Not using car seats in mini cab - any ideas?

[T100]

DH and I will be taking our two DC (2.5 and 9 months) on holiday in the summer. We live in central London and do not have a car so whenever we've gone to the airport before, we've always taken a mini cab (Addison lee etc.).

We want to do the same this time, but obviously we have the dc. We have car seats for them, but would rather not take car seats with us on the plane to the holiday and back just for the car journey.

I've checked on the Addison lee website and it says UK law permits children to travel without a car seat in licensed cabs and taxis. However, I feel really uneasy about this.

Are there any other firms you can recommend that can supply car seats? Failing that, what are my options?

It's a long way from ideal but I have worn dc in a sling as babies with the seatbelt between me and the sling. So I'm wearing the belt as usual and dc then attached to me in the sling. Felt safer than just cuddling on my knee.

If older dc is on the higher centiles you could perhaps consider a backpack booster

most taxi firms don't supply seats any more due to the law stating tht they are not needed.

personally I would take seats for them, because I would not be prepared to take the risk. at the very least I would take one for the baby, as that's easily transportable.

if you don't take them then put them ON a seat and strap them as well as you can with the adult belt. Never have them on your lap.

The journey is over an hour so not prepared to take a risk but found a firm that does supply car seats so feel better now! Thank you

make sure you double check with them that they're appropriate! we got caught out like that one time and had no choice but to use them anyway. so be a pain if need be and find out makes/models etc so you can be certain!

hope you have a nice holiday :)

Presumably you'll have the return journey too - could you not find a firm that will hang on to your carseats for a week?

Why not take public transport? Unless your flight is before 7am, should be possible to get from.central London to any airport easily.
Failing that, order a black cab, so baby can be in a pushchair and other child can be facing backwards on a jump seat - much safer.than forwards facing.

We arent in london but a local taxi firm offered to keep our carseat for the week and use it on way out and back...
We didnt try it in the end, as bought a backpack booster that was officially a little too big for dc, but not massively. She was 2.4 though. I cant help re 9 month old. But if anyone figures it out they could make money!!