Carla Rami
I know they have to exist I've googled this but most of them are only for toddlers or are not lightweight. I want something from newborn- 4 years ideally and that folds and would prefer it to be lightweight. Cost is another issue and I would like something under $150. Thanks
I would just need the car seat for taking taxi's and when driving with friends/family.
Answer
There are two types of car seats that you can get for newborn child. One type is the infant only car seat that is rear facing only. These come with a base that you install in your car and has a carrier that clicks into the base. Most of the infant car seats on the market allow you to install the carrier separately without the base as shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FRR1koMF2c
Another type is a convertible car seat. These car seats have higher rear facing weight limits, which means they last much longer than an infant car seat. They car seats have two functions- from rear facing to forward facing with a harness. Always use the rear facing function of the convertible to the max weight or height limit as rear facing is safest.
My suggestion would be to get a baby carrier such as the Moby Wrap or the Ergo carrier. Then I would carry around a light-weight Cosco Scenera for your baby to ride in. You could also use an infant car seat (just the carrier), but they are REALLY super heavy and will kill your back to transport around. The Scenera is really easy to install. You just need to make sure that you get a 45 degree angle for a newborn and that it is installed very tightly to the vehicle. Put your weight into any car seat you are installing; this is because a properly installed car seat is one that moves less than 1 inch side to side and front to back.
And if you do drive with friends and family, you need to know what type of seatbelts they have. For example, vehicles manufacutured after 1990 have locking seatbelts made for car seats. This means if you pull the seatbelt all the way, the seatbelt will not be able to be pulled back out. If your friend's vehicles do not have locking seatbelts, this means you will have to use a locking clip. The locking clip keeps the seatbelt tight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QVlTKBIb70
The video above is a GREAT video that shows you how to use a locking clip. The video has pool noodles in the vehicle seat bight. This is to get the car seat at a 45 degree recline. You technicially, do not need pool noodles as long as you can get a tight install. I would just jam the Scenera into the vehicle seat without pool noodles at a 45 degree recline.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations say that a properly installed rear facing car seat is always safer than a properly installed forward facing car seat. The AAP recommends that all children ride rear facing until they are at least 2 years old.
Once your child outgrows the rear facing function of a convertible (age 2 is a minimum safety guideline), then I would suggest getting a ride safe travel vest. Travel vests past car seat standards meaning that it performs just as good as a forward facing car seat with a built in 5 point harness if they are used correctly.
There are two types of car seats that you can get for newborn child. One type is the infant only car seat that is rear facing only. These come with a base that you install in your car and has a carrier that clicks into the base. Most of the infant car seats on the market allow you to install the carrier separately without the base as shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FRR1koMF2c
Another type is a convertible car seat. These car seats have higher rear facing weight limits, which means they last much longer than an infant car seat. They car seats have two functions- from rear facing to forward facing with a harness. Always use the rear facing function of the convertible to the max weight or height limit as rear facing is safest.
My suggestion would be to get a baby carrier such as the Moby Wrap or the Ergo carrier. Then I would carry around a light-weight Cosco Scenera for your baby to ride in. You could also use an infant car seat (just the carrier), but they are REALLY super heavy and will kill your back to transport around. The Scenera is really easy to install. You just need to make sure that you get a 45 degree angle for a newborn and that it is installed very tightly to the vehicle. Put your weight into any car seat you are installing; this is because a properly installed car seat is one that moves less than 1 inch side to side and front to back.
And if you do drive with friends and family, you need to know what type of seatbelts they have. For example, vehicles manufacutured after 1990 have locking seatbelts made for car seats. This means if you pull the seatbelt all the way, the seatbelt will not be able to be pulled back out. If your friend's vehicles do not have locking seatbelts, this means you will have to use a locking clip. The locking clip keeps the seatbelt tight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QVlTKBIb70
The video above is a GREAT video that shows you how to use a locking clip. The video has pool noodles in the vehicle seat bight. This is to get the car seat at a 45 degree recline. You technicially, do not need pool noodles as long as you can get a tight install. I would just jam the Scenera into the vehicle seat without pool noodles at a 45 degree recline.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations say that a properly installed rear facing car seat is always safer than a properly installed forward facing car seat. The AAP recommends that all children ride rear facing until they are at least 2 years old.
