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Original poster

WWYD - small baby and taxi journey

14 replies

Ruibies · 19/04/2022 15:19

Hi all,
We are planning to be overnight in Birmingham for a commonwealth games event, it will be me, DH, my mum and our baby who will be around 10-12 weeks old by then.

We have found a hotel that is about 25 min car ride from the event. I've been reading that babies in taxis don't need a car seat, and under 3s don't need a seatbelt. But in practice what does that look like? Could I have baby in a sling and then seatbelt on me? Or would I need to put the seatbelt on myself and just hold the baby (seems wildly unsafe?!).

Would you hesitate to get in a cab without a car seat with such a small baby for this length of journey? I'm wondering if we should just drive ourselves from the hotel to the event with our own car seat, baby wear while there, and then drive safely back again. Thanks for any opinions.

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TheGirlWhoLived · 19/04/2022 15:21

I would put the baby in a pushchair and then take a cab that can fit the pushchair in- otherwise maybe baby wear or sometimes there are cab companies that have hire car seats

TheGirlWhoLived · 19/04/2022 15:22

My dads a taxi driver so the way to do it if you have no pushchair is you sit in and buckle
up, then you hold the baby as if you were their seatbelt. Many people do it/have done it but it’s up to you what you are comfy with!

LividLaVidaLoca · 19/04/2022 15:22

No way would I take a baby without a car seat just because it’s not illegal.

Find another way.

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VimFuego101 · 19/04/2022 15:23

I would locate a taxi service that offers child seats and pre book if needed rather than putting a belt across a baby's body. If the car stopped suddenly, all the force of the belt tightening would go into your baby if you were holding them. Just because you're allowed to take babies in a taxi without a baby seat doesn't mean it's ideal. Safest would be taking your own car where you know the seat is safe and new and has been safely fitted in your car.

MartinMartinMarti · 19/04/2022 15:24

Take a black cab, which you can park a buggy in, or take a car seat with you (possibly on the buggy if yours can do that).

I’m fairly relaxed, but there is no way I would take a child in a normal car without being properly strapped in, which is impossible with a baby that small and no car seat.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 19/04/2022 15:26

You can baby wear, but the seat belt would need to be between you and baby, not around baby (extremely dangerous for them!)

I would use a bus or take a car seat.

AnotherNC22 · 19/04/2022 15:29

What buggy are you buying? I bought a travel system that had an adapter where it turned into a double. So you could have the bassinet and the car seat attached to the chassis. That way, if we were going somewhere that needed the car seat for eg. travel there and back, it just got wheeled around with all the other stuff during the day. Even though we don't have a car, we've used it loads when taking taxis, visiting family, going on outings etc. Unless it was a black cab when i would strap the baby into the buggy and wheel it into the cab, i am just not comfortable taking a baby in a normal taxi without a car seat.

angel0071987 · 19/04/2022 15:29

Take the infant carrier

pitabread · 19/04/2022 15:29

Ring a taxi company in advance and try to book one with a baby seat - some specific drivers have them in the boot and can get them out for you if you ring ahead in advance.

I've taken a baby on short taxi journeys without and I'm always terrified. I've usually had them in the sling and only buckled around my waist. I'm sure if there had been a serious accident we would have both been in danger.

If you have a pram that can clip a car seat on the top instead of a basket I would take that with you. Then you have the car seat for the journey.

Thesearmsofmine · 19/04/2022 15:31

If you are able to drive in your own car with seat then that’s what I would do. I have used taxis with no car seat in the past but only due to necessity, it’s not a choice. I would make when there are other options available.

SquigglePigs · 19/04/2022 15:38

We did it once when DD was 6 months old. Needed to get to A&E and her car seat was not one that was moveable. I was strapped in the seat belt and then held her on my knee. One of the more stressful 20 minutes of my life but the driver drove considerately (and made sure he picked up the call when we were ready to come home so he could check on us which was sweet). I was so stressed I didn't think to take her pram (which would have made the time at the hospital easier!).

Basically it's not ideal but for a short one off journey it's doable. Definitely don't put her in the sling and then the seatbelt - if you were unlucky enough to be in an accident she'd be crushed by the belt.

Original poster

Ruibies · 19/04/2022 15:40

Thanks everyone - this has definitely reinforced my feeling that just because it's allowed by law doesn't make it a sensible or safe way to travel. We do have a travel system so car seat could clip into the pram chassis, but we wanted to avoid bringing the pram/car seat to the event.

I did have a look at local taxi companies online but most of their websites simply quoted the law about children in taxis and under 3s blah blah. Maybe I need to give them a ring and ask.

Anyway I think I'll have a look into whether they have a cloakroom or we could leave a pram/car seat on site at the event. If not, then I think safest is we take our own car with car seat and wear baby while at the event itself.

Thanks again!

OP posts:

mrziggycoco · 19/04/2022 17:19

I had a car seat and put my baby in there in cabs. No I wouldn't not use a car seat that young.

Wnkingawalrus · 19/04/2022 17:25

I’ve put the pram/pushchair in the back of a black cab but only for very short journeys in slowish moving traffic. Definitely wouldn’t for a 25 minute journey and wouldn’t contemplate having them on my knee at all.

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