infant in a taxi
 

Hi!
I am about to travel with my 5 months old baby to Capri. I will have to take a taxi from Naples airport to the Napples port (ferry). Do I need to bring with me a car seat for the baby or I can do without? It will be hard for me as I will have on my hands my baby, stroller and a bag on wheels. If also a car seat, I just don't have enough hands and don't know how to manage... What are rules in Italy about it? In my home country I will be driven by my husband to the airport, so there is an infant car seat, but I can leave it behind.
Thanks!

Don't even think about not taking and infant seat.

Its nothing to do with rules but the safety of your child. You will need one on the plane anyway.

Why would you be any less likely to have an accident in a taxi than in your own car? On that basis would you put your infant in your car without a proper car seat?

If it were my baby, I'd have a stroller that included a removable seat to use on the plane, in taxis, etc. Even holding a baby tightly, in an accident it would be very easy to let go and the child would become a flying object.

Some folks who have travelled with infants will likely give you some good ideas - I hope!

Buon viaggio.

Not sure how long your trip is...but most of ours are 2 weeks. If the ONLY time I was going to be in a car during a two week trip was one taxi ride then I'd leave the car seat at home.

Now I've never flown internation w/ a very small child so maybe the flight is a bigger reason for the car seat. But for our 3 hour flights around the US we always laid the baby on the seat and they did great.

...oops...never flown INTERNATIONAL.

...wishing for a way to edit past posts :)

Maybe you could hire a car service that would include a car seat? I understand about not having enough hands. But from what I've read here about Naples traffic, it's the last place I'd want a baby to be without a car seat.

I second WillTravel's advice. We've lugged car seats through airports and it is a nightmare -- but I would hate to let inconvenience get in the way off safety. If you could find a car service with a car seat you'd bit perfect. Good luck!

A baby/child seat for children under 12 is mandatory in ALL EU countries, so also in Italy. If you are booking a taxi in advance ask if they have a suitable seat available - they often do, otherwise you will have to take your own I'm afraid. As tomassocroccante
suggested there are strollers that will take a car seat - if you don't have one maybe you could borrow or hire one, just to make life a little easier.

< A baby/child seat for children under 12 is mandatory in ALL EU countries >

Any idea of how you get an 11 year old in a child seat? I think you mean that it is mandatory for all children under the age of 12 to be in the back seat.

Mea culpa -- you are correct, hetismij.

< All children under 135cm (4ft 5in) tall, unless they have passed their 12th birthday, must use a child seat appropriate for their weight.

Most children reach 135cm around the age of nine. >

I use a baby bjorn infant carrier (the rucksack thingy that goes on your front) for taxis while abroad. We have never found the need to have a car seat on the plane and unless you are paying for an extra seat for the baby you will have no use for it.

I put the baby in the baby bjorn and put the seatbelt around myself (not around the baby). I'm sure it's not as safe as a car seat but the baby is not loose in the taxi and it seems like a good compromise to me.

A front carrier won't help with the physics of a car crash. If you are thrown forward, the baby will be crushed.

Thank you for the delightful mental picture. Perhaps wearing the device backwards will solve the problem.

I'm with the travelers who say to either hire a car that comes with a seat, or call ahead to see if taxi can be sent with one.

Not too long ago, a car traveling on the interstate in Dallas was involved in an accident. The front-seat passenger, a mother holding her infant child in her arms, was thrown forward and the baby's head was crushed against the dashboard, and he did not survive. (everyone else in the crash walked away with minor injuries)

I'm sorry if it is graphic...but if that's what it takes for you to reconsider the safety of your beautiful baby's life...then so be it.

Paula

The poster Huitres had some very good tips for traveling with a small child by public transport in Italy, including south of Rome.

I have travelled with a car seat that snaps into a stroller. I agree that with a baby that young you will need the car seat on the plane. Don't count on getting a basinette.

If you don't have a car seat that snaps into a stroller, I would borrow one. If you must bring one that does not snap, I have many times balanced a car seat on the back of the handles of my stroller by slinging the straps of the seat over the handles, or snapping the belt of the carseat through the bar. Balance is key, but you CAN do it.

Of course if none of those are options I agree to hire a car service with a car seat.

