safest way to take a baby in a taxi

You know, I remember panicking like crazy when I first took my 2 and 4 year old in a Beijing taxi. I held onto them until my arms lost all feeling. Now (at 4 and 7 years, respectively), they get in, scoot over and I throw out a protective arm every now and then if warranted.

Terrible, I know, but what other choice do people have here?

We have a car and we mostly use it. We strap our kids in and use a baby seat for visitors with babies/smaller kids. If we HAVE to take a cab, though - we just have to wing it. Thankfully, the traffic often goes so slow, a serious bingle is less likely.

You just have to pick your voyages - I, for example, would NEVER take my kids in a cab on ANY freeway or anywhere that cars had to travel more than 60km per hour. It just wouldn't happen unless it was an emergency. If you want to do this, make sure you get a cab with seatbelts, even if you have to book one or stop 10 to find one.

The thing about a car seat, too, is that 80% of cabs don't have functioning seatbelts, so unless you plan to buy a car, it's virtually pointless even investing in a seat.

Good luck. It's a tough one.

I cannot imagine taking my little one on the subway and certainly not the buses here.

I think all parents who live in cities have the same dilema, here is what I found and what we do (of course, I try to only take taxis with seatbelts!)

1. Car Seat
Car seat is safest.
If you get a Kolcraft Universal Car Seat Carrier it is really great - it is a 'frame' with wheels that you put the car seat in to turn it into a stroller. They are really cheap in USA, but hard to find here.

2. Baby Bjorn or Sling
When not in the car seat, I use the baby bjorn or sling and put the seatbelt between me and baby. While not as safe as a car seat, it is better than nothing and more practical. I know it is not ideal, but sometimes it is the only choice I have.
It is best to face the baby in, and have the back of the baby bjorn up for full neck support in case of an accident or fast stop.

3. JoeySafe
When baby is older you can use http//www.joeysafe.com/ but baby must
- 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
We use this with our Toddler and love it! We use it on flights too.
Two ways to use this
1 - put the seatbelt on you, and the toddler on your lap / between your legs, and the seatbelt through the special place on the harness too.
2 - put the toddler in the middle seat, with the seatbelt on the tightest possible setting - we have only just been able to do this sometimes now that he is 19 months old.

Here is a list of other travel safety vests I put together when I researched this same topic

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.
(A friend uses this on flights and in taxis)

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 is also the Sit n Stroll
It is a car seat that then comes out of the car and has wheels and a handle like a suitcase - but I really don't think it would work well in Beijing.

There are others listed at the bottom of this page of the American Academy of Pediatrics
http//www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

Just something to bear in mind when you strap yourself in to a seatbelt with a baby...

As another poster already mentioned with the baby bjorn idea... be sure to put the seatbelt BETWEEN you and baby, NOT around you AND baby.

When I was a flight attendant, we were trained to tell passengers that this is extremely dangerous. If a seatbelt is around both you AND a baby, and there is an accident, the weight of your body flying forward would crush the child against the seatbelt and most certainly very seriously injure them, if not prove fatal.

Parents should never do this. Consider the sling if need be, but be sure it is secure and the accompanying belt is not around both of you.

My suggestion for older children who sit on your lap (from what I learned from flight attending)... If you need to strap them in with you, seat the child facing outwards on your lap, place the lap belt across their HIPS, not their belly. The hipbones will protect their stomach in case your are flung forward. Do not put the shoulder strap across the child's chest, for the same reason as above, unless they are an older child of at least 20kg or the adult is particularly small.

That's my 2 cents - I am not a seatbelt expert - I am only passing on what I learned when I flew.

admin wrote:easiest is the sling option. you belt yourself in wearing sling and put baby in. Not as safe as a car seat but better than juggling

I would add that a nonstretchy sling with no rings or fasteners is the safest, such as a StarSling or a New Native. And I'll repeat: Belt yourself in under the baby, not over the baby.

Even though the baby is in the sling, hold the baby with both arms, including one hand behind his head to prevent neck injury should the driver brake suddenly. Watch the road!

Check nu2yubabyshop, Karen has some slings in stock now.
Or you can order new on the Internet, or look up patterns on the Internet and make your own

crj wrote:
There is also the Sit n Stroll
It is a car seat that then comes out of the car and has wheels and a handle like a suitcase - but I really don't think it would work well in Beijing.

Sit "n Strolls are great! Convertible car seat, stroller, and FAA approved airline seat. I've used them before. My kids slept really well on the flight (aged 2 and 4), much better than in the adult seats. And we used them in the airport as strollers. Then popped them into the van on the other side for use as a car seat. Really, really convenient. Can install front facing for toddlers up to 40 pounds, or rear facing for infants. It's got a reclined design seat, and works well for all ages, interestingly enough!

Though...I would not recommend the Sit'N Stroll for one's primary stroller. It is fine in malls, and for short term use. But it's not a good enough stroller for one's primary stroller...but really great for travels.

Karen at Nu2Yu has 2 available for long- or short-term rental.