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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taxi journey 5-10 min - car seat needed?

103 replies

LaVitesse2022 · 25/08/2023 18:58

Hi all,

Due in a couple of months and thinking about logistics after birth. We live very close to maternity and I've been walking or taking the bus to my midwife appointments. Ideally we'll get the bus home from hospital after the birth but obviously not sure what state I'll be in. We may need a taxi, in which case it'll be a 5-10 min ride home.

I know by law it's not required in these circumstances - so AIBU to not wanting to get a car seat just for that hypothetical and very short drive home? I know accidents happen even in short rides, but it does look like a very small risk.

For context, we don't own a car and live in a small flat in London so I'm not keen on getting stuff unless absolutely necessary.

No hateful comments please, just interested in what other people would do in this situation, particularly ones who have been in similar circumstances.

OP posts:
gogomoto · 26/08/2023 08:06

Get a car seat, get one that's attached by the seat belt, they start at £50. It's not worth the risk

gogomoto · 26/08/2023 08:07

Only black cabs are legal not to use a car seat remember

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/08/2023 08:08

gogomoto · 26/08/2023 08:07

Only black cabs are legal not to use a car seat remember

Unfortunately this is incorrect and it is legal to not use a xar seat jn any taxi.

Sugarfree23 · 26/08/2023 08:11

TheBarbieEffect · 26/08/2023 07:33

Please don’t buy a second hand car seat. You don’t know the history of the seat, whether it’s been in a crash, been dropped, been improperly cared for, has mould inside from food/drink previous baby has had etc.

All these can effect the integrity of the seat and make it unsafe.

Far more car seats are out grown than have ever been involved in an accident.

For very occasional use there is no real reason not to buy second hand. A car seat is a huge lump of plastic that can't be recycled and they will take centuries to brake down in landfill.

gogomoto · 26/08/2023 08:11

Our local rules say you can't unless it's got a fixed divider (like in black cabs) or it's unexpected emergency, this is very much planned so that would be in breach. London bylaws may be similar

Sugarfree23 · 26/08/2023 08:15

gogomoto · 26/08/2023 08:11

Our local rules say you can't unless it's got a fixed divider (like in black cabs) or it's unexpected emergency, this is very much planned so that would be in breach. London bylaws may be similar

What by-law is that?
As far as i am aware car seats are governed by national laws. And its not something that is devolved either.

Barfvader · 26/08/2023 08:19

DillyDallyingAllDay · 25/08/2023 19:16

Personally think it would be far more traumatic for your newborn to be put into a car seat and then removed for a quick car ride. I'd go with the flow- hold baby, leave in a pushchair if that's an option/take the bus/walk- whatever works- and I wouldn't be purchasing a car seat for a 5min journey

Traumatic.

What.

TropicalTrama · 26/08/2023 08:21

gogomoto · 26/08/2023 08:07

Only black cabs are legal not to use a car seat remember

That isn’t true at all. But I think most people sensibly see the difference between black cabs in London- short distances, very low speeds, baby secured in pram, comparable to a bus journey and rural mini cab journeys- have to hold baby, faster speeds, longer journeys, comparable to any normal car journey only you have a professional driver. I for one do the former regularly but would never dream of doing the latter.

someladdersandsnakes · 26/08/2023 08:37

I had this dilemma but ended up getting a car seat and it was absolutely necessary in the end. Birth was so traumatic I can't imagine having to separate after and dad&baby get the bus home without me. And we needed it a bunch of times over the following year. If the baby needs to go to a&e one day you don't want to be stuck not owning a car seat.

TheCave · 26/08/2023 09:07

Regarding the comment about the speed of London traffic, agreed but also London drivers are crazy! I've lost count of the number of drivers I've seen driving the wrong way down what is effectively a motorway near my house.

TheBarbieEffect · 26/08/2023 09:11

Sugarfree23 · 26/08/2023 08:11

Far more car seats are out grown than have ever been involved in an accident.

For very occasional use there is no real reason not to buy second hand. A car seat is a huge lump of plastic that can't be recycled and they will take centuries to brake down in landfill.

Show quote history

Irrelevant. Baby needs to be in the safest seat possible for every journey, whether they are in the car every day or only once every few months.

A child’s safety trumps any environmental concern.

Garman · 26/08/2023 09:27

Ace56 · 26/08/2023 07:56

I feel like maybe a lot of these posters haven’t had much experience of London traffic?

