Need advice... Taxi & baby car seat

[Ingridika]

Ladies, need your advice... We will be going from and to hospital by taxi... I understand that we will need a baby car seat to bring baby back from the hospital, however, doesnt it need a base to be fixed in the car? Do we need to provide it or the taxi service?? Sorry for silly question, but it has been bothering me for a while now.

 

[BonzE]

Sorry, I have no idea...didn't want to r&r x

 

[Jessiecat]

The base that you have seen is an optional extra to connect the seat via isofix (little metal rods in the car). However, all car seats can just be seat belted in the car which I think would probably be your best option for using taxis/ relatives etc as the isofix base is more used when a car seat will be primarily based in one car as it's not something that can be moved and refitted with ease like a stand alone car seat can x

 

[Ingridika]

Thanks Jessie. So whats the use of Bases if sits can be used without them?

 

[Pismo]

More for ease than anything else Ingrid, also quite often people dont fit the seat belts properly but aslong as your comfortable with how to get it secure then I cant see an issue.

x

 

[Loretta]

My understanding is that they are easier to get in and out of the car with a base. Click and unclick like removing from the pram unit. Seatbelts can be more fiddly. That said, I shan't bother with a base unit as our car is tiny.

 

[Ingridika]

Makes sense if you use it on daily basis so we will be fine with a car seat for taxis...

 

[Jessiecat]

I found it to be a godsend after a section with my first as it was so easy to take in and out and a little green light lit up to comfirm it was in correctly. bUT I have a different car now without the isofix arrachments so not an option to me. It's a luxury and it gives you 100% confirmation that the car seat is properly secured but as long as you are familiar with how your car seat works and take the one to put it in properly (you'll do this in 5 seconds after some practice) then you'll be fine.

So no you really don't NEED the base and I think it's more common for people to not have them so don't worry abou anything just pick yoursle a good seat with good reviews and you're sorted!

 

[Ingridika]

Great - we getting one with our travel system, which seems to have good reviews on all the websites!

 

[twinkletoes220]

When we got our travel system from mothercare they tested it in our car to check the car seat would be safe. Unfortunately due to the type of seats in our car (BMW 1 series) it wouldn't fit securely due to the design of the actual seat. Therefore it might be worth checking out a few cars beforehand-that's the last thing you want when taking baby home. We were recommended not to buy that particular brand unless we bought the base!! This didn't matter to us as we knew we wanted to buy the base anyway!! For us it was a necessity,as it is so much safer due to the fact that the seat it then secured to the body of the car (using isofix points,which are attached to the chassis)!! We wouldn't have anything else.

Due to the fact that I'm guessing ordinarily you will be using car travel minimally (perhaps due to the fact you don't drive???) then getting a base would be a waste of money. It just may be worth asking a particular taxi company if you could test out your baby seat for your journey home prior to needing it (if that makes sense) as on your way home you should be able to request a particular car!! On the way there it won't matter as you won't have baby-just you,your hubby and your stuff!!

I hope this all makes sense to you!! And hope it helps!!xx

 

[CharlotteH24]

For taxi's you aren't required to have baby in a car seat at all in terms of the law. Saying that, it's obviously much safer for baby to be in a car seat in case something did happen on the journey home but just thought I'd mention that law states children under 3 don't have to be in a car seat in private hire vehicles (taxi's or minibuses). Funnily enough I was reading up about this the other day - https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

If you don't use cars frequently then just the car seat will suffice without the base, car seats can just be belted in but are a bit more fiddly and time consuming. There''d be no point in buying an isofix base without knowing whether all the taxi cabs have isofix and a belted base is just as fiddly as just strapping the seat in by itself. I would just save the money and not buy a base if you don't have regular access to your own/family members vehicle.

 

[Rooster30]

We won't using a base when bringing baby home. The base has been put in my car as I'm a SAHM so for the most part I'll be driving the baby, but obviously going home after birth it'll be my OH driving so will be seat belting the seat in. It's just as safe, the base provides convenience more than anything.

On a side note, we didn't use a car seat in a taxi with our son when he was 5 months old.

 

[Ingridika]

Thanks ladies... Makes perfect sense. Went yesterday to look at baby seats and everyone told that belted car seats are as safe as with the base, it is just convenience and being perfectly sure when fitted correctly.

With regards to the taxis without car seats, that is useful to know, but I would rather prefer a baby in a car seat, unless an emergency! Thank you all!

 

[Angela2612]

We don't have a base I find it easier just strapping it in with a seat belt especially as we have two cars and it's just as safe.
When I had my DD I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital unless they seen her in a car seat. Might be different in other hospitals but ours were strict I guess at the end of the day it's for the babies safety.

I'd try and do what twinkletoes suggested and see if you can try it in the taxi