Posted by
Bumblebzz
19 yrs ago
Are there any combination car seat/strollers that work well in taxi's?
I've read that some taxi seat belts are not long enough to accomodate a baby car seat.
If that's true, then what are people using to safely secure their babies in a taxi?
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crj
19 yrs ago
To travel in a taxi with our baby I use one of two methods:
1. Car Seat - have not had a problem with this at all. I use this when I am going somewhere I need to have the baby sit down without being on me. But it is heavy.
2. Baby Bjorn. You wear the baby, and put the seatbelt between yourself and the baby. Great if you are going to be walking around, not so good if you are going to eat (unless your baby is big enough to sit in a baby chair)
I would love to hear other ways to safely travel with baby in a taxi - these are the only two ways I have found so far.
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crj,
So you have a car seat that attaches to a stroller then?
If yes, what type?
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crj
19 yrs ago
No, just a car seat.
I use my sling most of the time, or the baby bjorn when in taxis.
But we looked at lots and they all looked good - just couldn't decide.
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If your using a car seat (alone) in taxi's, does'nt that get heavy to carry around?
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crj
19 yrs ago
yes, very! I only do this when I really need to - ie, taking a taxi to to a restaurant, not when I am going to be walking around.
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
Is it legal (or safe) to carry a child in a sling in the back of a car? I thought that it was mandatory for all children under 13 to sit in an age appropriate car seat (or is that just UK/US/Australia?).
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crj
19 yrs ago
that is why i do NOT use a sling in the car.
I do use the baby bjorn in taxis, which I was told was a safe alternative to a car seat, but obviously not as safe as a car seat.
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I've been told even a baby bjorn is not safe coz if the car breaks, your weight will be pushed forward together with your baby strapped in front of you. The safest alternative to a car seat right now is the Joeysafe.
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crj
19 yrs ago
I know a car seat is safest, but not always possible.
If I am driving, we always use the car seat.
If I am in a taxi going to just one location where I can put the car seat down, then I use the car seat.
If I in a taxi and going to be walking around Central, going to second floor shops, a car seat or pram is just not doable with all the steps.
While I know the babybjorn is not perfect, it is what I consider to be the best alternative to a car seat (ie, better than a sling, or nothing)
The Joeysafe is for children from 20lb. (9kg) to 50lb. (22kg).
They don't seem to have a 'baby' version :(
8 lbs more (and full head support) and we can get one :)
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
It is a pain to travel with car seats, but it is possible. I have to take two of them (2 children), so obviously prefer to drive. When that is not possible, I just have to lug both car seats around. We have been stranded in airports for hours while suitable replacement cars were found that could fit the seats etc., but it is a small price to pay for my children's safety. I hope that I will never be in a car crash with them (although the odds must be higher in HK taxis), but I know I could never live with myself if the worst happened and I had taken short cuts for convenience.
It is a pain going around HK with a pram, but people are helpful. They are patient when you have to climb steps etc., and I have regularly been offered help.
People seem to turn a blind eye to children's car safety here, but car seats are required by law in most of the developed worlld for a reason.
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Bumps to Babes stocks the Quinny Zapp ($2080 or thereabouts, I think). It's a stroller (non-reclining) which you can also attach a Maxi-Cosi car seat to. I pushed it in the shop and didn't think it steered very well, but if you're going to be using the car seat a lot I think it would be great.
When my baby was small we used the car seat for taxis, but had no stroller with it - a nightmare as it's very heavy with a large baby in there.
There are no laws in HK about how children should be restrained in cars, I believe. I've used a front carrier too, and in one last resort situation a tablecloth tied as a sling... now I've got the Joeysafe (but haven't tried it yet).
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In your case CRJ, best alternative for you right now is the Sit and Stroll. A bit bulky but will suit your bub best.
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crj
19 yrs ago
Thanks for all the help and advice, I really did not mean to 'hijack' this thread...
