car seat questions - idiot's guide needed!

fluffymonster · 26-07-2009, 08:21pm

Okay, we have been looking at seats to get an idea and will probably go for the Maxi cosi cabriofix ones for various reasons. The bases are perplexing us a little. The lady in the buggy shop explained that te easyfix base is good but it needs isofix fittings. DH has looked and he thinks that neither of our cars have this (Fiesta and Focus, both 2001). The Maxicosi site says it is not sure for either car either.

Can you get such things fitted retrospectively?

Or, is it too late? If it is too late, can be choose the easybase or is this something totally different?

I think I was only slightly freaked out as the lady was saying that the isofix was the easiest and safest, the former being good when you are clipping two in every time. I am a bit

as to me, our cars are not old.

Sorry for the dumb questions, where is this manual I need for 'how to prepare for and look after a baby'?

Amazon don't seem to stock it.

fluffymonster · 26-07-2009, 08:25pm

I feel really

that I have had to ask this!

**icclebunny** · 26-07-2009, 08:40pm

I don't know if you can have them fittedclater but they didn't tend to come as standard til the last few years. I bought a 54 plate seat leon but upgraded to the SX that had them. Wiggle your fingers under the joint of the back seat & if you can feel 2 metal D type bars you have isofix. You could try phoning your local ford dealer too if you know which model you have.

Graco & Bebeconfort also do non isofix bases which you just clip the seats onto- the bases remain clipped in at all times by a 3 point seat belt

fluffymonster · 26-07-2009, 09:19pm

Thanks IB

**claireh** · 26-07-2009, 09:34pm

I don't think you can get isofix added retrospectively.

I think the Easybase is the one that you would need to go for.

Don't feel bad about asking about this. It took me about two weeks to get my head around the differences in the bases! Trying to put the pram together was worse than this though!

fluffymonster · 26-07-2009, 09:40pm

Brilliant Claire, thank you!

**Nicolab** · 26-07-2009, 09:40pm

Hiya - this thread made me laugh only because I posted something similar on the Pregnancy and Birth forum only last week with similar questions - it's so bloody confusing

!!!

So...from what I have gleaned (and we're going for the same seat as you) you can get this one with either the easy base (where you don't have to have Isofix fixings in your car) or with an easyfix base, which has possibility to either use Isofix or just the seatbelt option.

Apparently Isofix is the safest but obviously not all cars have the fittings and the easy base for this seat appears to be as safe as you could want it anyway.

Totally feel for you though - my brain is

with it all!!

fluffymonster · 26-07-2009, 09:41pm

Thanks Nicola! Glad it is not just me that was bamboozled.

**Mrs B** · 26-07-2009, 09:43pm

Those cars probably won't have Isofix,and you can't fit it retrospectively either.

But, the Easybase will fit both your cars so you can have the Maxi Cosi seats. We have one and it's fab, our last car didn't have Isofix either. Maxi Cosi make 2 bases, one for Isofix and the Easybase for non-Isofix cars. It's still the safest one out there too I think.

ETA Took me months to work it out too, even though MrB works in the industry. He actually had to put the seats into my car to show me before I understood!

**Nicolab** · 26-07-2009, 09:44pm

God no it's been driving us insane and car seats are hardly the most exciting thing to buy eh

!!!

What next - the definitive guide to High Chairs and Bouncers?!

**lazybones** · 26-07-2009, 09:50pm

so do you have to have a base now? Im confused. We didnt have one with o, and used the bebe confort car seat, which is what we're using for the new baby

fluffymonster · 26-07-2009, 09:50pm

Brilliant ladies, I knew I could rely on you

. I have so much to learn, thank you for not making me feel silly

! It's good to know the Easybase is safe, obviously that is mega important.

Halfords are doing 10% off at the moment if you order two car seats so it is tempting.

fluffymonster · 26-07-2009, 09:51pm

I don't think you 'have to' LB, but I am so not the person to advise you! I am sure someone will come along to help out. I 'think' you can still use seat belts to position the seat and hold it in but I could well be wrong.

**lazybones** · 26-07-2009, 09:55pm

thanks fluffy

its bloody hard isnt it? And to think im on my 2nd and should know!

**Mrs B** · 26-07-2009, 09:55pm

No, you don't need the base. It's just a lot easier and safer as once it's in you don't need to fix it in every time you use it.

**icclebunny** · 26-07-2009, 09:57pm

No the older creatis don't fit the new bases- which I'm totally gutted about BUT if you have a newer creatis seat from the last 12 mtgs or so take it into mothercare & ask to see if it is compatible. You don't have to have one but it's a damn site easier than using a 3 point seat belt with a creatis

**Nicolab** · 26-07-2009, 10:04pm

is all I can say about the whole thing

**LucyB** · 26-07-2009, 10:32pm

Now, my focus you CAN fit isofix retrospectively, but it's only 18 months old. There are bolts to fit the isofix bars into under the seats. Ford fsr have them as a no cost extra but only if you got the car brand new. It took me ages to get my head round this, but in summary

Maxi Cosi alone - fix in by seatbelt
Maxi Cosi + Easybase. Easybase fixes in by seatbelt and stays there. Just click seat in and out of base.
Maxi Cosi + Easyfix. Easyfix base fixes in by seatbelt or ISOfix and stays there. Just click seat in and out of base.

So, if I get the MC and EF, I can leave the EF in my car, but also put MC by itself in MIL car.

Lucy

**WoollyNewty** · 26-07-2009, 10:36pm

Yeah Lucy is right.

We had a new Focus and no Isofix

- I never even thought to ask as I just presumed!!

But you can get them fitted retrospectively in most cars - my dad had one put in his Volvo for us (and yet I don't use it

).

**LucyB** · 26-07-2009, 11:05pm

WoollyNewty - you can get the bars from a Ford Dealer for about £15 each. They will fit them (for their hourly rate!!!), but if you're interested I have a link to a DIY way to fit (not hard). We were so annoyed as we thought it had, asked when we brought, maxi cosi website says we have, manual acts if you have... believe me, the rant I had when I found out we didn't!!!!!

Fluffymonster, it may be worth checking if they can be retrofitted to your model of focus, as it may make later car seat choices easier.