This might be a daft question, but taxis and car seats

[BillyJoe111]

What do you do when you’re child is too big for a bucket style car seat and you have to get a taxi?

Dd is 13 months and will soon be at the top of the weight limit for the bucket car seat. It’s only used the rare times I have to get a taxi as it clips onto the pushchair frame.

Usually she’s in the massive birth - 7 years seat that stays in the car. I couldn’t take that with me and the pushchair as I couldn’t carry it, it’s so cumbersome and heavy.

Dh had to take the car on an emergency trip this morning so I had to take older dd to school in a taxi (busses here are horrendous, or it’s an hours walk up and down hills).

Just wondering on what I would do next time I needed one and she was too big for the portable car seat.

*your child - i’m frazzled on no sleep.

And not been in this situation before, which is why it might be a stupid question! Lived in London when my older two were small so very regular busses or black cabs occasionally.

You can request taxis from some places with car seats. When unexpected need/short journey then legally you can travel without one.

The law regarding taxis and car seats are horrendous so don’t go by what the taxi firm says is ok - I’ve seen babies on knees and all sorts ☹️☹️☹️ There are surely good safe taxi firms who can transport you and your dc to the safety standard you are happy with. Surely there are some who put seats in for that age?? I don’t know… are they nice local taxi firms could you ring and discuss until you find one that you feel happy with? Or, how old is older dad. Any chance they could travel in taxi without you for these occasions?? Many kids do I know. Could that work?

Taxis don’t need to sit babies in car seats

In an emergency we had an Uber and DD at 14 months sat on my knee. She was in heaven! I held on tightly!

Its a right pain. We had lightweight seat that could fit in one of those blue IKEA bags and I used to carry it around on occasion

I’ve never used a car seat in a taxi

Large black cab style taxis are considered like buses I believe regarding safety - where you can keep child strapped into pram. Could that work? Go with what you feel is safe. Not just what is ‘legal in unexpected circs 😳’

The law is that they should travel unrestrained if they are under 3 years old and over that use the adult seatbelt. Never put the seatbelt round baby on your knee.

On knee is the most dangerous. DO NOT DO THIS. A shunt and you will crush your child. Safer for them to be seat belted into seat beside you.

If it's something you can actually see happening occasionally, I'd consider getting a lightweight, easy to install seat to use in taxis, friends cars etc. Perhaps something like a joie tilt or a joie steadi? They both seat belt in rear facing like infant carriers, but are up to 18kg weight. If you're on facebook check out the 'Car Seat Advice UK' group.

“ When unexpected need/short journey then legally you can travel without one. “ But who would ?? 😳😳😳😳

@Dontfuckingsaycheese

Large black cab style taxis are considered like buses I believe regarding safety - where you can keep child strapped into pram. Could that work? Go with what you feel is safe. Not just what is ‘legal in unexpected circs 😳’

Sorry, I don’t live in London now, I did when my other two were small. I live far away now where a regular bus service is a pipe dream.

If it’s going to happen more than once in a blue moon, a bigger seat. The Joie Tilt is popular for having a high maximum weight but still being secure and portable.

It’s so difficult. I think the law says they don’t need car seats in a taxi if the journey is short and an emergency situation - you are supposed to use a car seat if at all possible. Think there’s something about whether or not the taxi has a partition as well.
There’s also the point that whether or not it’s legal, it’s certainly dangerous to not use a car seat.
We had the lightest car seat we could find and a big carry bag for it. It was an absolute pain though and we avoided taxis as far as humanly possible until they were big enough to use a Mifold.

older dd is just 7 - I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending her alone.

And god the thought of an unrestrained baby/small toddler makes me weep!

I just use uber to be honest - good idea about the taxi firms possibly having seats.

It’s always in a last min emergency though, so never time to think. dh had to dash 2 hours to an elderly relative at 6am this morning, so I just did the easiest thing and got an uber.

And dds school are a law unto themselves what time the gates/classroom doors open and it’s a long walk from the road. But I guess another option is putting the bug seat in a taxi and paying them to wait, the few times i’ve done it, I’ve just hung around for busses on the way home to save taxi fare back or a driver having to wait for ages.

If you have to put your child on your lap it's actually safer to strap yourself in and hold onto your child. Don't put the belt around you both.

Also just ask for a cab you can leave the pram up in? They have them everywhere.