What is ISOFIX?
You may have heard the word bandied around whether you are expecting, buying a car or buying a car seat but what is ISOFIX and what does it do? Read on to find out!
What is it?
ISOFIX is an international standard system that lets you fit a child’s car seat directly into a compatible vehicle without having to use a seatbelt to secure it.
Who created it?
The system was first developed by child safety seat maker Britax-Romer, and car manufacturer Volkswagen. Compatible products were first launched onto the market in the 90s.
Why do we need it?
ISOFIX scores very highly on the safety scale as plugging a car seat directly into the vehicle means you are reducing the chance of incorrect fitting. Seat belt anchor points vary is size, length and position in every car model, so creating a child car seat that would fit perfectly is pretty impossible!
ISOFIX also makes getting the car seat in and out of the car simpler and much quicker – a welcome feature when you already have half a car full of baby’s stuff to carry!
How does it work?
The car seats themselves have two metal arms at the back of the car seat that hook onto the metal bars of the Isofix features in your vehicle. These points are usually where the back seat meets the seat cushion. By attaching these, the car seat is fixed to the car’s chassis.
It’s important to note that while it is simple once you have your compatible car/car seat, there are different types and sizes to fit different vehicles i.e. if you have a Mini, you may need a reduced height. Lots of manufacturers will help you find the right car seat for your car!
Want to read more?
How to Travel with Children in the Car: A Complete Survival Guide Top Safety Features of 2019