UPDATE Oct. 2016: In addition to what we talk about in this article, a newer option for getting around with your child is Uber Family’s car seat service. Click the link for more info.
I was running late to my 10-month-old’s gym class downtown. I was faced with the new parent dilemma — do I take a risk and hop in a New York City taxi cab or go on public transportation and be extremely late to the class.
I decided to take an NYC taxi with the baby in tow — something I have done less than five times with my son during his brief life because I know it is unsafe. I am told that the New York State law requiring infants to be in a car seat while riding in a car does NOT apply to taxi cabs. If that ‘hearsay’ is true, I am not sure why cabs are exempt from that particular law. Anyhow, we arrived at our gym class safely and on time. However, it begs the question: What is the safest way a parent can transport their child in an NYC taxi cab?
To be honest, I rarely see anyone carry around a car seat in NYC. On the other hand, I know it is not safe for babies and toddlers to ride on their parents’ laps in taxis while they barrel down the streets. Someone told me that when in a cab, they put their baby in a Baby Bjorn, and seat belt them both in because it is safer – is it really? I also learned that there is a lightweight (approx. 4 pounds) portable car seat that fits into a bag. It’s not as secure as a regular car seat, but I suppose it is better than nothing.
Sure, taking the public bus or subway is a safer and less expensive way to travel. Please help me and other NYC parents …
What do most people with kids do in NYC when they need to take a taxi with a baby in tow?
I’ve always wondered the same thing, how you city people get around with the kids. Will be interesting to hear any comments…
The Orbit has a great solution with its toddler car seat that attaches to the stroller – though a bit cumbersome, for now it seems like the best option. We decided to stick with the Snugride 32, hope it gets us to the end of the year and see if anything improved comes out. If not, we will buy the Orbit toddler system.
pop out the bugaboo seat and place the baby in facing backwards or strap the seat in by using the cabs seatbelt.
Car seat and snap n go base. Use the car seat in the cab (and throw the base in the trunk) then snap it on to the base to use as a carriage when you get to your destination. It only works up to a certain weight (I forget which), but it is what I’ve been using for a year on my frequent cab/car service trips with my daughter.
I just thought I’d post a comment to help out because this has been a big issue in my household. I went to a baby safety class before my son was born to learn CPR and was told that holding your baby while in a car is a big no-no. Though I knew this, I had not thought of the consequences in detail. There is something that the people in the ER call “taxi-face.” While accidents in taxis are not frequent in NYC, they happen. And you can imagine what happens to your face if you hit that plexiglass barrier in front of you: taxi face. Now imagine your child being thrown into it. If there is an accident, you will be unable to hold your child and the consequences could be fatal. Yes, fatal. This is actually a very serious issue.
Probably the best option if you have to run and are late would be a carrier on your body and the seat belt, even if this is still a big risk and the instructor of my safety classes is against it. I have many many friends who function this way in NYC. But clearly, the safest alternative is to take a car seat that fixes onto a stroller base. You would just pop the stroller base in the trunk, and having the stroller when you get to where you are going is nice too.
The orbit, which I didn’t end up buying myself, has a toddler car seat that fixes onto the wheels. It was the only one to offer this when I was researching these things last year.
The baby seat is a good idea to carry with you. I know it’s inconvenient but what is you child’s safety worth to you?
i just wrote about this on my blog, but here’s why you should NEVER EVER use the bjorn or ergo or any fabric carrier in lieu of a car seat.
The Newark Airport Car Service can be considered as the best way to travel to and from the Newark airport. For business travel it can be thought as the best option. As business travels are on the company’s money so car service is the best option to use during a business travel.
I would say yes it won’t be safe to drive a taxi with your child on your lap. But riding a taxi would be safer from traveling through bus.
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