London - black cabs and babies/toddlers

[NK5657215X11d4f46492a]

Hi,

I was wondering how to strap in a 5 month old baby and a 3 yr old whilst travelling in a black cab within central London?

newer black cabs have a built in booster that you can use for the 3 year old

I kept the baby in the buggy, put the brake on and held onto it

Very new cabs don't have the booster seat, strangely. Apparently they decided it wasn't hugely safe. So it?s a bit hit and miss when you flag one down as to whether it will have the booster seat or not ? a lot of them do though. Folds down in the middle, then seatbelt across ? but dd at 3 was a bit short for it to be any good as the strap went across her face.

Agree with the buggy with the brakes on ? that?s absolutely fine. The 3 year old is more tricky ? any chance you have a double buggy you could use for the purpose? We?re currently avoiding taxis where possible for that reason, and using buses. Or flagging down ones that look as if they will have a booster seat. Otherwise, I suppose put the seatbelt on you and put the three year old on your knee. Depends where you?re going ? if it?s through central London it?s unlikely to be going above 20mph. More problematic on bigger roads, I suppose.

baby stays in buggy with her back to the direction of travel
strap it in using strap meant for securing wheelechairs

3yo on booster if possible or on seat in adult seatbelt if not

thanks for all your help.

i will actually be doing a daytrip in from heathrow airport as i'm transitting between 2 flights. (i dont live in the UK right now.) so there will be the highway in from the airport. or is it do-able to get the heathrow express into paddington with 2 kids in tow?

also, a friend just mentioned that the snow only just melted on the weekend. is weather likely to be a problem on thursday?? i only have a few hours so if i'm likely to get held up with more snow or fog at the airport etc, i will ditch the idea.

the weather is fine now, snow all gone
with 2 kids I'd cab it

snow long gone.

double buggy in cab is the best. otherwise strap 3 year old into middle seat and hold the strap down or move it behind them so they don't choke. little one stays in buggy with brake on.

heathrow express eminently do-able. but what are you going to do in london? a cab might be a worth the money if you're otherwise going on the tube, which can be a nightmare what with the dearth of lifts and abundance of stairs.

i'm flying in to swing by 2 kids furniture shops (chic shack in putney and the white company in marylebone high st), then visiting a friend near sloane square before zipping back to the airport.

hence looking for the fastest and least stressful option since we have so little time. (maybe craziness to even do this with 2 small kids in tow as we have a 24 hr flight after that to australia and will have flown 2.5 hrs from stockholm already!)

this is all to check out the kids furniture in these 2 stores.

ps. can the 5.5mth old be strapped to my chest in the baby bjorn carrier rather than be in the buggy (which is my very lightweight foldable macclaren quest, not a big sturdy buggy)? since i plan to duck in/out of 2 shops really quickly and have to take both kids with me when i do this...

personally I'd stick the baby in the maclaren
you would need to put your seat belt under the baby bjorn

do not put the seatbelt round both of you

another vote for buggy. i wouldn't be happy with a sling & seat belt round you.

seems a lot to do in one day! you'll be exhausted!