Infant in lap in taxis/jitneys/buses?? Safe??

[kfinfam]

I feel like a bad mom already for even entertaining the idea of getting in any kind of motorized vehicle without a carseat for my 11 month old, but I am wondering if anyone else has had experiences putting their young ones in their lap as they travel around in port??

 

I'm not even sure which means of transportation even have seatbelts in them, but I considered using a Baby B'Air type harness that you would use on a plane and buckling my son into my seatbelt with me to make me feel a little better about this idea. I realize that this is not the intention of those vests/harnesses but I figure it couldnt hurt right? Any thoughts on that?

 

I have heard there is a taxi service in Nassau that provides carseats if you call ahead with your request, does anyone know of that kind of service in Freeport?

 

Just trying to make things as safe and easy as possible without feeling like we're limited on our activities just because of this carseat issue.

[crusinmama06]

You didn't say the exact ports you are going to and the exact excursions you are taking, but yes, when I am in a taxi, I would always take a car seat -- especially when my kids were that little. ;)

 

It takes alot of work and a little bit of research, but some of us can help you figure out the ways to get around with that baby safely. :)

 

The bjorn is a good way for the bus. You can't take a car seat on a full size bus anyway. There are no seat belts on those so they wouldn't allow the car seat even if you did take one. :)

 

And in a taxi, I do take a car seat. Like the taxis in Nassau. If you go to the terminal/port building and ask for say, a taxi to Atlantis, then they have mini van type taxis. And they have seat belts. So for that, I carry a car seat.

 

So check the port of call boards, call the tour operator, call the cruise line and check out your excursions. Figure out which mode of transportation your excursion is using. Then decide if you need a car seat.

[cb at sea]

Strapping your child to yourself CAN hurt....don't do that!

[6rugrats]

You CANNOT use a Baby B'Air in a car; it's terribly unsafe. Children are inconvenient at times, but would you ride with your baby in your lap at home? If not, why would you consider it just because you are on vacation? Bring the car seat if you are taking a cab.

 

From Baby B'Air's webpage:

 

Can I use the Baby B'Air in my car?

NO! The Baby B'Air was designed ONLY for use during air travel to prevent injuries due to severe turbulence and should NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE BE USED IN AN AUTOMOBILE.

[kfinfam]

Thank you for the information....like I said, I've never done this before and am unsure of whats acceptable and/or available in foreign places. Which is EXACTLY why I'm on this board!!!

 

Safety is our #1 priority and with some help from you and other posters we'll find some solutions :)

 

Since I'm pretty sure he'll be at the weight range to be in an upright carseat, what I wish is that there were strollers out there that we could attach that kind of carseat to.....THAT would be problem solved!!

[RoadTripFanatic]

ACTUALLY there are car seats out there that are combos. You can purchase an adaptor that turns your car seat into an instant stroller. Just google car seat stroller and you can see the options. (GoGoBabyz) Also there used to be a large car seat that had wheels and a handle that would pop out of it for travel. I can't remember what it is called.

[5waldos]

Even in the USA it was not required that children in the back seat of a vehicle be seatbelted or in a carseat until a few years ago. In my day, there was no such thing for anyone. Do the best you can do then realize that there are multiple generations still alive who lived without ever seeing a carseat or belt. I still sometimes swing my right arm out across the passenger in the front seat of my car- that is what used to serve.

[6rugrats]

Even in the USA it was not required that children in the back seat of a vehicle be seatbelted or in a carseat until a few years ago. In my day, there was no such thing for anyone. Do the best you can do then realize that there are multiple generations still alive who lived without ever seeing a carseat or belt. I still sometimes swing my right arm out across the passenger in the front seat of my car- that is what used to serve.

 

This is a ridiculous argument. Carseats have been required for well over 20+ years in the US. Mothers used to dose their children with Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, but we don't do this anymore either.

[crusinmama06]

Even in the USA it was not required that children in the back seat of a vehicle be seatbelted or in a carseat until a few years ago.

