Safety tests show that ISOFIX is extremely safe. The risk of incorrect installation is low – 94% of parents use ISOFIX correctly. An extra support leg or top tether strap increases stability, keeping your child securely in place. See: ISOFIX vs. car seat belts http://www.maxi-cosi.com/car-seats/car-seat-safety/choosing-a-child-car-seat/isofix-versus-car-seat-belts.aspx Once the child is of a certain age, can ISOFIX be uninstalled? Is this necessary? The ISOFIX system isn’t considered a necessity in our vehicles, as with most safety systems. While many luxury cars in India get ISOFIX seats, we are slowly witnessing these seats in mid-size cars too. As an example, Toyota India has introduced ISOFIX seats as standard on all variants of the 2016 Etios Platinum. ISOFIX seats aren’t available in many cars at the same price. When securing the top tether, it’s vital to make sure you’re attaching the strap to the correct anchor point in your car, as sometimes a tether point can be mistaken for a headrest stem or luggage tether fixing (neither of these are meant for use with a child car seat and aren't designed to withstand the forces of a crash).

As a car enthusiast, I prefer isofix as it means I’m not putting the seatbelt on sharp angles around things for extended periods and damaging/kinking/marking the belt. ISOFIX mounts are not provided in most cars sold in India, and for the safety concious buyer, this becomes a deciding factor while choosing a car. All cars manufactured since November 2012 have to have top tether anchor points, but some much older cars will have them, too. What is Isofit? ISOFIX is a way of securing a child’s car seat in a car that is easy and safe. It saves parents and caregivers from having to wrestle a seatbelt around a car seat every time they want to go out, and gives them peace of mind that children will be protected in the event of an accident.

We usually see Indians making their children sit on their laps while driving a two-wheeler and even in a car this is never a concern. Well, guys wake up! Keep your loved ones safe. Car safety includes many technical topics, among which ISOFIX. By choosing an ISOFIX car seat , you are choosing one of the safest ways for your child to travel in the car. But what is it exactly and why is it so safe? As leading specialists in child mobility, we are eager to share all there is to know for parents about ISOFIX. Most car seats or seat bases with a support leg have something visual, such as a green or red indicator or an audible guide that will bleep at you if the leg is set to the wrong length or installed correctly.

The fact that it’s easy to install also improves safety. Several studies have shown that child seats secured by the seatbelts are often installed incorrectly, which could put your child at risk. A German insurance institute found that only three in 10 were fitted right, while 95% of ISOFIX seats were fitted correctly. What is ISOFIT? To see which child car seats are worthy of a Best Buy title, see our guide to the best baby or child car seats 2023. How Isofix on Group 2/3 seats works differently The problem with the seat belt type seat is that you have to unhook the top seatbelt strap to seat the child. And it is difficult to get the belt to hook up again since the belt is unspooled to the limit. My pajero belt is a few inches short and it's a pain for me to get it right. Alternatively, look for the ISOFIX identifier on the rear seats. Normally, these are the two outboard positions on the rear seat. They may also be found in the front seat of some vehicles.

Can it be retrofitted?

These seats are forward-facing and useful to keep the child in a secure position using an adult seatbelt. Booster seats are recommended for children until they are big enough to use a seatbelt. The ISOFIX anchorage points in the vehicle are inexpensive, however the child restrains that utilise these ISOFIX anchorage points are a more expensive than the seats that use the three-point safety belts. When it comes to child safety in passenger cars, there is much talk around ISOFIX, a system for installing child car seats safely and correctly.

A top tether is a fabric strap that’s used to help secure a baby car seat (or extended rear-facing car seat) to a tether anchor point in the car. Both of these work to prevent the car seat tipping forward in an accident and you can find out more about them below. As previously stated, ISOFIX has the advantage of being universal, and will thus accommodate the child restraint installation regardless of the brand or model of seat. Where can I get it?

Once the child is of a certain age, can ISOFIX be uninstalled? Is this necessary?

Your car’s handbook should also say whether it’s fitted with Isofix, where to locate them and what kind of car seats that particular version is compatible with. If there are underfloor storage compartments in your car, you may not be able to use a seat with a support leg. This is because the lid of an underfloor storage compartment will not be strong enough to support a car seat in a crash. Child seats, just like a motorcycle helmets, are rendered useless after an accident. This is irrespective of whether the child is in the seat or not. Child seats are usually tested for use in the event of a single crash only, and there’s uncertainty about how the restraints would perform in a subsequent crash. Owners should replace the child seat in case the car meets with an accident. The favourite question of Indians: How much is it gonna cost? There are several benefits to using an Isofix child seat over one that connects using the three-point belt. The primary benefit is simplicity and a greatly reduced chance of fitting the seat incorrectly. Before Isofix became the norm, it was found that parents would often fit child seats incorrectly. Doing so could potentially make the seat less safe, offering the child less restraint and protection in a crash. Choose a car seat that clearly shows how the seat belt must be positioned. This will reduce the risk of using it incorrectly.