By the way, if you are worried about the law, here in England taxis are exempt from the carseat rules.

To those who were wondering, with older children the law means a booster seat, not a full-on car seat.

Thanks to all for replies.
In the plane I do not need a car seat as I already reserved a seat with a bassinet for the transatlantic segment. Anyway, my baby will not sleep in a car seat, she does not like it and starts to cry very soone after she is placed there, unless it's in a car that moves on a very bumpy road. So the only use for the car seat will be on a taxi from the airport to the port and back. My car seat can be attached to the stroller I have, but as I said, it does not help as my baby does not want to seat in it and I will have to carry the car seat not in the stroller, where my baby will be. Other option is I will go with or the stroller and the seat in it, baby on me in an infant carrier and somehow the rest of the luggage (I have not decided yet whether to take a wheeled duffel bag or a hike backpack).
As there is a law, it seems that I will have to take the car seat with me.

A lot of the car services have car seats available upon request and it will not cost all that much. Seems would be worth every penny and not sure why OP is resisting this obvious solution. Good luck with whatever you decide

I do understand why the OP is resisting this solution! She is travelling on her own and it's tough enough to manage a baby a buggy and your bags, never mind trying to manage a car seat too.

She is taking a taxi, not renting a car, and I have never encountered a taxi firm that would provide a baby car seat.

There's safe and there is practical. It's a choice for each parent but presumably she is just trying to find a compromise so that if possible she does not have to make life very difficult for herself just for the sake of a half hour car journey.

I wouldn't criticise her for trying to avoid bringing the car seat all that way. Personally I am not able to manage a car seat when travelling on my own so I have to find alternatives.

If you cannot find a taxi with an infant car seat, definitely use your own even if it is inconvenient. We had an infant seat that fit into a lightweight, foldable wire frame which we took on all cab trips. (We used to live in a city and used cabs to get around.)

Bring along a Baby Bjorn carrier, too. Your little one can snuggle in there, and then you can use the infant car seat stroller as a carrier for your items while you stroll through the streets. Cover bags with a baby blanket.

Be grateful you don't have twins or triplets!

:-) :-) :-)

Enjoy yourself, and have fun!

MarthaB, who makes the lightweight foldable car seat? It sounds perfect for what I would want but I've never seen anything like that

Thanks

Jane

The infant car seat and foldable strollers are called stroller travel systems. Here are some from Target:

http://tinyurl.com/2s2koq

Here's a nifty one from Right Start that says it's 20 pounds (seat and frame?) that looks easy to use:

http://tinyurl.com/37gy56

The one I had nine years ago was really light, maybe five pounds or so? Very easy to use, too. I gave it away years ago, so unfortunately, I don't know the manufacturer. It's probably not on the market anymore anyway.

Weight and ease of use are going to be important, so try to check out any of the products if you can. Also, some systems are made for specific brands. The Graco SnugRider works only with Graco seats, so be sure to check that, too.

HTH!

Many thanks Martha. I think I misread you as the lightweight foldable frame you referred to was to the stroller not the car seat. The ones you posted look pretty much like what I have - I'll struggle on!

cheers
j

I must confess I have brought our own baby carseat only once while travelling abroad. It really depends on risk-benefit analysis (of your perception).

You mentioned the taxi ride to/from the airport to the ferry port is the only car ride. How long is the drive? If it is 10minute, I would personally be willing to hold the child. If it is long, say, 30 min or longer, I would recommend you get appropriate gears. But this doesn't mean you have to bring yours.

Instead of hailing a car straight from the airport, my best suggestion would be to hire a car beforehand and request a baby carseat. (OK, you won't know how solid/safe the seat provided would be, but at least it's a better compromise than no gears at all.)

For those of you who suggest bringing one's own car seat, have you ever TRIED installing a carseat when you hailed a cab? What do Manhattan parent do when they take infants in a yellow cab?

BTW, you won't be able to get a guaranteed bassinet on the airplane. The best you can do is to request one, but airliners cannot promise you'll be able to secure one. (Certainly it helps to phone a few days before, then request again when checking-in, and as soon as you board.) Also, you may want to take note that seats that accomodate bassinets don't have seats in front, so the only storage is overhead compartment. And, don't think you can lower the tray for the meals.

