Traveling with a 3YO... car seat ?s - Page 3

[swede]

Originally Posted by SeattleRain 

Well even if it's not "wrong" as you seem to believe, it is certainly unsafe.

I always find it funny on MDC where people make it seem like CIO will harm your child for life, but apparently riding around in a taxi without your child strapped in is somehow okay just because they'll cry or be upset. Requiring your children to ride in carseats is not "micromanaging" your kids' lives, it's doing the responsible thing. There are very few ways that you can really have an impact on your childs' safety, carseats is one of them. If you don't use a carseat, you're gambling with your childs' life. Do you want to live with the consequences if your wrong? Do you want to be dead right?

My point is it's just not that big of a gamble in a plane.  And in a taxi - there really are times when it is not practical.  I would also say that you have less impact than you might believe on your child's safety. 
 

And yes - not checking a carseat at the airport because you are worried about no-visible damage IS micromanaging your life.    I

m not going to do it - you are welcome to do it - it is silly to judge someone for not making the same choices as you.    But hey - have fun!

[GoGoGirl]

Originally Posted by swede 



Also, I cannot imagine a busy city cab waiting (liek NY or chicago or Vegas) while I installed a carseat.  Please, if you don't travel by cab regularly, you really don't understand how it works.

We live in NYC, and I've actually found that cab drivers don't mind sitting there for 3 minutes (if I install the car seat) or even like 8 minutes (if DH is doing the installing).  And these are yellow cabs we flag down at the curb, not private taxis.  We do ask that they pull all the way over out of traffic though, so we're not pissing off all the other cars on the road.

Originally Posted by swede 

People in the city generally don't carry their car seats around.  It's completely impractical.  That is reality. 

I have actually had people on the Family Safety forum tell me that I should carry our car seat around, everywhere we go, every single day, because once every like 4 months we have to take an emergency cab ride that we didn't anticipate and therefore don't have a car seat.    They really do expect me to carry a 2 year old, a whole week's groceries, the library books, AND a convertible car seat around every time I walk out the door.  Up and down the subway stairs!  Seven months pregnant!

[Maedze]

I cannot believe I have to spell this out.   

Seatbelt USE is not required. 

THE PRESENCE OF SEATBELTS IS.

These are two different things, from two different regulations.  

I'm not sure why you're throwing a giant temper tantrum about something you clearly don't know much about, but it's making you look silly. 

Originally Posted by swede 

You are quite incorrect.

This is a link to the NYS child passenger safety law -

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/broch/c-1.htm

"Seat belt use is not required in taxis or livery vehicles, emergency vehicles, 1964 or older vehicles, or by passengers in buses other than school buses (seat belt use may be required by the school district). Rural letter Carriers are also exempt while they are delivering mail."

[APToddlerMama]

Originally Posted by swede 

Um, it's not just the other passengers I am worried about being unhappy - it is my child.  Sorry, I am not going to have my child be screaming for an entire flight, when he or she would be relatively safe without the seat.  IT IS NOT THE SAME AS A CAR, from a  safety perspective.  

And when I say travel by cab regularly, I am referring to standing on a busy corner and hailing one.  Not calling 30 minutes in advance to be picked up.  People in the city generally don't carry their car seats around.  It's completely impractical.  That is reality. 

Then just use it during take off and landing, and keep your child on your lap the rest of the time. 

[Honey693]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

You are quite incorrect.   The way carseats are transported (in boxes, which absorb energy, and by people who have a vested interest in not losing contracts due to broken shipped merchandise) for a store, is very different than how they are transported in checked baggage.

My Scenera came in a bag.  No foam or extra packaging.  Just a plastic zip bag.  I don't think the wal-mart and UPS handlers were treating it with kid gloves.  I can't see how that's any different from checking it.

[chickabiddy]

The bagged Sceneras are stacked and boxed for transport.

[Honey693]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy 

The bagged Sceneras are stacked and boxed for transport.

I did not know that.  Thanks!

[swede]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

I cannot believe I have to spell this out.   

Seatbelt USE is not required. 

THE PRESENCE OF SEATBELTS IS.

These are two different things, from two different regulations.  

I'm not sure why you're throwing a giant temper tantrum about something you clearly don't know much about, but it's making you look silly. 

Not throwing a temper tantrum :)  I understand that seatbelts are required.  And I am telling you, int eh real world, just because something is required by law, does not mean it will be true.  There are plenty of times I have been in a cab where seatbelts are not visible.