OP, you know the route and the general speed you’ll be going. Assuming it’s like most of London you’ll be going 20 mph max, same as a bus. If you’re driving 5 mins of course you can just hold your baby or leave it in the pram, same as you’d do on the bus. I wouldn’t overthink this.

I'm familiar with London traffic, the speed the car you're in is going is irrelevant if a car, bus, or truck loses control and hits your vehicle. We're never protecting against regular traffic, it's freak accidents, medical emergenices, and sudden accelerations/errors/failures that require safety measures.

Clefable · 26/08/2023 09:35

A bus is much bigger than a black cab and the forces in a crash will be distributed much differently. I think it's bonkers personally to consider putting a newborn baby unsecured or secured only in a pram in a car that is just as likely as any other car to slam on the brakes, get hit by another vehicle, etc. London isn't some weird accident utopia where crashes don't happen or where a black cab is some sort of invulnerability shield. A crash at 20mph might not hurt us, but a one-day old baby not properly secured? Sorry I think it's incredibly irresponsible to suggest it.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 26/08/2023 09:36

I absolutely would not have risked holding a newborn in a cab for any period of time - you have no idea what their driving is like and even if you did you wouldn't know what other drivers are doing.

FWIW I would get a car seat (we got ours second hand from a trusted source) - there are going to be times when the baby needs to travel safely in a car and it's not always straightforward to borrow the right car seat for your kid at short notice.

Devilsmommy · 26/08/2023 09:38

Hospital won't let you go without car seat. That's my knowledge of it

AussieManque · 26/08/2023 09:39

I wouldn't put a newborn freshly out of hospital on a bus. Too much exposure to viruses for their very weak immune systems, unless you can do it super super off peak when the bus is empty. Worst would be during school home-time or commute hours, think of all the coughing we hear these days, you want to avoid exposing your newborn to that as long as possible.

Dad walking home with the pram seems the safest bet.

khaa2091 · 26/08/2023 09:41

Think about getting a seat that can be used with seatbelts (no base) and as part of a travel system? If you have a family member/ trusted friend who can give you one even better (not supposed to but if you are confident it has not been in an accident then not unreasonable for occasional use).
I had a maxi cosi cabriofix that slotted on a base / pram for my newborn and have only just stopped using it on odd trips in another car (to airport, with somebody else) at 22 months. She has been in a fixed Joie for the past 6 months for most of the time.

Orange67 · 26/08/2023 10:18

DillyDallyingAllDay · 25/08/2023 19:16

Personally think it would be far more traumatic for your newborn to be put into a car seat and then removed for a quick car ride. I'd go with the flow- hold baby, leave in a pushchair if that's an option/take the bus/walk- whatever works- and I wouldn't be purchasing a car seat for a 5min journey

Traumatic? For a newborn to go in a car seat?

I imagine much less traumatic for them than being held in your arms in an accident!!

Pram in a black cab sounds like a good idea, OP.

anotheranotheranotheranother · 26/08/2023 10:33

Devilsmommy · 26/08/2023 09:38

Hospital won't let you go without car seat. That's my knowledge of it

Your knowledge is poor. They have no power to prevent you from leaving.

bellac11 · 26/08/2023 15:36

Devilsmommy · 26/08/2023 09:38

Hospital won't let you go without car seat. That's my knowledge of it

Under what legislation or law please?

Devilsmommy · 26/08/2023 15:47

Ok not law but the guidance is even if you're going in a taxi you will have to have a car seat for a newborn

bellac11 · 26/08/2023 15:56

Devilsmommy · 26/08/2023 15:47

Ok not law but the guidance is even if you're going in a taxi you will have to have a car seat for a newborn

A hospital wont stop you leaving, they have no grounds to

EskSmith · 26/08/2023 16:04

I think it's not just about the cost but also about the storage of a seat that would be used so infrequently.especially if you never use cars in your day to day life.
The option of your DH walking seems a good plan.

Devilsmommy · 26/08/2023 16:04

bellac11 · 26/08/2023 15:56

A hospital wont stop you leaving, they have no grounds to

Show quote history

Surely if they suspected a newborn was going to be in an unsafe situation they would do something surely?

Caspianberg · 26/08/2023 16:18

Maybe just buy a lie flat car seat that’s compatible with pram frame.
I know in London the babyzen yo-yo is very popular. Car seat will last 15-18 months+ so you can use it also if you hire car abroad, in taxis, etc..