I am bringing my 16 month old toddler to Germany in September. I cannot afford a separate seat for him so he is flying as a lap child and I am keeping my fingers crossed that at least 1 seat will remain empty on the flight. IF not I will make do and do a lot of walking laps if he isn't tired. We flew to Montreal in June when he was 1. We didn't take our car seat then either. It takes us 30 mins to get it installed in our own car properly much less in and out of cabs...you can't lock them in place on tour busses or shuttles and the trains didn't have seat belts either.

Yes, I know it is safer but once they are out of the car carrier stage you can't use the "bucket" looking car seat. It is next to impossible to carry the larger booster looking/convertible car seats, push a stroller and your carryon bags plus suitcase. Only the bigger children can use the portable/folding style ones (4+). Have you tried carrying these things? Some are 20+ lbs!

What do Manhattanites do on cabs? Where do they store the car seat upon arrival of their destination? Do they have car seat checks everywhere?

To LittleJane: I was not suggesting the OP rent a car! What I said was that the car services--the livery services or whatever you might want to call the chauffeured cars that one books in advance to pick them up at the airport and drive them to the dock--have access to baby seats when you book them in advance and request such an arrangement.

I was NOT criticizing the OP, just baffled why she won't make it easy on herself since the bringing-of-the-car-seat sounds like a hardship that I would advise against yet the baby's safety must be addressed. For a few dollars more than the taxi, this problem can go away!

Here is a link to a website about flying with kids/infants-
http://www.flyingwithkids.com

And here is another portable carseat option for use with toddlers to older kids- (it's a portable vest)http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/

We lived in downtown Chicago for 10 years and sometimes used cabs to get around (didn't own a car). After awhile, I got pretty good at installing the car seat. I agree that they are a pain in the you-know-what, though.

When we took public transportation, which was often, I used my Baby Bjorn and later carried my kids on when they were toddlers since the steps can be too steep for them to climb easily. The buses were the most dangerous because occasionally the driver would quickly take off before I was properly braced, and I'd lurch about with babies and tots in tow. Some drivers seemed to get a kick out of doing that.

I'm just grateful my kids are out of the infant seat stage. One is still in a booster, though.

We have three preschoolers all the same age, travel a ton and always bring car seats. I agree it isn't easy. However, it can be done. If your baby is still in the infant carrier and has not graduated to the bigger car seat then just bring a snap and go. Practice now getting your baby acclimated to the car seat. Bring one carry on bag filled with all the stuff you will need for the baby on the plane and check the rest of your luggage. It can be done.

If your baby is into the bigger car seats than get a car seat carrier from Right Start. It is a backpack type of thing. Pack the car seat in that, push the baby in the stroller, put your diaper bag/baby bag in the storage area of the stroller or over your shoulder and check everything else.

I have also seen people go through the airport with their kids in baby backpacks which free their hands for other bags. I am guessing a 5 month old is probably too young for those but it is another option.

Many people manage this and you can do, just check as much luggage as you can and only carry on what the baby needs. Gate check the stroller and get the baby used to the car seat. He or she is going to be spending many years in them so they might as well get used to it sooner rather than later.

taitai

It looks like that the travel in a taxi should not take long. It should take <60 minutes from airport to *Capri*, including ferry. Anyway, I found that there is a public bus and if I will manage to move with all the things, I will take it instead of the taxi.
I can not understand why everybody says that I will need a car seat on the plane. I do not have an additional seat, so where I can install it? Also, on the plane I have a reserved seat, and this is a seat next to stationary installed bassinet (I fly Air France). How I can don't get a bassinet then?... Thanks!

That is true. Without a seat for your child, you will not be able to get the car seat on the plane. However, if you can get your child into the car seat and snap and go or stroller or whatever, that will make your trip through the airport, to your gate, through customs and immigration, etc. so much easier. One less thing to carry.

Double check the size of the bassinet. I know my guys are really tall and were long babies and couldn't fit in the airline bassinets.

Have a great trip.

Taitai

Given the way Italians drive and run into each other and other cars, I'd have a car seat and anything else I could use to protect my baby and I know you would too as you are obviously a good and caring Mum.
Cheers.