Posted by
crj
19 yrs ago
There have been many threads on Baby/Toddler Safety Harnesses for taxis and travel. Baby is almost big enough... so as usual I did some research and found a few options I hadn't heard about before.
Here is everything I found so far.
Please add others that I might have missed.
Flight Vest:
http://www.babybair.com/
2 sizes, under 6 months and 6 months to 2 years.
To be used in airplane while flying smoothly - not during take-off, landing or turbulance.
Car/Taxi Safely Vests/Harnesses:
These are all to be used in taxis or cars turning a regular seat belt into a 5 point harness.
Joeysafe
http://www.joeysafe.com/ (website has been down?)
- weigh between 20lb. (9kg) to 50lb. (22kg)
- measure 50 inches in height or less
- is capable of sitting upright alone
- is at least one year of age
Safety 1st Tote 'n Go Car Seat
http://www.safety1st.com/product.asp?productID=565
for 25-40 lbs up to 40 inches tall.
Safe Traffic Systems RideSafer Travel Vest
http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/
Small:
Weight 35-60 lbs Height 38-52 inches
Approximately 3-1/2 to 6 years
Large:
Weight 50-80 lbs Height 45-57 inches
Approximately 5-9 years
There are others listed at the bottom of this page of the American Academy of Pediatrics:
http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
Anybody know any others?
Any comments on these?
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@@
19 yrs ago
We have used the joeysafe for our children. It was a bit of a struggle to use but after getting the hang of it it has been great - and very easy to pop in my bag when out and about.
There have been a few threads in the past on this, perhaps try a search for some other opinions.
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crj
19 yrs ago
Thanks
I have read lots of the threads on the Joeysafe, and am quite curious to learn about other options. Not that there is anything wrong with Joeysafe, just curious as to what else is out there.
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Hi crj, looks like you're doing your research, you came up with more than I did a couple of years ago when I did the same--though it's such a huge gap in the market, I suspect what you've uncovered reflects some new products.
I used the babybair and found it quite good for flights, much better than that ridiculous thing the airlines hand you. My daughter has a large head though (80th%ile) so she'd outgrown even the larger size by the time she was just over a year. At the time it was designed for air travel and not approved for auto's/taxi's, but obviously it's far safer than the filipino-cuddle most kids travel by.
I have the joeysafe, and have written about it several times. It's cumbersome to put on and it was weeks before my daughter tolerated it going over her head, but it's long since become routine and the only way we travel now by taxi, or aircraft for that matter. It's approved for use in cars in the US and is designed for kids who can sit up with stability. My daughter is over 3 now, so obviously can sit up quite well, yet she much prefers to ride between my legs in the joeysafe (my seatbelt goes through the safetly loop in the back) and I can understand why, she still slips sideways when drivers whip around the southside curves.
I'm about to ask my dad to pick up the Safety First product (Tote n'Go) for me in the States, mostly because it looks like it's much more straightforward to put on and less bulky to stuff into my bag. I'm sure she'll still be more comfortable between my legs though.
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One more - sit and stroll - which is a different concept from the more "portable" options listed - but it would mean just taking the one stroller and using it as a car seat and then popping it out as a stroller. gets decent reviews. up to 40 lbs and can be used rear facing up to 20lbs.
http://www.strollerdepot.com/moreinfo.php?SKU=0012
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we looked at the sit n stroll and it's quite low to the ground baby could easliy get shopping bags in it's face and to be honest it really didn't look that sturdy.
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Anyone had any experience with the tote'n'go product?? Can you get it in Hk anywhere?
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crj
18 yrs ago
Baby turning one soon - I just ordered a Freedom Ride (AKA Joeysafe) today... will report once we start using it.
It is not meant to replace our car seat, but to be used in taxis.
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when are you getting it?
our boy is a real wriggler in the taxi and loves chomping on the seatbelts so would love to hear about a good product that can strap him in!
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crj
18 yrs ago
I ordered it today, and he turns one in January - so hopefully will give it a try after he turns one.
It absolutely is not as good as a car seat - but it will be something to use in Taxis and I can teach our new maid how to use it and travel with baby in taxi safely - up to now I have never let anyone take him out in a car except for hubby and me (with car seat).
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Be careful - my son has learnt to undo his...
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crj
18 yrs ago
How old was your son when he figured that out?
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Just recently - he's 2 years old. I went to undo him after the taxi stopped and was surprised to find he'd undone it already...
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s1
18 yrs ago
I am interested in buying the safety 1st, is it available in hk?
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Seems to me, undoing a seatbelt is something a child should be taught NOT to do...just like playing with windows in a highrise apartment, eating food off a restaurant floor and any number of other things.
I'm not a great fan of the Joeysafe (though we use it, always, when in taxi's or other people's cars) but, even after undoing the bottom shackle, the child is still restrained by the seatbelt throught the rear loop of the harness. Unless THAT's the one he undid. Still, young children need supervision, and maybe an adult ought to travel in closer proximity to your little guy geiboyi...
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crj
18 yrs ago
My Thoughts
This seems to be the general sentiment about the Joeysafe, while it is not perfect, it is just about the only alternative to a car seat for taxis.
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off to a friend's house this afternoon and she has both tote n go and joeysafe so i'll get compare both!
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crj
17 yrs ago
We used the joeysafe in taxis and on flights, and found it a good alternative, but the only way it worked for us is if the baby is on our lap, and our seatbelt is through the joeysafe - it couldn't be used alone.
The only time we used it alone, was on the middle seatbelt (done at the shortest possible setting so he couldn't move), when he was asleep and leaning on me (next to him).
We have a huge problem now we live in Beijing, the TAXIS DO NOT HAVE SEATBELTS! At first, I would wait and wait for a taxi with a seatbelt, but it isn't practical. So now we use either the sling, baby bjorn or ergo baby carrier as the only alternative to a car seat.
For my 9 month old, I bring her in the car seat (and wedge it on the back seat behind the driver), and have my 2 year old in the ergo baby carrier or baby bjorn.
We hope to get our own car soon so we can use car seats more regularly.
But as our toddler grows bigger and bigger, for the days we do not have a car, and the taxis have no seat belts, I am at a loss as to what to do...
There is a thread here all about travelling with babies and toddlers in taxis:
http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/forums/parentingadvice/threads/85365.asp
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"our boy is a real wriggler in the taxi and loves chomping on the seatbelts so would love to hear about a good product that can strap him in!"
A proper car seat is really the only safe option.
For 2 years and up, a Compass booster is a lightweight, foldable option: http://www.amazon.com/Compass-Premier-Folding-Adjustable-Booster/dp/B000HHYJKS
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Can the Compass booster seat be used on airplanes as well?
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Hi CRJ
May i know where did you get your joeysafe (freedom ride)? i dont seem to be able to get it anywhere
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"Can the Compass booster seat be used on airplanes as well?"
Pretty sure it can't. It's too wide. Also it's rather straight backed so it's not really more or less comfortable than an aircraft seat. Also it depends on a three point belt for proper "operation". By that age (2+) your child should have no issues using a normal airplane seat. Of course a child seat might be more comfortable for sleep. There's no perfect solution.
Many models of Compass come with a carry bag so they're easy to check.
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"May i know where did you get your joeysafe (freedom ride)? i dont seem to be able to get it anywhere"
That's because it can't be sold in the US and UK. There was an offer on eBay for 10k units. Looked like someone trying to unload stock. As I have said before on this board, all that adds up to a big negative for Joeysafe/Freedomride in my mind.
Ridesafer seems like a better option.
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