Newborn in taxi without car seat?

[mamaandthegirls]

Sorry, I have no idea what thread to post this in.

I need to go and visit some family members before Christmas and I don't drive. I'll need to get the bus into their town, but on the way home the buses heading near my village stop running mid afternoon. I'm thinking of getting a taxi back to my house afterwards but my car seat doesn't fit into my I candy pushchair so not sure how I can get my toddler and new born home? (Toddler is 2. Baby is 8 weeks...)
Would I be able to fit a double buggy in a rear loader taxi? And what do I do with my newborn - hold her while in the taxi or keep her in the carrycot in the pushchair?

You need to bite the billet and buy a car seat for your newborn. Can you borrow one of somebody?

I don’t drive and have often taken taxis with all three children, as babies I would often put them in a sling, which means hands free to dismantle pushchairs. Or just carry them on my lap.

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

*If the driver doesn’t provide the correct child car seat, children can travel without one - but only if they travel on a rear seat:

• and wear an adult seat belt if they’re 3 or older
• without a seat belt if they’re under 3*

In summary, yes, you can travel in a taxi or a minicab with a newborn on your lap. The law does not require that you provide a car seat for a taxi / minicab since car seats installed incorrectly (which may happen if you are in a rush) also increase risks to the baby.

Of course, there are people who will never travel without a car seat (regardless of what is legal or not) but the law does not require one for a taxi.

What kind of car seat do you have? Unless it's some really obscure make, you can probably find an adaptor for it to fit onto your iCandy. Our car seat didn't fit our pram frame either and we got adaptors for less than a tenner on eBay.

Thanks everyone. I do have a car seat for my baby, it is a mothercare roam car seat that came with the roam pushchair I bought when my toddler was born.
I'm really not sure if it's worth the risk by putting her on my lap, so shall I call a taxi company and see what they suggest?

I've had so many taxi drivers "helpfully" tell me that I don't need a car seat for my DD3, since she was little it's a tune they sing often. I offer to pay more for the few minutes it takes to plug the car seats in. Most drivers are willing to help transport the car seat back to your door, especially now I have newborn DC.
I wouldn't risk it.
Taxis are legal because they have to undertake extra training to be on the road carrying passengers, other drivers don't and I wouldn't trust them not to cause an accident that could involve your taxi.

I know it's a PITA but safety first x

Could someone transport the car seat over to the family's house at a different time so it is ready for the return journey?

Our local taxi firm has car seats if you pre order. Maybe worth asking? (I took a taxi back from hospital with DS once - I hated it, it felt very unsafe so I'd try to get a car seat if you can)

I'd buy or borrow a seat. If you live near me I've a maxi cosi pebble needing a new home.

Do the icandy universal car seat adapters not fit the roam? I know they fit most car seats. Definitely worth looking into as you can pick them up cheaply and keep your baby safe.

call the local taxi company and ask if they have cars with car seats?

I'd just have baby on my lap.

We did same abroad this year with coach transfers to/from hotel, and taxi's around while we were there

I’ve taken a slightly older baby in a carrier: so seatbelt on me as normal, baby carrier over the seat belt. So I was safe with a seat belt and they were “attached to me” in a Bjorn baby carrier.

I do think however that getting the car seat to your destination in advance might be a better idea. Or taking a cab both ways?

All it would take is a bit of harsh braking or a small knock and your DC could end up having health problems for life. Just transfer the baby’s car seat from your car to the taxi. It might take longer but prepare the company by telling them them you’ll be doing this. No driver minds really. They might not help but they’d certainly wait while you fit / unfit.

Is it a black cab? About 10 years ago I used to get black cabs a lot with my little one - the middle arm rest of the back seat converted into a toddler seat.

As you've been told, legally you can travel. However, if you're holding a baby or a child, you are offering them absolutely no protection in a crash. Worse case scenario - your baby would be come a projectile.

Personally I couldn't take that risk. The Joie Juva is a very good car seat and costs £35-40. It would fit on your icandy.

I have an I candy and I found out (out of sheer desperation) the other day, I can squish my maxi cosi car seat under my push chair if I take the top bit off , put car seat under, then put the top bit on , it's a miracle!!!

Like this

I would often put them in a sling I agree with this.

If you can't get adapters to click the car seat in to the buggy frame, does it fit into the carrycot?

I know it won't be recommended by the buggy company, but if the car seat fits inside the carrycot then I would put it in there and strap it down for the parts of journey not in the taxi. Then use the car seat in the taxi.

I would often put them in a sling

If you do this, make absolutely sure the baby is not between you and the seatbelt.

If there is a crash when the baby is between you and the seatbelt the force involved with you being retained by the seatbelt will do untold harm to your baby. You will essentially crush your baby as the seatbelt holds you. It is much much better to hold the baby on your lap outside of the seatbelt than to try to share it.

*I would often put them in a sling

If you do this, make absolutely sure the baby is not between you and the seatbelt.

If there is a crash when the baby is between you and the seatbelt the force involved with you being retained by the seatbelt will do untold harm to your baby. You will essentially crush your baby as the seatbelt holds you. It is much much better to hold the baby on your lap outside of the seatbelt than to try to share it.*

I was going to say the same, in a crash, your own body weight would crush the baby. You can rent car seats.