Baby/child seat solution?.......but in Australia!!

[Diamond911]

OK, there are plenty of threads regarding how to fit baby seats in the backseat of a Porsche on this great forum. However, I am looking for a forward facing baby seat that is available in Australia, meets Australian standards, and fits in the back of my 1988 coupe.

A selection of my reading is outlined below:

Ye Olde Baby Seat Question

Finally found a child seat that fits!!!

Need baby seat for 1987 911

Question..Infants in 911's

lap belts--child seat

Children's car seat that fits, with tether mount

car seat in my SC?

83 911SC+wife+child seat=problems

FYI, Century child seats fits in rear of 3.2

Child seats (Britax) in back of Carrera 3.2?

i got a child car seat to fit my 911 rear seat...

I have come across many wonderful solutions to this problem, but unfortunately all of the recommended seats are not available in Australia (to the best of my knowledge and googling). Some examples I have come across on this forum include Britax Freeway, Cosco Touriva, Cosco Alpha Omega, Graco comfort sport, Porsche, Century Breverra and Evenflow Titan.

Given that there are quite a few Aussies on this forum I hoping that someone has come across a solution in Australia. The seat must obviously meet our Australian standards etc.

My daughter is only 7 months old, so I have a little time up my sleeve before she will be moved into a forward facing seat, which is what I am looking for.

Your ideas would be appreciated.

thanks,

[jk911]

Hi

I am the new owner of a 1988 911 coupe and I am in the same position as you as I have a 2 year old .

Any developments or advice you can share?

Thanks
John

[Diamond911]

Hi John,

Congratulations on your new purchase!

I'm no further down the track at this stage so no updates. My daughter is only 8 months old so I will not be doing this until she is forward facing next year sometime.

When I was buying another car seat for my 4WD I did ask about it and the guy in the shop was confident that we could get one to fit. He said to bring the car in and we can try out all the seats he has in stock. He said that he had fitted baby seats to a number of different Porsche models.

So when I get some spare time I will take the car in and see if anything fits. I will update this thread once I have done this but if in the meantime anyone has any good ideas please speak up.

cheers,
Bryan

[spence88mph]

Hmmm..... what if they dribble in there?....

[Diamond911]

Does our host sell bibs?.....

[f3nr15]

Whilst picking up an eBay purchase from a Sydneysider this week (bathroom tiles, if you must know), I noted he had a nice SC, parked out the front. We got to having a bit of a yarn about the cars and as the topic drifted over to our kids and the cars, he pointed out that he had a "Safe 'n' Sound Compact" seat which apparently fits perfectly in the back.

On a side note, I'm still not comfortable with the idea of having my 2 year old in my old 911 from a safety aspect, but that's prob just me being nervous about my relative inexperience with the car.

[Walko]

My five year old has been in my 911's since he was born and my two year old goes in the every day. I have a safe and sound fitted. I would advise you that it takes a bit of fiddling to get the seat right.

I still reckon the 911 is a safer car than the wifes 4WD

Michael

[peppy]

I have this one, we got it from Amazon.com. I have no idea if it works for Australia, and I have not tried it in the 911, but if you give me a few days I will try and get some pics.




Let me if you need me to check fitment in the 911.

[Diamond911]

Thanks Peter and Michael. Good info.

I'll definitely try the Safe & Sound compact as well as the rest of the Safe & Sound range and see what we can get to fit. I have two other Safe & Sound seats in my 4WD so I'm sure.

Actually I just googled it and it must be the Safe & Sound "Compaq" rather than compact that your were referring to. Here is a photo of the seat in question:



And the website speel:
"Suitable for children from birth to 18kg, the Safe-n-Sound Compaq provides maximum protection with superior comfort. Its compact design makes it perfect for smaller vehicles and multiples without compromising on safety."

thanks also Peppy, and good luck with fitting your seat.

cheers,

[Walko]

The problem you have to look for is the base of the seat. The one you have pictured has the narrow base and there are other makes with a narrow base.

I am happy with the Safe n Sound however if REcaro ever get there act together and get ADR approval for the baby seat I will buy one of them for the new addidtion which is coming in January.

Michael

[Diamond911]

Hi Michael,

Yes figured as much (re narrow seat base).

The only question I have left to resolve when I get around to it s the rear anchor point? The Safe n Sound and most other seats will require a rear anchor. Without modifying the rear parcel shelf the only two options I can see are:
(1) removal of rear speaker and utilise this area somehow; or
(2) upper support area for the 3 point seat beat.

Does anyone have a solution for this without modifying the rear parcel shelf?

(my car is factory stock standard in concours condition and the last thing I want to do is start cutting up the car to install a rear anchor point).

cheers,
Bryan

[Walko]

It is only one hole that needs to be drilled. the support plate is placed under therear parcel shelf to spread the load

Michael

[Diamond911]

Hi guys,

Success with installation of baby seat in '88 911 Coupe in Australia.

Purchased the Safe 'n' Sound Compaq Delux and it fits perfectly. The narrow base of the baby seat is almost exactly the same profile as the original leather base in the rear seat.

No need to modify anything or drill any holes, it fits just straight in. There is already a rear anchor point standard for Aussie delivered models.

So just put the protective matting under the seat, put the seat in, secured the 3 point belt in place, removed the plastic cover over the rear anchor point, installed the rear anchor, tightened the strap and that is all.

A couple of photos below of the install. My 11 month old daughter looks pretty impressed!!

I'm not actually going to use it for another month or so until my daughter is 8kg as per forward facing seat recommendations. She is 7.5kg at the moment, so a few more weeks yet!

[geoz]

For bigger kids there is a simple solution. You can buy a harness for baby shops - apparently even K-Mart though we did not find it there - that clips onto the child restraint point & connects to the seat belt. Works good only my daughter is not too happy in there because she can't see out of the car ... We'll try a booster seat underneath.

Cheers

Geo

[willcall]

Old thread I know but I am glad I found it. I have the safe and sound compaq for my 2010 mini. So glad to see that this seat will fit straight into the '76 911.

Hi guys,



Success with installation of baby seat in '88 911 Coupe in Australia.



Purchased the Safe 'n' Sound Compaq Delux and it fits perfectly. The narrow base of the baby seat is almost exactly the same profile as the original leather base in the rear seat.



No need to modify anything or drill any holes, it fits just straight in. There is already a rear anchor point standard for Aussie delivered models.



So just put the protective matting under the seat, put the seat in, secured the 3 point belt in place, removed the plastic cover over the rear anchor point, installed the rear anchor, tightened the strap and that is all.



A couple of photos below of the install. My 11 month old daughter looks pretty impressed!!



I'm not actually going to use it for another month or so until my daughter is 8kg as per forward facing seat recommendations. She is 7.5kg at the moment, so a few more weeks yet!