When it comes to how your seat fits in the car, you have two options. ISOfix, or seat belt fitment - of course, if you don't have ISOfix then you only have the one option!
ISOfix Fitment
ISOfix is an international standard of fixing child seats into a car. Lots of cars have metal D shaped points in the rear passenger seats which are part of the chassis of the vehicle. You can buy child seats that either have an ISOfix base, or have ISOfix arms attached and they simply click onto the points in the car.
ISOfix Fitment
ISOfix is an international standard of fixing child seats into a car. Lots of cars have metal D shaped points in the rear passenger seats which are part of the chassis of the vehicle. You can buy child seats that either have an ISOfix base, or have ISOfix arms attached and they simply click onto the points in the car.
ISOfix car seats are generally much easier to fit than seat belt fitted car seats, and therefore it is considered to be safer, as the risk of incorrect fitment is greatly reduced.
Seat belt fitment
If you don't have ISOfix, or do not want to use it, you can of course choose a seat belt fitted restraint. When fitting a child seat with a seat belt the risk of fitting it incorrectly is much higher.
If your child seat can be used REAR facing, it will have BLUE seat belt guides.
If your child seat can be used FRONT facing, it will have RED seat belt guides.
If your seat fits both rear and forward facing, it will have both blue and red guides on it.
It is a very common error, and important to note that the seat belt doesn't necessarily fit through every single blue or red guide on the seat. Lots of seats have the same guides on either side - this is so you can fit the seat on either side of the car. Lots of major manufacturers have fitting guides on their websites, it is strongly recommended to watch these through a few times before attempting to fit your child's car seat.
Always read your fitting instructions carefully, and if in doubt get it checked out!
If you don't have ISOfix, or do not want to use it, you can of course choose a seat belt fitted restraint. When fitting a child seat with a seat belt the risk of fitting it incorrectly is much higher.
If your child seat can be used REAR facing, it will have BLUE seat belt guides.
If your child seat can be used FRONT facing, it will have RED seat belt guides.
If your seat fits both rear and forward facing, it will have both blue and red guides on it.
It is a very common error, and important to note that the seat belt doesn't necessarily fit through every single blue or red guide on the seat. Lots of seats have the same guides on either side - this is so you can fit the seat on either side of the car. Lots of major manufacturers have fitting guides on their websites, it is strongly recommended to watch these through a few times before attempting to fit your child's car seat.
Always read your fitting instructions carefully, and if in doubt get it checked out!