works:
Your child car seat has two metal bars at its base which click into the two corresponding metal bars on the vehicle seat itself. This means not struggling with straps or trying to get them tight enough. Your child seat is attached directly to the structure of the car – making for a more secure installation.
Isofix is easier and safer than using seat belts to attach child seats. The Isofix system includes two rigid bars that attach directly to the chassis of your car, with an additional top tether to keep the seat stable. This means there’s no risk of incorrect installation, which can be the case when fitting with just a seat belt. Also, it’s much quicker and easier to install an Isofix child seat than one that needs to be strapped into place using a seatbelt.
The main benefit of using an Isofix-compatible child seat is that you don’t need to use your car’s seat belt at all – instead, the rigid bars simply clip into pre-set anchorages in your car’s seat cushions. This makes it much faster and easier to install a compatible child seat – you don’t have to worry about feeding belts through awkward slots or getting buckles into.
ISOFIX VS Belted: Which is safer
ISOFIX has been around for a while now, but how does it compare to the older belted system? We put the two side by side to find out.
ISOFIX vs belted: How they work.
ISOFIX | Belted |
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With ISOFIX, you attach the child seat directly to points in your car’s bodywork, and not via the adult seatbelt. This gives it a much more solid mount than with a belted seat – which is useful if you’re driving over speed bumps or potholes. ISOFIX seats tend to be more affordable than their belted equivalents, and usually lighter too. They also tend to be quicker to install and remove from your car. One downside is that some ISOFIX seats will only work in one car. It’s also important to check that your car is compatible with an ISOFIX seat before buying one. | With a belted seat, you use the same installation method as for an adult seatbelt. It attaches to your car via its own belt, which can mean better compatibility across different cars (although specific fitments can vary between seats and cars). Belted child seats tend to take up more boot space than ISOFIX models and they can move around more on their |
The debate over whether to use ISOFIX or belt in has raged on for some time. There is no right way of securing your child. However, it may seem that ISOFIX isn’t as safe as initially thought. It could be put down to a lack of installation knowledge or a fault in the system itself.
Does My Car Have ISOFIX
ISOFIX is a vehicle safety standard that has been devised in order to make the installation of child car seats easier, so that they can be easily fitted without any need for modification or drilling of holes. To get less from cost, it is advisable to avail a baby car seat wholesale when you want a bulk purchase.
If your car doesn’t have ISOFIX anchor points built in, you may still be able to fit an ISOFIX base using a top tether strap. This eliminates the need for Isofix anchor points as the top tether strap secures the child car seat to the vehicle in place of the lower attachments. You can usually tell if this is possible by looking at your rear seat belt guides and seeing whether there is a third central guide to take the top tether strap. If you see three seat belt guides, it should be possible to secure your child’s seat using a top tether strap instead of ISOFIX attachments.
Not All Isofix Bases Fit For Child Car Seat
There are three main types of ISOFIX seats available; the only difference is that some seats are only compatible with specific vehicles:
Vehicle-Specified Approval – Uses a two-point connection system and is only compatible with specific automobiles.
Approval is semi-universal- in that it is only compatible with certain cars. It comes with a foot prop or a top tether and may face forward or backward. It is incompatible with storage beneath the floor.
Universal Approval – Forward-facing Group 1 child car seats with a two-point attachment mechanism and a top tether that fit into most current automobiles.
If you’re not sure if the seat will fit in your car, try the following:
Types of ISOFIX Car Seats
There are three main types of ISOFIX seats available; the only difference is that some seats are only compatible with specific vehicles:
Vehicle-Specified Approval – Uses a two-point connection system and is only compatible with specific automobiles.
Approval is semi-universal- in that it is only compatible with certain cars. It comes with a foot prop or a top tether and may face forward or backward. It is incompatible with storage beneath the floor.
Universal Approval – Forward-facing Group 1 child car seats with a two-point attachment mechanism and a top tether that fit into most current automobiles.
If you’re not sure if the seat will fit in your car, try the following:
- Consult the owner's manual for your vehicle.
- Examine the permitted vehicle list provided by the car seat manufacturer, which is generally found on the box or on their website.
- Visit your local Halfords, where shop associates can provide experienced guidance.
Conclusion
It is likely that you have heard of the ISOFIX system and how it helps make installing a car seat in your vehicle a lot easier. If that’s the case, then you are on the right track to maintaining excellent car safety for your children. However, if you are new to the world of car seats, then you may be wondering what all of the fuss is about with this system. In this blog post, we will be going over ISOFIX basics so that you can learn about this great car seat system.
For more information, you can contact to us, and take a quick look at our latest products.
At the end of the day, it would be best to speak with a car seat installation specialist before you purchase an ISOFIX car seat for your child. The safety of your child is at stake, and nothing is more important than ensuring that they are installed correctly.
For information, please visit River Baby for professional baby products and suggestions.