Need a Cab Ride from the Airport with a 3 Year Old - Car Seat?

Updated on January 25, 2013
M.T. asks from Saint Paul, MN
16 answers

Hi, we are planning a plane trip overseas. The only thing is that our flight bback will be arriving at our airport at 9pm, which means after immigration/customs, it will be after 10pm when we'll be ready to take a ride back. It will be too late for any of our family members to come pick us up. So we were planning to take a cab - then realized, what about car seat? We're not going t haul our huge car seat for our son during the trip only for this cab ride. Are there cabs that come with car seats? Can we order them?

Please let me know your experiences. Thank you.

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much for your responses! I'll call a local cab company to see what the procedure is to get a cab with a carseat. If it does not work, probably we'll beg/bribe a family member to pick us up.

Featured Answers

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J.C.

answers from New York on

Maybe get a car service instead. They will have a car seat. It will be a little more expensive but worth it.

3 moms found this helpful
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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

When we were not able to use DD's car seat for various reasons and transportations, we followed the guidelines the driver gave us or use common sense (on the bus, for example, she sat on the seat next to me and not in her stroller).

If you were my family, I'd pick you up. Ask them.

3 moms found this helpful

More Answers

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Call the cab company and request a car seat. We have done that before. They picked us up in a minivan type thing with a car seat already installed. I think a lot of cab companies have them. Call them now to make sure...then you won't worry!

5 moms found this helpful
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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

JMO: I don't really care that a car seat isn't required in a cab, I would never let DD ride without one. We actually purchased a cheaper, lightweight car seat just for that purpose so it would not be a hassle when lugged around airports and taxis. Even a high back booster ( if your child meets min weight requirements) would be better than no restraint at all.
Personally I just could not live with the guilt should anything happen...

4 moms found this helpful

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Oh yikes, I can't believe the people who non-chalantly say they aren't required. I'm an insurance agent and know of stories you would NOT want to hear. Please do everything possible to get a car seat and not allow your child to ride without one, his life is not worth the risk. Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful

L.M.

answers from Dover on

Call you local cab companies and check into it. Best way to know for sure.

Another option may be to see if the airport has a way to "check" your carseat so that you can retrieve it when you arrive home. Don't know but it is worth asking.

BTW...I bet a family member would be willing to still pick you up. We were scheduled to get in around 9 one night and it got delayed until midnight. MIL & SIL were there to get us as scheduled (and we had a 1.5 ride home from there).

**added** I saw someone indicated that carseats are not required for cab rides....I fing that disturbing because they are just cars (like any other personal vehicle) so not requiring one means a child safety is at risk.

3 moms found this helpful

M.B.

answers from Tampa on

Yes just let them know when you book the can you will need one. Ive used Yellow Cab before and had them provide a carseat

3 moms found this helpful
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K.A.

answers from Phoenix on

From what I see, you can request a cab with a car seat. I'm sure it's a normal request and nothing to be too worried about.

Have you called the local taxi companies and ask what the procedure is? That would probably be your best bet.

3 moms found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I would call a car service and request they bring one.

2 moms found this helpful
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P.K.

answers from New York on

Call a car service. They have them.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

You will need a carseat. If there is an accident, your 3-year-old could easily be killed. To say carseats are not required on cabs means the laws of physics don't apply to cabs, which of course would be silly! A cab is a car just like any other car. Child fatalities are NOT worth the risk.

I would take a Cosco Scenera if he's under 40 lbs. They are about $40. Or, if under 50 lbs., an Evenflo Maestro would work (about $70-80). Both are LIGHT seats and easy to travel with.

The carseat is the most important thing to have for the trip! I would also strongly recommend it on a plane for your child's safety. You won't know the condition of any carseat provided, or even if it's expired, so it's always best to have your own seat. Plus, you don't want to rely on someone else or some company to have one, just in case they can't follow through.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from New York on

Most cab companies have taxis in their fleet that have car seats. Changes are if you just want to grab a cab that will be waiting at the airport, it won't have a car seat available.

You can order them in advance, however, in your situation this may be difficult because you don't know the exact time that you would need to be picked up.

Call the local cab company that services your area and explain your situation and see what their procedure is to handle this type of situation.

1 mom found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

Car seats are not required for cab rides here. I thought that was universal.

My children also ride on busses, trains and airplanes without car seats.

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

Hire a service to pick up the carseat from a friend or relative and bring it to the airport to pick up your family.

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S.S.

answers from Omaha on

Sorry, i am a bad mom, but don't we put 5 year olds on school busses with out car seats- OR seat belts for that matter?? Yes, there is always a chance that your cab could crash and something bad could happen- but I feel those chances are slim, and would just buckle the 3 year old in if it were my child. Certainly check with the cab company to see what the policy is or if a seat is an option if it makes you feel better, but after a full day of travel and time way from home- chances are that when you hit your local Air port- you will just be ready to be done, as will your child.

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