Car seats, taxis, how?

[carseattrouble]

Just bought dc a new car seat. Weighs about 14kg. Rearfacing till 4 years old.

Those of you who have a group 1+ car seat how do you do things like taxis etc?

I'm baffled, it's so heavy

Surely if you take it in a taxi you can't lug it around wherever you're going? How do you do it?

@ChildminderMum I live in London in z2. Most parents I know get a black cab and keep the child strapped in the pram. I once got an uber where I held DS. I hated doing it but I had a migraine with aura come on and it was either uber home or pass out in the street.

For longer journeys I prebook with the local minicab who provide seats, or use my own ff joie one which weighs 4kg.

This is an expensive option but looks good if you use taxis regularly.
inflatable rear facing carseat

You don't need a sat seat to travel
By taxi.

skidmarksaremylife it might be legal, but it isn't safe.

I have a few friends who regularly take their toddler in taxis without any seats and are fine with it.

I have no problem with them doing it but I wouldn't unless it was an emergency. I can't drive so it does limit where I can go but it's not a risk I'm willing to take lightly.

You have to do what you feel comfortable with.

*toddlers

we just take car seats with us or only use private taxi firms that include car seats. Some of the 1-4 seats come in backpack style bags that you can wear fairly comfortably.

If you use a carrier then just put the seat belt on, thread the seatbelt between you and your child? You're strapped in the car and baby is strapped to you, easy

NorthBich that's really dangerous! In the event of a crash the buckles of the carrier would likely fail and the force would throw the wearer forward, crushing baby between them and the front seat.

We encountered this a lot. We go on 3 plus hour long taxi rides as we travel abroad a lot. We used to just lug his heavy seat. We bought some wheels so we could use it like a stroller and he'd sit in it when moving it around out of a car.

Now he's not in one but i'd definitely buy a wayb pico. Friends have them and say they're amazing!!! Fold up and light but passed all the US safety ratings.

It sure they ship to the UK yet. They were a kickstarter crowdfunded type thing but made by the guy behind Patagonia. wayb.com/products/pico-car-seat

carseattrouble

@NeedAnExpert

My understanding and we do it now is in a taxi you don’t have to use a car seat but must be in a rear seat.

So you're trying to say you don't have to use a car seat but they must be in a rear car seat? hmm

I think you need to read properly.

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This is embarrassing for the OP! Read it once more, really slowly @carseattrouble!

@carseattrouble think you need to read properly! She means the child can't sit in the front seat

We have a cheap lightweight seat for travelling, a 'proper' one rather than a travel one.
This sort of thing
www.argos.co.uk/product/7095984
We've ended up a few times having booked a taxi with a car seat for them to turn up without one grrrrrrr.
So not the safest ever, but it's very light and far superior to what we've come across even when taxi provide them. We were lucky my older son is small for his age so stayed in his maxi cosi for longer than average.

limpingparrot I’m amazed it’s legal to put a 9m old in that. I’m actually quite shocked! For an older child travelling I can see how it could be handy as a booster. I’m dreading our next holiday as it was bad enough taking one car seat but I think taking 2 will tip us over the edge at the airport.

A recall of the WayB Pico has just been announced because the frame can snap and the headrest could detach. I still don’t think they’re massively convenient for a day out as it means wearing a bulky 7lb backpack all day, but I was seriously considering one for when we fly as it will be much lighter to take through the airport. I’m definitely reconsidering now though.

@Expressedways wow all of them?! That's a blow.

@Userzzzzz yeah, no way would I put a 9 month old in it. My son started using it at 2.5. I currently have a very large second child so fear he may grow out of his maxi cos pebble, before I would be comfortable putting him in that type of thing...

Not all of them- 4,500 models made before May are affected. Maybe I’m being paranoid but I read a review where someone said it snapped clean off during testing so I wonder how they passed safety tests. So I think I’ll be waiting to see if they fully redesign the headrest before considering buying one.

There are 2 taxi companies that I know of near me (probably more) that provide car seats. I guess mainly for airport journies

I use a taxi to get to regular hospital appointments. The driver puts the car seat in the boot and takes it back with him if we are going to be a while or will make sure he is the one who comes back to get us if we know when we will be finished. They have been known to store it for weeks for us when admitted. They are a small company though and have known us for years. They just keep it in the office.

We don't drive and use taxis (uber) loads we just have a light car seat and for airport trips we use a taxi that supplies car seats.... Never an issue

It's maxi cosi pebble maybe

@WellLetsSayHesSquare That is lovely!
Maybe I should look into smaller companies. I just use uber etc at the moment.

@Maskin I'm not embarrassed at all.
I mostly take black cabs where you're not allowed to sit in the front. Even with uber etc it's often expected you sit in the back. I've never known anyone to sit in the front unless it's full capacity and even then not a 1 year old child.