What is ISOFIX system for child seats?
ISOFIX is a fastening system for child seats in cars. Almost every newer child seat is now equipped with this integrated ISOFIX system. You can find out exactly what ISOFIX is and what advantages it offers here.
What actually is the ISOFIX system?
ISOFIX is an internationally standardized system for attaching child seats with its own integrated belt system, which considerably simplifies the installation of child seats and thus prevents installation errors by the parents. The child seat is firmly anchored to the car using two special locking arms that are attached to the lower part of the child seat and are hooked into the appropriate, integrated brackets in the car seat. The built-in ISOFIX mounts are mostly found on the outer seats on the back seat of the car in newer cars.
What are the advantages of ISOFIX?
With the help of the ISOFIX system, the risk of incorrect operation when installing the child seat can be reduced overall. This means that the protective effect for children increases at the same time. The reason for this is the direct connection of the child seat to the body. Child seats with ISOFIX can also be installed and used in vehicles without special brackets. They are then attached via the normal three or two-point belt. However, the additional safety potential is then lost.
What are the disadvantages of ISOFIX?
Child seats with ISOFIX are significantly heavier than conventional models. They are also usually a bit more expensive than an ordinary child seat that is only attached using the three-point belt. However, the fastening system offers a very high gain in safety and protection for your child, so that an investment is certainly worthwhile.
What ISOFIX approvals are there?
Child seats with ISOFIX can be either universal or semi-universal approved.
As a rule, ISOFIX seats are semi-universal, i.e. vehicle-specific . If your car is included in the vehicle type list enclosed with the child seat, the seat can be installed in your vehicle. This means that not every seat is compatible with every car with the appropriate fastening system.
The universal approval , on the other hand, applies to every ISOFIX seat. However, this must have an additional mounting point in addition to the conventional fastening system. The so-called “Top Tether” belt runs from the backrest of the child seat to an anchor point in the trunk or on the rear shelf of the car. This additional safeguard serves to prevent the seat from tipping over. However, not every car is equipped with such a third anchor point, so that only very few ISOFIX child seats have been universally approved.