In May we are flying to Phoenix with our youngest daughter for a work conference. She will be 3 months old at the time but we will have some free time to see the city. What do I do about traveling in taxi's without having a car seat. I could take a car seat but then we'd have to carry it with us every where we went. We do not travel very much at all so not sure what to do.
J.,
I have a Sit 'n Stroll (car seat/stroller that is FAA approved) that you can borrow if you live in the Rosemount area....
We travelled to Phoenix when our boy was 3 months old. We had a stoller that had a car seat that clicked into it. At the airport we checked the car seat and stoller at the gate and when we landed in PHX it was waiting for us when we got off the plane. During the plane ride I used a baby sling and kept him with me. He nursed or slept the whole way. It is a pain to have the car seat and all but I think it is the best way to be safe. You may also want to check AZ state laws on car seats.
http://phoenix.about.com/od/parenting/a/childseat.htm
If you can afford it buy a cheap one when you are in town than donate it before you leave.
if you rent a car, you can pay extra for a car seat. taxis can be expensive, so see if it is worth it to rent a car for a couple of days (maybe for the days you really want to drive around the city or even go out of the city). depending where you stay, you may be in walking distance of local attractions and restaurants and a good stroller will work for you.
I travelled extensively with my daughter as an infant/small child. We flew weekly for 3 years. I definitely recommend buying a seat on the plane for your child and taking her car seat. As another mentioned, baby's safety should be first and foremost in your mind. (Additionally, baby is accustomed to her seat and this breeds familiarity for her in a potentially stressful situation.) Not only in taxis (who are notoriously fast drivers) but also while in the plane. Most airlines charge 50% for a child under 2 and you don't ever want to be in a situation where you have to place your baby on the floor of the plane (as you would in an emergency situation). I never removed my baby from her car seat while flying (just as you would never do while driving) and feed her during takeoff and landings to help releive pressure in her ears. I don't mean to rant on about this but I don't know that people always stop to think about the repurcussions of air travel and not having car seats. Even if you only encountered bad turbulence it could be dangerous for a baby being held on the lap. Sure, it can be a pain to lug the car seat around the airport but is well worth it when you consider it is carrying your most precious cargo! Best of luck!
It may be cheaper to rent a car so you can have a car seat in the car and use a stroller for the baby. I traveled alot with my son when he was a baby and found this to be cheaper and safer! good luck and enjoy your travels!
Blessings
T.
Hey J., We took a trip to NYC when my oldest son was 5 months old, through the grapevine I heard of a portable car seat/stroller, I located one in the the One Step Ahead catalog/website. It is an infant car seat (great for sitters/g'parents to use) with retactable wheels and handle, it is FAA approved with a 3 or 5-point harness system. It was about $250 but we got our money's worth on that trip alone! We were joking we should rent it out because once friends/family found out about it, we were lending it out a couple times a month! It is awesome, we still have it and have used it for all of our kids. (Nick, 3 yrs. old, Sophia, 2 yrs. old, and Gianna, almost 6 months old!) Good luck in your search... ( I haven't searched for one in a while, but they must be out there still)
I would rent a car for sure and just take your stroller and car seat as suggested by others. We have traveled a lot with our son and it is so much easier to have the stroller and car seat. You will be thankful to have the stroller and car seat during travel, it makes it so much easier! Also, I'm not sure if you have thought of it, but for diapers/wipes, etc...you can go to www.babiestravellite.com and they will ship anything you want to your location to prevent having extra bags full of diapers and wipes.
I would definitely take the car seat with you...baby's safety is most important.
Do you have a stroller that works with your infant seat? if not, you can buy an inexpensive "snap & go" from Target. That way you can check both the stroller and seat at the gate, it will make the trip so much easier!
If you rent a car they will provide you with a carseat upon request.