 

My oldest is 10 years old and the rules were 80lbs and 8 years old when she was born. ;) A car/booster seat till 80lbs or 8 years old.

 

So I wouldn't say a few years ago. I've been dealing with car seat laws for a decade.

[acceber32]

Sorry to hijack the thread OP but since we are on the topic I thought I would ask. Is there any safe mode of transportation for a 17 month old in St. Thomas? We will not have our own car seat with us and this is the only port left that we will be in that we don't have transportation lined up. Does any one have any suggestions? We are probably going to go to the beach and do some walking/shopping. Thanks!

[5waldos]

So simply don't go anyplace where you can't use the car seats. I choose to do the best I could do and go from there. We lived in 3rd world countries for much of my children's younger years. Where was my son injured? In our living room in midAmerica, falling off our couch.

[RoadTripFanatic]

This is a ridiculous argument. Carseats have been required for well over 20+ years in the US. Mothers used to dose their children with Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, but we don't do this anymore either.

 

By the way the first child restraint law was in 1982.

 

Honestly you need to do what you feel comfortable with. I'm still slightly terrified to ride in some of those vehicles with DD and she is 9!! She isn't required to be in any restraint except a seatbelt. :)

[babyblue78]

We are taking car seats for BOTH of our kids (age 2 and 4). NO CHANCE they get in a vehicle without one. Yes, it is a pain, but I will not compromise on this. I have emailed tour operators, etc in advance to make sure that they have seat belts so the seats can be installed. If something bad were to happen, I would never forgive myself if I had been lax with their safety. :( It is my responsibility as a parent to do the right thing, even if it is not the most convenient thing.

 

I also think that saying things like "my kid survived" is a weak argument. Obviously many children were in fact killed, hence the modern safety laws we have today. I wouldn't paint a crib with lead paint today either.

 

Plus, have you seen the way people drive in some of these countries!! :p

[DALSAL]

We are running into the same problem for our upcoming cruise, but its not even an option for us. She will not go in any taxi, bus, etc. Just a stroll around the dock area. I will return to the ship with our baby and mom and dad will go explore! But, Ive been to all of our ports so many times, I wont mind missing out on anything that takes a vehicle to get there.

[crusinmama06]

We are taking car seats for BOTH of our kids (age 2 and 4). NO CHANCE they get in a vehicle without one. Yes, it is a pain, but I will not compromise on this. I have emailed tour operators, etc in advance to make sure that they have seat belts so the seats can be installed. If something bad were to happen, I would never forgive myself if I had been lax with their safety. :( It is my responsibility as a parent to do the right thing, even if it is not the most convenient thing.

 

I also think that saying things like "my kid survived" is a weak argument. Obviously many children were in fact killed, hence the modern safety laws we have today. I wouldn't paint a crib with lead paint today either.

 

Plus, have you seen the way people drive in some of these countries!! :p

 

THANK YOU! :D This is the answer I wanted to give but I have given it so many times in the past on this board (as has rugrats) that I think we simply get tired of typing it. ;)

 

So THANK YOU! Now I can say DITTO! This is exactly what I did when my childen were that age. They are now MUCH older. They are actually aging out of the car/booster seat range in the US.

 

But I think back to those years when I had infants/toddlers and YES, I dragged car seats. YES, I dragged TWO of them.

 

YES, it was a slight pain. But my kids were safe and came home the same way they left --in one piece. :)

[crusinmama06]

We are running into the same problem for our upcoming cruise, but its not even an option for us. She will not go in any taxi, bus, etc. Just a stroll around the dock area. I will return to the ship with our baby and mom and dad will go explore! But, Ive been to all of our ports so many times, I wont mind missing out on anything that takes a vehicle to get there.

