do you/would you use a taxi without a car seat?

[LucyJones]

I would. We use black cabs so dd is strapped in pushchair and ds sits on my knee.
I know it's not ideal but it really doesn't bother me.
My friend would never use one without a car seat she says.

In an absolute emergency and for a short distance, yes. Otherwise no.

I have done it plenty of times, particularly before I got my driving license. Sometimes it was the only realistic option. I was always aware that I was taking a risk, though.

I have once in 6 years. No black cabs round here so was a minicab and I hated every minute of it. But was already in an emotional state due to having been called back from work because nursery had called an ambulance for DS, and DH working 2 hours away and then being released from A&E with no car or money. So had to go via cashpoint.

Depends on age of child. I would be reluctant to do this with a very small child.

I have done a couple of times with DD over the past 5 years. Both times when it was raining heavy amnd when we have been away from home, having travelled up by train. Have grabbed black cab, kept DD in pushchair fastened in and facing backwards.

Most of the time we use a taxi it is preplanned and we do make sure we have a car seat available, even if just a booster cushion.

If sat on knee make sure child isn't within the seatbelt with you - very dangerous.

Yes, with child between my knees behind the passenger seat and with car seat across me and across child's lap. For a short distance.

Yes I have, for very short distances. Always felt very uneasy about it though.

Anna - never share a seat belt. Very very dangerous. In a crash you are very likely to fatally crush your child.

when they were little it was easy - just carried the car seat with me, the next stage seat are harder -our minicab office will store the seats and bring them on the return journey and it's the reason we've hired cars abroad instead of bus tranfers - so we can use car seats too. however i have used a black cab in an emergency - i put the brakes on the pushchair, wrapped my legs around it and thought about the statistical unlikelihood of a crash!

It never really crossed my mind. It's not ideal I know, but if I rang up a taxi company here in Milan and asked for one with a car seat I'd get laughed at and hung up on. I tried once for a friend that was over and this actually happened with one company, they hung up because they thought I was a loony.

Hulababy - well, that's the law here in France - the taxi driver can't take you unless the child is as described, between an adult's knees (ie not sitting on knees but on back seat of car) and car seat across lap of adult with child between and the top strap of car seat across adult only.

Anna - that is scary
I knew someone who was paralysed as a result of being tucked in the seat belt with her mother

Most definitley not

especially not with a child under about 6 years

NO WAY

Yes, with DS (aged under 6 months). Sometimes with him in a sling, outside the seatbelt (ie me strapped in, him strapped to me). Then once on quiet country roads when there were lots of us in the car, with him in the footwell of the car - seemed the safest place, he couldn't fly far if the worst happened. But the one time we did a long taxi journey (to airport) we did (with more difficulty than seemed necessary) organise a car seat.

yes of course. sometimes there isn't an alternative.

only in black cabs with los in pushchair. i don't drive so on occasion i don't really have any choice.

Haven't had to yet, luckily, but if it was a necessity, dare say I would.

DS and I used taxis quite a bit when he was a baby and still fitted in his infant seat. I would feel v uncomfortable about it now (he is 14 months) as it is pretty much all minicabs round here and the driving is a bit patchy. I might possibly consider it in a black cab with buggy.