MrsL - we do travel with our car seat as well.
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
The Maxicosi can also be used with the Bugaboo strollers. Apparently the newer one (Chameleon, I think) is easier to fold than the Frog, so would make hopping in and out of taxis easier.
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Just saw Quinny Zapp is only HK$1790 in Wing On:
http://tinyurl.com/mdfaa
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I noticed on this thread that a lot of people have a car seat but not a stroller that it fits into. Is this manageable? Or would you buy the stroller to go with it in hindsight?
I was given a car seat, but one that doesn't fit into any strollers so am trying to see whether it is worth buying another car seat that does fit into a stroller like the maxi-cosi / Quinny combo. The other alternative would be to use my existing car seat for short trips and restaurant outings and buying a stroller suitable for newborns like the Maclaren Techno.
Any thoughts on what would be the best solution?
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
Mayafox, what car seat is it? I presume that you have checked online that there is no set of wheels for it.
Do you drive yourself or take taxis? If you drive, you can certainly live without the 'travel system' and then transfer your child into the Techno XT or whatever, when you get to your destination.
If you taking taxis, and therefore cannot leave the car seat in the cat, you are probably going to regret not having a set of wheels.
I have been stupid enough to buy 3 buggies (a travel system with carrycot, car seat and buggy, as well as a Techno XT and finally a Phil and Teds e3 Explorer). You might want to investigate the car seat attachment for the Phil and Teds. The attraction is that it can be used as a single or as a double if you decide to have other children. It starts off as a reasonably priced option, but by the time that youadd the accessories, the costs mount up. In hindsight, however, if I had gone straight for the e3, I might have saved some money (and a lot of clutter). I could be wrong, but I think that all car seats can be used with it (I never used it with a car seat because I had other options).
Be careful with strollers though. They come and go out of fashion and I have friends who try to keep up (and spend a fortune doing so). I know one girl who bought the Bugaboo Frog and felt 'out of touch' when the Chameleon came out, so bought that too!
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Hi MrsL, thanks for your post, just thinking about all the possibilities is making my head spin!
I was given was a Britax Cosytot and I haven't been able to find a buggy that it fits into (possibly because it is a couple of years old). I am going to be driving as well as taking taxis.
I guess the issue I have with transferring from the car seat capsule to a stroller is having to wake the baby up if it is asleep (I am a first-time mom, so I don’t even know how much of an issue this is!) and also whether my newborn is going to be too small to be comfortable lying inside a big reclining stroller.
I like the idea of the car seat capsule / buggy system because it seems adaptable to the needs of different age groups – first as a capsule and car seat and then when the baby is older, as an upright / reclining stroller. I haven’t heard of the Phil and Ted line you recommended – is it this kind of thing? Are these buggies available in HK?
I had to laugh when you mentioned keeping up with the latest fashions – if only I knew what they were to begin with!!
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
I think they sell the Phil and Teds in Bumps to Babes. It does worl in a similar way, but I think the car seat is retained by a strap rather than 'clicking in'. We stuck to the 'clicking in' option firstly because we had it (although it was hopelessly old fashioned for number 2 as it was 2 years out of date), and because I felt it was more secure than a strap, but I could be wrong on that.
You are right, it is really handy being able to move a sleeping baby in/out of a car without having to transfer it out of the car seat.
The Phil & Teds comes with a cocoon option which was a joy in London as it was snug and much lighter (and cheaper) than a carrycot, but it would definitely be too hot for a HK summer!
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Thanks again -- I will go and check out Phil and Ted's. Looks like I will have to fork out for another car seat!
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
Dear Mayafox
You might be in luck. If the attached link is to be believed your Cosytot might be compatible with the Phil and Teds:
http://www.kiddicare.com/invt/accpnttravelsyskitl&source=mumsnet
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Wow, MrsL that thanks for the link! I will definitely go and check out the Phil and Teds now.
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