What are ISOFIX Car Seats and Why to Choose One?

Car seats and belts vary as per the makings of a car and its model. As car seats come in different shapes, you will find some seat belts shorter in size than others. All these aspects make it challenging for a child's car seat to fit in correctly. 

Car safety consists of several technical systems, amongst which ISOFIX is primary. As you choose an ISOFIX car seat, you opt for one of the safest ways for your kids to travel in a car. 

ISOFIX is an internationally renowned car seat fitting system. This mechanism automatically locks your car seat or its base on the vehicle seats of your car with two metal clips, also known as ISOFIX fixing points. ISOFIX is a brand that ensures more security and an easier way of attaching child seats in automobiles. It also reduces the use of belts.

There are several fitting points inside cars and child car seats. ISOFIX reduces the risk of inappropriately installing a child seat in an automobile which is common in seat belts. They are available in baby, toddler and child categories. An ISOFIX seat is plugged into the respective fitting points inside a car. Here are the reasons to choose an ISOFIX car seat:

• Parents can opt for an additional top tether or support leg preventing their child's seat from rotating or tilting due to external force or impact.
• You will get an additional seat base that you can use alongside ISOFIX for baby car seats. It acts as additional support.
• Most products come with easy designs, easy-to-install facilities and remove features ensuring proper handling.
• ISOFIX ensures minimal risk of incorrect installation as there are indicators to detect any inappropriate connection.
• As it is a permanent connection between your car seat and the car during sudden impacts and brakes, there will be less force impact on your child.
• You can opt for an ISOFIX seat along with the seatbelt for more stability.

Several ISOFIX seats are available in the market depending on the child’s size, height and weight. These are divided into four groups or types, which are as follows:

Group 1

These seats face rearward and prevent head movements during extreme deceleration. The first group is for infants aged up to 15 months or up to 10 kg.

Group 2

Like Group 1, these seats are rearward facing and front-facing, adhering to the legal guidelines. It applies to kids weighing about 9 kg to 18 kg and from 9 months to 4 years of age.

Group 3

The seats of this group are bigger than the Group 1 seats. Group 3 seats are suitable for children weighing between 15 kg to 25 kg and 4 and 6 years of age.

Group 4

These seats are forward-facing seats, also called booster seats. They help keep your child secure by using an adult seatbelt. Booster seats are suitable for children when they are big enough to use a seatbelt.

Universal

This form uses a foot prop or a top tether apart from using connectors. They help in fixing the car seat to a supportive anchorage section. You can use it with forward or rearward-facing car seats. Most modern cars use this form of car seat.

Semi-Universal

Semi-universal form uses a foot prop, a top tether and connectors. However, this form is not compatible with all cars. You can use it with rearward-facing and forward-facing car seats.

Vehicle Specific

These seats use only an anchor point to secure the seat inside a car. It is a vehicle-specific method and is only compatible with some models. Before purchasing one, always check the features and understand if it is suitable, as per car and seat make and model.

The components of an ISOFIX seat include the following:

Top Tether

The top tether is a fabric strap that properly holds the seat to a tether point. It is located behind the rear car seat, the backside of the rear seat, or on the ceiling and the bottom of the trunk. To avoid confusion, check your car's handbook and find the exact location of the top tether. 

However, top tethers available on rearward-facing car seats might need to be attached to the front seat of your car. Any ISOFIX seat, having a top tether must fit any automobile with an anchor point.

Support Leg

A support leg fits the child seat and extends to the car floor between the front and the back seat or between the dashboard and the front seat. It is a helpful component that prevents a child seat from pushing forwards during any external collision. Moreover, they are much easier to use than the top tether ones.

However, if it contains hollow storage compartments on the car floor, ensure the foot of this support leg does not rest on the compartment lid. This is because it might collapse under the forces that occur during any collision. Rearward-facing seats might also consist of a brace that shifts against the back of the car's front seat.

Mounting the ISOFIX seats in a car is very simple. Follow the steps below to learn the process of ISOFIX mounting:

• Step 1: First, locate the ISOFIX points in your car by going through your car’s handbook. Look for the ISOFIX labels on the rear seats.
• Step 2: Find the ISOFIX connectors. They are two prongs that emerge from the backside on the base or the seat.
• Step 3: Then, slowly and carefully push these connectors inside ISOFIX slots in your car's seat. You will find an audible click on some of the car seats or an indicator that will turn green from red. It means your child's seat is attached securely.
• Step 4: If you wish to use the top tether, connect the same to the top tether points inside your vehicle. As you connect, the indicator turns green. However, refrain from attaching it to other things, such as a luggage hook or head restraint. These are not strong enough to withstand the forces that occur during a crash.
• Step 5: In case you use a child seat with a supporting leg, ensure connecting this part properly to confirm that the seat adjusts against the floor. This system comes with an indicator that confirms connection when set properly. Besides, ensure that the leg does not sit on an underfloor storage area, as this might cause an issue if any impact comes from the support foot section.

If you are unsure about the fitting, it is better to go through the guidebook to understand the system.

The company connectors attach the booster seats similarly as the child seat. However, both are held in place correctly by an adult seatbelt. Here is the process to fix this:

• Attach the seat belt using the red slots. You will find one at a shoulder height to place the diagonal section of the seat belt along with some at waist height under the armrests of the seats. It will help to position the lap section of the seat belt properly.

Ensure the following:

• Seat belt must warp around a child’s pelvis, shoulder and chest as tight as possible.

• Check that it doesn’t go over the stomach, as it can cause discomfort.

• Diagonal straps must rest on the shoulder and not on the neck.

• Raise or lower the seat if it has an adjustable headrest or back to match the child's height.

Most luxury cars in India are concerned most about safety systems, hence they install ISOFIX seats. With that, several mid-sized cars are also progressing towards using these seats. However, the price range varies from one car to another. 

There is also no government mandating manufacturers to use them as standard safety equipment. Anti-lock braking system is a feature that is available in most cars and bikes in India.

Before purchasing your child's car seat with ISOFIX, keep in mind the below things:

• Check whether your car consists of ISOFIX points and labels between the back and the base of your car seats. The fitting areas might be visible. In case you are unable to find one, check your car’s guidebook or contact the dealer or the manufacturer.

• When you are purchasing a new ISOFIX child seat, you can take your vehicle to the retailer. Request them to try the seat/give a demo of the same before you finally buy it.

• Check with your car manufacturer's website, providing details of approved seats that go with the making of your car and model. In case it is not mentioned there, you can also find it out from your car manufacturer or the retailer.

This ends our discussion on the ISOFIX car seat and its functioning. If you have any query regarding the same, clarify it with your car manufacturer. Always try to purchase a child seat from a reputed brand to ensure it is of good quality. Some of the cars also come with an injection mould process to give extra smooth finishing, sturdiness, and strength.