 

YES! We had to do this once in St.Thomas when our oldest was a baby. Those taxis in St. Thomas were crazy and the open air Safari buses were even worse. :eek: So we opted to just walk around the port area. Yes, we missed out on going to Megan's Bay on that cruise but we felt it was best for us at the time and we knew Megan's Bay would always be there. :D

[kfinfam]

Thank you ALL for your input...sometimes it helps to hear all the different sides to help me come to my senses:) We have decided that we WILL be traveling with our carseat and thanks to RoadTripFanatic we have found the GoGo Babyz Travelmate which we will attach to the carseat each time we get out of a vehicle. It basically puts wheels on your carseat so you can use it as a stroller! Thats the perfect combo that I was looking for......you guys have been GREAT, thanks again to all!!

[6rugrats]

THANK YOU! :D This is the answer I wanted to give but I have given it so many times in the past on this board (as has rugrats) that I think we simply get tired of typing it. ;)

 

Amen. My all time favorite post on this board was when you, probably in frustration, wrote it was easier to lug the car seats around, then to escort the little coffins home.

 

Everytime I see this type of car seat post (not from you OP - you have some sense), I wonder what people are thinking.

[crusinmama06]

Amen. My all time favorite post on this board was when you, probably in frustration, wrote it was easier to lug the car seats around, then to escort the little coffins home.

 

Yeah I was a little frustrated, probably even a little hormonal, that day. :p lol

[babyblue78]

Thank you ALL for your input...sometimes it helps to hear all the different sides to help me come to my senses:) We have decided that we WILL be traveling with our carseat and thanks to RoadTripFanatic we have found the GoGo Babyz Travelmate which we will attach to the carseat each time we get out of a vehicle. It basically puts wheels on your carseat so you can use it as a stroller! Thats the perfect combo that I was looking for......you guys have been GREAT, thanks again to all!!

 

Good! I am glad that you were able to find a solution. That thing looks like it may be helpful in the airport also! :)

[babyblue78]

Sorry to hijack the thread OP but since we are on the topic I thought I would ask. Is there any safe mode of transportation for a 17 month old in St. Thomas? We will not have our own car seat with us and this is the only port left that we will be in that we don't have transportation lined up. Does any one have any suggestions? We are probably going to go to the beach and do some walking/shopping. Thanks!

 

I don't know much about St Thomas, but I assume that you could arrange a car/driver with carseats to pick up up at the port and drive you to the beach or shopping areas. It may cost more than a regular cab, but I would try that route. :)

[babyblue78]

THANK YOU! :D This is the answer I wanted to give but I have given it so many times in the past on this board (as has rugrats) that I think we simply get tired of typing it. ;)

 

Glad to join you on your crusade! This is one of those parenting things that gets me going. :cool:

[acceber32]

I don't know much about St Thomas, but I assume that you could arrange a car/driver with carseats to pick up up at the port and drive you to the beach or shopping areas. It may cost more than a regular cab, but I would try that route. :)

 

 

Thanks! I am so glad I read these boards. With all the details to consider I feel like I would leave something important out with out the help of so many people on these boards. I guess I take it forgranted that the US has so many safety laws that these islands we visit do not.

[MNmomof4]

I would NEVER consider putting my children in a vehicle without a car seat. I have lugged our car seats everywhere with us. In St. Thomas, we walked around the port and then enjoyed a nearly empty ship.

[thewolffs]

I have twins that will be 2 years 8 months old when we cruise next. These are the ports we are going to and I'm not sure what to do about car seats.

 

San Juan- walk around port

St. Thomas

Antigua

St. Maarten- rent a car

Tortola

 

Has anyone been to St. Thomas, Antigua or Tortola with toddlers? What do you suggest? I plan on going to the beach at all the ports. I'd rather not lug 2 car seats to the beach. Do you know of any taxis that provide them or that would let us keep our seats in the taxi? How about taking a bus instead? I know it's not as safe as a car seat, but I'd feel safer than not using a car seat in a taxi. I'm just trying to plan this out ahead of time.

 

Thanks,

Christie