ggrace

Hey All,

My son is turning 7 in 2 months. In my wife’s explorer, he still sits in a booster but in the back of my C4S, the belt appears to line up fine without a booster.

He’s probably 45-50lb as he’s rail thin.

Does everyone run a booster bottom for kids this age?

(he’s almost never in my car but I was considering a highway run tomorrow)

blassy

My oldest is 7. Best booster is from Walmart and it's like 30 bucks for the bottom piece. Fits snugly and works perfectly with the existing belt.
Its made by Harmony. Easy breezy.
Find the one with the removable back sits too far forward and not very comfy for her.

911 Rod

I always had my daughter in the front seat with a booster and then a boat cushion. The back seat to me leaves too much room to error in hitting their head on the window.
No airbag though.

THE REFINERY

I struggled to find a seat that would fit the egg-shaped rear seat of the 993, but couldn't find any booster that worked. Sounds like the 996 is a bit bigger back there, because I've also heard there are some boosters that work.

What I use now with my 7yr old is the MiFold booster (at Cdn Tire). It basically repositions the BELTS instead of repositioning the kid. The benefit is that it adjusts to different sized seats, including really small ones like the rear 993 seat. Downside: it's not a very soft seating surface. But maybe the kids won't notice when enjoying a run in the 911

If you're passing by us, drop in and I'll show you how it sits in my DD.

ggrace

Thanks all! Sounds like even though he appears to fit, it’s not a good idea.

Turbodan

you can get a booster that will fit. years ago I had one, you need to look for a narrow base (mine had a back support as well). Find a store that will let you test before purchase.

Imo000

The function of a booster seat is to line up the kid with the seat belt but if the 996 rear seat already lines up with your kid then, there is no need for a booster. If the kid needs to be slightly lifted then try getting a booster that only has a bottom. Kijiji is full of them.

ggrace

Exactly, and the seatbelt seems to position itself as it should even without a booster under him.

I’ll double check.

Imo000

Then by all intended purpose the back seat IS a booster seat.

Nate Tempest

Yep. As long as you're sure it lines up properly—that means both that the lap belt should be snug across the hips, not the belly, and the shoulder belt should cross the center of the sternum and the center of the shoulder top, not falling off the side, nor touching the neck.

That said, another option is to remove the seat bottom and back, and then replace with a high-back booster. I like that route as it offers some whiplash protection, which the stock seats don't have.

9964runner

I had my daughters on Canadian Tire boosters (bottom only) Until they were tall enough for seat belt to sit properly on the shoulder not across the neck. They are now 11yo 75lbs, wont be long before legroom in the 996 becomes an issue.

ggrace

I took the kids for a spin last weekend and we were beside a boxster. They said they want a convertible. A convertible the family could cruise in has always been on the back of my mind. But I would need to find one with more reasonable back seats.

997turbocab

We have a 997 Turbo Cab with 2 cars seats in the back (Thanks to Nate Tempest!)...it works as long as your wife isn't 6'5" lol But the kids love it!

Imo000

The convertible has even less legroom than the coupe.

strathconaman

I have two child seats in the back of my 996. I removed all the stock seat backs, bottoms, and fitted the seats. They are high back, 5 point harnesses seats up to 50 lbs. After that, they are booster to 110 lbs. With the 5 points, the kids are probably better secured than I am.