[famousmockngbrd]

I am flying to Boston soon with Cole (almost 1) and my mom to visit our family. We won't have access to a car and we are staying at a hotel, so we will have to take a cab every day. What should I do about Cole's carseat? I'm going to call around to some cab companies tomorrow and see if any of them have cabs with carseats already installed, but I doubt they will. So I guess I'm going to have to put ours in and take it out every time. What a PITA! But what else can I do, hold him in my lap?

:

I have a Mighty Tite, but I have never used it. Does it really make it easier to install? I have a Cosco Alpha Omega and it took my husband and his friend about 45 minutes to install it tightly in our car. If anyone knows of any other gadgets or something to help this situation, I'd be glad to hear of it.

 

[village idiot]

I am a recent convert off of a Mighty Tite. In another thread, in bfing I think, it was pointed out to me that if I have to use a Mighty tite, then the carseat is not installed correctly. The thing is it made me feel safer because the seat wasn't moving around as much with it in place but that the Mighty tite hasnt been tested as a carseat restraint and it voids the manufacturer's warranty to have any gadgets like that installed. I have a Britax Marathon.

I called a carseat inspector and she told me to pull the seat belt all the way out as far as it will go. Then buckle it and while kneeling in the car seat, let the seat belt back in. It will ratchet in and hold the car seat tight. It took me 2 tries before I felt ok with it. And my dd is crawling and was sitting on the ground beside the car and playing with the grass and rocks. I didn't have to hold her and put the car seat in.

After installing the car seat in this manner, it was moving very little. WAy less than the inch that is recommended.

Anyway, hope my ramblings help some. If I find that thread Ill link to it for you.

 

[Potty Diva]

Another option if your child is between 25 and 40 pounds is the portable car seat from Walmart. It weighs 4 pounds and is easy to take in a bag. Here is the link. We have one and use it when we lived in Greenville to come visit Mark's mom(we put it in her car so we wouldn't have to keep taking our Alpha Omega in and out).

Comfort 1st has then for 29.95, but Walmarts is 19.95 - same brand.

Tote N Go

 

[sweetfeet]

Please just take the Mighty Tite back to the store and get something that you can use. They are unsafe. They are not safety tested and I know for a fact that many car seat manufacturers void their warranties when you use after-market products such as that. If you are flying you will need a car seat for him for the plane. I also wouldnt trust or use any car seat from a rental/cab company. You dont know if they have been in a wreck or the age or anything about them. Take a look at the parentsplace.com car seat board. The ladies there can offer lots of help and suggestions.

 

[famousmockngbrd]

Thanks for all the advice.

I was not aware that the MT is unsafe. I'm glad now I never used it. Ironically, it was a gift from someone who is very safety-conscious, in response to my complaints about how hard it was to get our carseat installed in our car!

Here is another question - what about buses? Is there a safety procedure for traveling with a 1 yr. old on a bus?

 

[MamaOui]

Hi famousmockngbrd, When I lived in the Boston area my ds#1 was a baby. I did not have a car and I never once took a cab. I used the subway system and the bus system. Boston has great public transportation. I don't know how long you are going for or how much luggage you have, but maybe you could post something in "finding your tribe" about cab companies. If you are bringing just a stroller, one piece of luggage, and a carry on/diaper bag, you could probably manage that with your mom. Or have your mom take all your luggage in a cab with her to the hotel and meet her there with just you and your babe using public transportation.

Like I said, I don't know your situation or what locations you will be visiting in the Boston area, but if you are staying within Boston and its surrounding areas I don't think you would have to rely on cabs.

Does the hotel that you are staying in have carseats for use?

 

[famousmockngbrd]

It's true - Boston does have a great public transportation system. I started thinking about this last night, which is why I asked about bus safety. It seems weird to me that I should be as concerned as I am about using a carseat in the cab, but on a bus I would just hold him in my lap?

What's the difference, really?

We will probably rely on a combination of buses and cabs. My family lives in West Newton and the buses don't run very late out there.

 

[peacepie]

i often would wear the baby in a snugli(or the sling), and strap myself in; safer than holding baby in lap no? did lots of bus/cab travel with no car seat. and never heard of using a car seat on a plane, they don't even give babies under two their own seat. again i felt better having baby at my chest in her carrier instead of just in my lap. they wont let you buckle the baby in on the plane, they tell you to buckle yourself in and hold baby in lap.
and with baby being held at your chest she sleeps better and that leaves your arms free for getting money from your purse or tissues from your pocket etc!!
just surprised it wasnt mentioned. i couldnt have lived without my snugli, out and about. my kids are all older now but i still use a toddler carrier for dd, 2 yo, occassionally. holds her on my hip! shes petite thankfully.

 

[MamaOui]

It is a shame that there really is no such thing as bus safety. No seat belts for adults, so nothing for the kids as well.

 

[famousmockngbrd]

Quote:

Originally posted by peacepie and never heard of using a car seat on a plane, they don't even give babies under two their own seat.

We reserved a seat on the plane for Cole. I feel he is much safer in his own seat, strapped into his carseat - even heavy turbulence can make you lose your grip on a child in arms.

It is weird about the lack of safety standards on buses. I think the snugli or sling idea is a good one for that situation but unfortunately Cole renounced the sling about 6 months ago, just won't have anything to do with it. This is not to say he doesn't still want to be carried, just not in the sling!

: Oy, my aching back.

 

[mamapixie]

Would it be possible for you to pick up an inexpensive carseat(like the Cosco Touriva 5pt) to use for the trip? It will fit in the plane easier and is much lighter than the AO.

 

[Missgrl]

moving this to Life with A Babe forum.

 

[gilnikche]

Umm, why not rent a car instead? Have you checked out the rates? This time of year you can get off season rates.

 

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Bus safety is a big issue -- there is just no way to a keep an infant safe on a bus, since you can't use a carseat or anything. In theory the high back of the seat in front you is supposed to keep you from flying around, but I don't see how that could really hold up. Luckily, you also don't see too many buses involved in high-speed wrecks. I'm not sure the snugli idea is a good one because you could easily crush your own baby with your body, just like you can if you hold an infant in your arms in the car.

I am so glad that you purchased a seat on the plane for your little one. They are so much safer in their car seats than held on your lap!

Since you will have your carseat with you for the plane, I would just plan on installing it in cabs as you go. Luckily, most cabs have a middle seat belt and thats usually the easiest place to install a seat. However, if you are going to be using cabs a lot, you really might want to check out the price of renting a small car. You might find that it beats the cost of 1-2 moderate cab rides each day! Of course, that means that you will have to fight Boston traffic, which is no picnic.

 

[elaine]

just a tidbit that a friend who is a cabbie told me, a cab can't deny you a ride just cause you don't have a car seat.