Choosing a safe car seat is only half the battle when protecting children whilst travelling. If a seat is brilliant but it’s not installed securely, there will be many risks remaining. A solution to eliminate the chance of unsafe installations is to use an Isofix base. 

The ergonomic Isofix systems are designed to allow simple and secure installation so that car seats can be attached without onward movement. In most cases, this can be fixed directly to a car seat, removing the guesswork from the fitting.

The main way safety is improved when using an Isofix base is that a secure installation is guaranteed. A stable base that is not designed to move around will also greatly improve the child’s travel experience. Safety and comfort have both been achieved as a result of extensive European crash and impact testing. This means that they meet strict safety standards and have been proven effective in reducing the risk of injury in a collision.

These bases also enhance safety as they are designed to be left in the vehicle unless they need to be removed for cleaning or to transition to another car. This reduces the chance of a seat not being installed correctly as it can be fixed, tested, and left alone to provide safe journey assistance. You will only need to check its positioning each time you attach a car seat.

Not all car seats are compatible with an Isofix base, so you must check your seat specifications before trying to fit it in a vehicle. However, many new car seats are designed in line with the latest European safety testing rules, meaning they are suitable for use with an Isofix base. The easiest way to see if your car seat is suitable is to look for the ‘E’ marking on the product. This will be available if it has been safety tested and highlights compatibility with Isofix bases.

Firstly, you must find your car's Isofix fitting points, either underneath the car seat or next to the seat belt clip. These simple metal bars allow the base to be clipped onto them. You will hear a click by aligning the base and pushing it back firmly, indicating a safe installation. You can also look for the colour indicator points on the metal bars to double-check that the base has been securely and correctly. 

The car seat then simply clips onto the base, and you are good to go! Many parents much prefer Isofix because it's simple to fit and allows an instant view of whether it's safe to use.

You will find that older vehicles are not compatible with Isofix bases so you should always check your car before making a car seat purchase. In newer vehicles, this is a guaranteed safety feature. However, we advise all to check the car manufacturers fitting list for confirmation.