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Original poster

Will we be trapped with no car when DS outgrows stage 1 car seat?

16 replies

SebbysMum · 23/02/2009 22:38

He's just getting too big for his first car seat now. At least the one we have at the moment can be carried around on the buggy or by hand if necessary. We've just done a weekend away by train, maybe for the last time.

Please tell me what on earth we are going to do about visiting people around the country when he grows out of it. Is there some secret I should know about? DH is sitting next to me surfing internet for a car. Surely this is a bit of an extreme solution?!

OP posts:
purepurple · 24/02/2009 07:20

you see those 2 things sticking out of the bottom of his body? They are called legs. They support the body and aid it's mobolity. Google it if you are not sure

RaspberryBlower · 24/02/2009 07:28

I'm a bit confused by your post. You don't have a car. Why do you need a car seat to go on the train? How old is your ds?

newpup · 24/02/2009 07:29

Not sure I understand. Why do you need a car because he has grown out of his babyseat? You can still travel by train, just with baby/toddler on your lap or on his own seat. A bit more tricky but then travelling in general is a bit more tricky when they are past the newborn stage. It gets easier again when they are past the toddler stage.

Did you not notice that there were other children on the train not in baby seats?

oregonianabroad · 24/02/2009 07:42

sling/ backpack for the arrival/ departure, then he's on the loose with you during the journey (bring a bag full of little toys to amuse him).

EldonAve · 24/02/2009 07:43

I think the OP means she needs a car seat when they get a taxi at their destination?

Simplysally · 24/02/2009 07:48

Trains are better for children as you can interact with them more on the journey. You would need a baby seat if you used a coach.

Is it possible to borrow a carseat when you go off next?

NotQuiteCockney · 24/02/2009 07:52

Some options:

  • car seats are not legally required in taxis
  • some black cabs (the most modern) have built-in stage 2 seats.
  • some minicabs (Addison Lee use some, they're VW Sharan) have built-in stage 2 seats.
  • you can carry a carseat, if the car journey at the end is worth it. Yes, they're unweildy, but hey.
  • I've used a Baby b'air harness thing for short cab journeys - not as good as a car seat, but better than nothing.
EldonAve · 24/02/2009 07:54

Other options

  • hire a car and a car seat each time you go
  • hire a car and take your own seat
  • ask people at your destination if anyone has a seat they can borrow
  • if you go to one place a lot, buy a seat and leave it there
shonaspurtle · 24/02/2009 08:00

I think I get what the OP means. It does limit you (in so far as you can't use private cars) if you don't have a car and can no longer carry a car seat about.

If there's someone you visit fairly regularly you could always buy a car seat for them to keep for your visits. Otherwise, with a bit of advanced planning you could ask people to see if they could borrow a car seatfor your visits? My mum lends my aunt a car seat for when my cousin visits her.

Some taxi firms will supply a car seat if you request one and you definitely don't need one on a train!

Original poster
SebbysMum · 24/02/2009 19:50

Thanks for the last 3 helpful posts. Sorry if I confused people (your post was a bit harsh Purepurple). Just to clarify, I do not use a car seat in the train.

What I meant was if we go to stay with someone in another town, take a train there and then need to get to their house from the station. We use the train a lot at the moment. I don't really want a car. In London we sometimes take taxis with car seats requested or use black cabs where we don't need one. What I'm worried about is arriving in a small town where that's not an option and having to carry a HUGE stage 2 car seat to be able to travel. I may consider buying a carseat for my parents if we don't get a car. Car hire is also an option,

I only wanted to know if anyone had found clever solutions to the same problem.

OP posts:
newpup · 24/02/2009 20:54

Sorry Sebby's mum - just wanted to say I hope I was not rude. I was not sure what you meant. I should have said ' did you notice what other people with babies were using' - it came out a bit wrong, I'm afraid.

Just read Purepurple's post and was mortified to think you might think mine was in the same vein. I really did not intend to be rude, would never do that.

There seem to be some good suggestions on here. So hope you find an answer.
Good Luck.

Mercedes · 24/02/2009 21:01

We don't have a car so we have the same issue. We joined a car club in London and so had our own stage 2 and then a booster seat for when we drove anywhere. We were given a 2nd booster seat which we use for journeys in taxi's ext.

My Mum and Dad borrowed car seats from their friends with grandchildren when we visited. When she moved into boosters we bought them one and they keep it. My Dp's family also borrowed and I think his brother may have a booster seat for us in Dublin.

When we've flown we've just taken our own car seat and put it through as luggage. We've never been charged - not even by Ryanair which is a miracle.

Original poster
SebbysMum · 24/02/2009 21:34

No problem newpup

Think we might look into car hire for the more difficult journeys.

OP posts:
bronze · 24/02/2009 21:38

Ive carried the next stage carseat on my back a few times. Lengthen the straps and use them liek a rucksack. Most of the journey is spent on the train anyway so its not too hard.
Its now I have 3 soon to be fou of the blighters I don't travel by train so much. Two was hard work.

DadInsteadofMum · 25/02/2009 10:07

When we travel abroad rther than relying on a hire company's car seat (where you don't know the history) we used an all in one light weight moulded polystyrene car seat.

A bit bulky but light enough to carry easily.

theyoungvisiter · 25/02/2009 10:21

Not sure why your post got so many sarky answers - I thought it was perfectly clear even before I read the rest of the thread!!

My friends who are carless have just bought a car for this very reason, they survived with a toddler car seat for a while but now have 2 kids and it became impractical.

However some interim solutions...

If you live in a city you may be near a car sharing scheme, which usually works out cheaper than commercial car hire.

Alternatively you can set up an informal sharing scheme with friends if you know anyone who doesn't use their car a great deal and would appreciate a contribution to the insurance and repair bills. Many people are considering getting rid of their cars in the credit crunch and might be interested in sharing insurance and tax costs in return for a set number of weekends a year.

If you have regular places you go you can buy a cheap 0-4 years car seat for under £50 and leave one in each location - cheaper than long-term car hire and this will last your son right through to booster stage.

As others have said car seats are not required in taxis although whether you choose to take the risk is obviously up to you.

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