Black cabs with baby

[afinethingindeed]

Hi - my husband and I will be travelling to London soon with our 10 month old. We've lived in London for many years so are familiar with all things transport but never with a baby in tow!
Can anyone help with rules about getting taxis (particularly black cabs) without a car seat?
Our preference will always be tube or bus but would like to know what our options are!
Thanks!

If they are in a pram this is totally fine

You don't legally need a car seat in a taxi. Obviously taxis are not immune from crashing though so more of a practical rule than a safety one. Some people prefer to use one and you should not be stopped from doing so. If you do find yourself without a car seat, never put the seatbelt around both you + baby together - this is v dangerous.

For black cabs you can put pushchair in and park like you would on a bus.

They're easy, you just put the pushchair on without needing to fold and baby can stay in there. Obviously not very safe in terms of car seats etc but you wouldn't have a car seat on a bus so not a huge difference.

Yeah just wheel the buggy on. I’ve done this with a huge Stokke and with a huge double buggy and it’s fine. Tubes are a bit more of a pain. I soon realised how many don’t have lift access. You can tip the buggy on an escalator, which feels quite precarious but it is doable, but there are many stations where there are just stairs and it’s very hard when travelling on your own to carry bags/buggy etc! But walking and black cabs are fine.

Thanks everyone! I thought in would be the way to do it but wasn't sure if it was the done thing. Thanks for all your help

Cab drivers are very used to it. I've never had one who hasn't helped me in and out with the pram.

That should say in a pram