Baby Bjorn

[lula]

What is the best way to carry your newborn in taxis ? Am due in April & am in the process of deciding on prams/carriers. Am leaning towards the Peg Perego venezia model at the moment, but open to suggestions ?

Also - can anyone tell me where I buy a Baby Bjorn ?

(btw - I don't have a car - live v close to MRT & city)

Many thanks

[Rach7]

I bought mine in Mothercare, Centrepoint. I was in there last Tuesday and they still had them.

Congratulations

[mommy]

I like my Maxi Cosi car seat which snaps on to the stroller. It can carry a baby up to 13 kg., which I think is more than than Graco. So depending on how big your baby is, it can be used for more than a year. My 11 month old still uses it.

[pinky]

Hi!  I bought the Peg Perego and was very happy with it.  We got months worth of use out of it.  She is still within the weight limit (which I think is 13kg and she's 15 months old) but is too tall.  Once the baby's head or tops of the ears reach the top of the seat then you're supposed to move them out.  I think we used this seat until she was about 11 months old.

The only drawback with the Peg Perego is that you can't put the pram down with one hand.  This wasn't a problem when she was a newborn as I always strapped her (in her seat) into the taxi then put the pram down.  When she was able to move around a bit it was much more difficult to juggle her (because getting her into the seat was a battle of wills) and the pram.  Just something you may want to consider before you decide.  

We have now switched to a really lightweight stroller the Triumph by Maclaren (because it was light and had a carrying strap Graco also make a very light weight stroller with a carrying strap called the Citi Sport) and have purchased a Cosco travel vest for travelling in the taxi's.  This is a bit fiddly to use initially (as is everything else really) but once you get the hang of it it's great.

We also had the Baby Bjorn and I thought it was great for some things and not so great for others.  It's really hot so walking around shopping centers in the air-con was great but commuting outside or going from one place to another walking outside was really hot for me and the baby.

[This message has been edited by BoardManager (edited 29-11-2003).]

[Expecting Dad]

We bought a Maxi-Cosi carseat after considering some suggestions just to use a Baby Bjorn while in a taxi.

Seems the safest, though certainly not easiest, route to take.

By the way, what is a "Travel Vest"? I assume it's something the kid uses when they're too big for a car seat, but too small for the regular seat belt?

[pinky]

The Travel Vest is a pretty simple device.  It is a piece of strong plastic that is covered with what appears to be car upholstry material.  Then there is a harness strap that you fasten the baby into.  The seatbelt straps in through the back of the vest, this is the hardest part to get used to.  We actually have a car seat for our 15 month old but there are times when my husband needs use of the car so we rely on taxi's.  I only use the Travel Vest in the taxi and it's working well so far.  The car seat that we have for her now is full size so not practical for taking in and out of a taxi which is why we invested in the travel vest.  They are only about $70 and you can get them at Kids Mall at Suntec City or IMM Jurong.  

[Cornflake Girl]

Hi Pinky

Can you give me any tips for the Tote n Go car seat/vest? I have one but am not being very successful at fitting it quickly or securely.

[6monthold]

We are moving to Singapore in January with a six month old baby and are also considering buying a Maxi Cosi car seat and stroller.  Can anyone give us an idea of how much they cost and where we can buy one in Singapore?  Are these easy to use in taxis?

[pinky]

Hi Cornflake Girl,

I wish I had an easy and quick fix to fitting the vest into the taxi quickly but sorry I don't.  When I first used mine it took me (what seemed like ages) to fit it in properly but now it's pretty fast.  I actually practiced with our car.  If you have a friend with a car see if you can "borrow" it to practice putting the vest in.  A friend of mine (he's a stay at home dad) finds it much easier to strap the baby in from the side rather than the middle seatbelt....of course you're probably worried about the side impact....me too.  

I strap the vest in then I organise the baby into the seat and strap her to the vest.  It's been much better but it was really fiddly at first.  I'm sure you'll be a whiz in no time!  Just remember the first time you had to use the pram and put it up and down on your own....not that just seems like so long ago!

Best of luck!