[minigolf]

Obviously a Mini is never going to be a family run about, but I am interested to hear the experiences of any MCS owners who have fitted a baby seat/child restraint to their cars. The Mini brochure says this is no drama, and I don't doubt it. More specifically I'd like to know if any aftermarket seat will fit, or does one need to get the BMW approved seat? Also what, if any, straps impede on the rear glove box?

TIA

Liam

[Racer606]

I use a car seat in my Cooper S without a problem. My little girl loves riding in the Mini as she can see out all the windows easily. For a family of 3 the Mini works out great for running out to dinner, doing some small shopping trips, etc. I personally got the Eddie Bauer seat in mine but have tested several others and all work fine. Make sure you get a new model car that will use the latch system built into the Mini and not need to use the seat belts.

[slegorreta]

No problem using the car seat. My MINI is about 6 months older than my little girl now. I started using a Prenatal Group 0 seat facing backwards and now a Prenatal Group 1 seat facing forward. Both fit with no problem. I fit them both using the seatbelt.

We use the MINI for family trips every weekend. My girl loves the sound of my tuned exhaust (she jumps up and down after 4000 RPM, I think I got the next baby Senna )

Even the trunk has space for either the "sporty" 3 wheel Prenatal (Practic Plus) trolley or the regular and lighter chassis. There's even space left for mom's stuff as well and for a fourth passenger in the back!

The MINI is certainly more space efficient than most people think...

Cheers!!

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf

Obviously a Mini is never going to be a family run about, but I am interested to hear the experiences of any MCS owners who have fitted a baby seat/child restraint to their cars. The Mini brochure says this is no drama, and I don't doubt it. More specifically I'd like to know if any aftermarket seat will fit, or does one need to get the BMW approved seat? Also what, if any, straps impede on the rear glove box?

TIA

Liam

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf

Obviously a Mini is never going to be a family run about, but I am interested to hear the experiences of any MCS owners who have fitted a baby seat/child restraint to their cars. The Mini brochure says this is no drama, and I don't doubt it. More specifically I'd like to know if any aftermarket seat will fit, or does one need to get the BMW approved seat? Also what, if any, straps impede on the rear glove box?

TIA

Liam

Hey, mate

There is whole thread about it here .

We've used ours for baby carrying a bit. When they are in rearward facing mode it's difficult. I can't imagine how you would get them out without a turn-a-tot. I looked, and the turn-a-tot, and safe and sound compact were the only two seats that seemed to fit rearward in the MINI. Once they are forward facing it should be easy.

[minigolf]

Haha, you know as well as I do that I would have got a slap on the wrist if I posted this in the Aussie forum!

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf

Haha, you know as well as I do that I would have got a slap on the wrist if I posted this in the Aussie forum!

Actually, the funny thing is that it is one of the few things we talk about in the Aussie forum that is actually Australia specific. Aus has weird ADRs that apply to car seats in Australia only. Unique in the world. The mini's neat isofix system is illegal here

[minigolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by swamos

The mini's neat isofix system is illegal here

Wow! Go figure.

[irsa]

Is there something you're not telling us mate?

I would take the Mini to Kid Safe in Phillip and get them to check it out. I think the Turn-a-tot would be the way to go for the Mini. I can tell you that the Safe-N-Sound Platinum retractor won't fit in rearward facing mode, I doubt it will fit Heather's Calais either.

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by irsa

Is there something you're not telling us mate?

I would take the Mini to Kid Safe in Phillip and get them to check it out. I think the Turn-a-tot would be the way to go for the Mini. I can tell you that the Safe-N-Sound Platinum retractor won't fit in rearward facing mode, I doubt it will fit Heather's Calais either.

I'm telling you now, the turn-a-tot is really the only feasible solution I can think of for the MINI. I have no idea how you'd get a baby out of the back in rearward facing mode What's more, the turn-a-tot is small enough that it fits better in forward facing mode too

[OZChris]

Liam

Here's a picture of my son's baby seat in the back of my MINI Cooper.

Good Luck
Chris

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by XMINIX

Liam

Here's a picture of my son's baby seat in the back of my MINI Cooper.

Good Luck
Chris

It definately looks the ducks guts I was very tempted by the lapis blue version when Repco had a sale on recently

[Smurfn]

I just got a seat from Target (up to Australian Standards obviously). Our son, Liam, was 1 year old when we got the MINI, so he was in a forward facing seat. I'm not sure about the rear facing seats for infants.

The MINI is our family car, the one we take on holidays. That's why we have the roof racks and a luggage box. At least it was, I'm not sure now the other car is a 4 door (Mazda RX8)

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by swamos

Actually, the funny thing is that it is one of the few things we talk about in the Aussie forum that is actually Australia specific. Aus has weird ADRs that apply to car seats in Australia only. Unique in the world. The mini's neat isofix system is illegal here

so true Steve, very bizarre rules, but good safety records down under due to them.

all I could say is go with the advise of only your fellow country men on this subject, as Europe is totally different to you guys

[mini blue]

Hi
I'm in a bit of a dilemma here. My son is 4 months old and I'm starting to look for a car seat for him when he turns 6 months cos that's when I will go back to work. I want to get a mini junior seat I-II but worry that he may be too small for it at 6 months. The min weight requirement is 9kgs and I think he'll at most be about 7.5kg when he's 6 months. Is it safe to put him in it if he doesn't meet the min weight requirement? I'm not keen on getting the Mini Baby Seat cos that won't last long plus it's rear facing which means it'll be really tough getting him in and out of the car seat.

Can anyone advice pls?

Thanks!

[brett]

I just wedge my child between the rear window glass and the rear seat head rest

[ausyonline]

I can get my boy in with the seat rearward facing but have to slide the passenger seat all the way forward - the wife reckons it's been a while since she has had to put her knees so close to her ears