Taxi problem with no car seats?

[ShinySarah]

Hi,
we're off to Rome in a few weeks with a 7 month old and a 2 year old. We're only going for 4 days and do not need a car however I'm not sure what on earth I|m going to do re car seats in taxis? I don't really want to a. hire a car or b. take 2 large car seats for 4 days (confused)

Any advice??

You take your stage 1 car seat with you and thats that. How often are you going to be in a taxi anyway - just to and from the airport? Do you even need to be in a taxi - cant you just use the very good buses and underground?

Its much more difficult for the baby if you dont take your own seat but for the 2 year old it may be worth considering a trunki booster pack, you can get one from halfords. Its a bag that you can use as a booster seat. Its not ideal but for a couple of taxi trips might be better than nothing. One of you can use it as hand luggage on the plane.

7 month old is about to go in his stage 2 seat as he's a big boy!!

Love the idea of the trunkit.

Maybe taking his little car seat is a good idea then, it doesn't matter if it gets wrecked on the plane. Thats always my worry.

I've given it away!!! Argh!!

he's 7 months old, he shouldn't be in a stage 2 seat anyway

borrow an infant carrier if you've given yours away

oh, and if it were me i would take the carseats, even if it is just for 4 days

Yeh thanks for that. He's 24 lb, very long and will be almost 8 months when we go thanks.

The other thing i have done before is to e-mail the hotel and ask them to organise a car to collect us from the airport with car seats. Of course there is no guarantee that the seats will be with the car when you arrive or that they will be in decent condition. Sometimes it works though, just depends if a taxi driver the hotel uses has a suitable seat. You will need to e-mail now to ask then if they say yes contact the hotel the day before you go to remind them.

The other thing to consider for the future is to ask a friend who has an older child to give you their old seat when their child grows out of it. That way you have a seat for checking in when you fly and know that your own seats aren't going to be damaged by baggage handlers. I've seen some shocking treatment of car seats and even if i take one now i take an old one i dont use at home.

Thank you so much jollyma!!!! Excellent idea!! I'll contact them asap.

shiny - are you really only using taxis to and from the airport though - can you not investigate the public transport instead - its a lot easier.

I have always had zilch success in preordering stage 2 seats in continental europe - they always turn up with childs booster seats instead

shiny - can you get someone to lend you a 0+ which goes upto that weight btw?

he shouldn't be in one at 8 months either

sorry, but I happen to take car safety very seriously. you asked for advice... my advice is to keep him in a suitable rear-facing seat for as long as you possibly can.
he hasn't outgrown it until his head is over the top of the back or he goes over the weight limit

but it's up to you

falsemessageoflethargy- Thank you! I've just started asking round for a 0+ one as the one I think is a 0 car seat. failing that, it'll be public transport!!

My ds2 was a big baby and physically didn't fit in his first car seat at ten months; The straps wouldn't fasten. I got through the next few months with a next stage car seat you could put in the car rear facing. Was a complete pain getting him in and out tbh but was reassuring to me that he was still rear facing.

Public transport can be fun, i'm sure your 2 year old would love it! I've had this problem for 8 years and have come to the conclusion there is no perfect solution. I hope you have a great time.

Thanks Jollyma, thanks for advice on car seats-it has been a constant worry because he's so big!!

you're right, my 2 year old will love the public transport. fortunatley we've sorted it all now so that's one headache over!