Once your child outgrows the rear facing function of a convertible (age 2 is a minimum safety guideline), then I would suggest getting a ride safe travel vest. Travel vests past car seat standards meaning that it performs just as good as a forward facing car seat with a built in 5 point harness if they are used correctly.
Do I need a carseat for my 3 yr old while traveling by taxi in Chicago?
annie
I'm traveling by plane to Chicago w/my 3 year old son and we'll be getting around the town by taxi. I have a large convertible carseat but I don't know if it would work to bring it but I want him to be safe! He is almost big enough for a backless booster, which would be smaller & easier to tote along.
Any suggestions? What do people w/ toddlers do when they have to travel by taxi???
Thanks! We leave in 2 days!
Answer
He is NOT almost big enough for a backless booster. Children should *never* ride in a booster before age 4, and that is a bare minimum to ride in a highback booster. The NHTSA recommends keeping children in a harnessed car seat for as long as they fit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS or moving to a booster at age 8. A backless booster isn't an option until he's at least 5 years old- and that would only be for emergency trips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04
If you don't want to tote the convertible around, an option is the Ride Safer Travel Vest, which is a wearable 5 point harness http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/ It requires either a lap/shoulder belt for installation, or a lap belt and the top tether attached.
Another option is the Safety 1st Go Hybrid http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/products/travel/car-seats/booster-car-seats/details/2384-22256ahe-go-hybrid-booster-car-seat
Or, you may be able to strap his current car seat to your stroller, if you're bringing that.
Sadly, most people assume that since in most places taxis are exempt from car seat laws that it's okay to not use a car seat. Taxis are just as likely to crash as any other car, and there is no force field around a taxi. If the child would be injured in a regular car in a crash unbuckled, they will be just as injured unbuckled in a taxi.
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Depending on if you take your car seat, (vs the RSTV) you should use it on the plane, as long as it is FAA approved. Not only is it the safest way for your child to fly, he'll be used to his car seat, he won't be able to wiggle out of the lap belt, your car seat will arrive at your destination with you, and you don't have to worry about the baggage handlers damaging your seat- even just tiny micro-fractures that can't be seen with the naked eye but can render the safety seat useless in a subsequent crash. http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
http://carseatblog.com/8037/guest-blog-flying-with-a-car-seat-know-your-rights/
He is NOT almost big enough for a backless booster. Children should *never* ride in a booster before age 4, and that is a bare minimum to ride in a highback booster. The NHTSA recommends keeping children in a harnessed car seat for as long as they fit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS or moving to a booster at age 8. A backless booster isn't an option until he's at least 5 years old- and that would only be for emergency trips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04
If you don't want to tote the convertible around, an option is the Ride Safer Travel Vest, which is a wearable 5 point harness http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/ It requires either a lap/shoulder belt for installation, or a lap belt and the top tether attached.
Another option is the Safety 1st Go Hybrid http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/products/travel/car-seats/booster-car-seats/details/2384-22256ahe-go-hybrid-booster-car-seat
Or, you may be able to strap his current car seat to your stroller, if you're bringing that.
Sadly, most people assume that since in most places taxis are exempt from car seat laws that it's okay to not use a car seat. Taxis are just as likely to crash as any other car, and there is no force field around a taxi. If the child would be injured in a regular car in a crash unbuckled, they will be just as injured unbuckled in a taxi.
**********
Depending on if you take your car seat, (vs the RSTV) you should use it on the plane, as long as it is FAA approved. Not only is it the safest way for your child to fly, he'll be used to his car seat, he won't be able to wiggle out of the lap belt, your car seat will arrive at your destination with you, and you don't have to worry about the baggage handlers damaging your seat- even just tiny micro-fractures that can't be seen with the naked eye but can render the safety seat useless in a subsequent crash. http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
http://carseatblog.com/8037/guest-blog-flying-with-a-car-seat-know-your-rights/
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