We're flying with our 20 month old daughter to New Orleans for a few days before a cruise. She's flying with a lapticket. I'm trying to figure out the best way to get to our hotel in the French Quarter and then from the cruise terminal back to the airport.

It took my hubby FOREVER to figure out how to get her carseats in our cars. I cannot imagine any shuttle or taxi hanging around while he fumbles for 30 minutes or whatever trying to figure out how to connect her carseat. Often you don't even find a taxi with seat belts that work.

I'd really rather not haul a bulky carseat. Can we keep our daughter in a baby carrier, attached to me with both of us strapped into the seat belt? I lay you odds if I insist on taking the car seat it will end with a frustrated shuttle or taxi driver saying, "FORGET IT" and it will a major hassle.

We've been to New Orleans MANY times. There have been times when the shuttle or taxi drivers barely got our bags and us loaded before taking off!

Any advice or suggestions???? Thanks, Missy

Legally, I believe that taxis in Louisiana are exempt from child restraint laws. Safety-wise, since that route is quite a distance and requires highway driving, I'd opt for using a car seat. Using a taxi would be easier than a shuttle. Just ask the taxi driver if they will let you hook up the car seat and help you get the seat belts out if necessary. If the first one isn't that patient, another will be. You might consider getting a cheap convertible car seat - like the Cosco Scenera - and practice installing it in the car a few times if you are worried about that. If you have more patience to get it installed in a hurry than your husband, then do it yourself. They really only take a couple of minutes to install in a car correctly.