Safe in taxi...

[AAsa]

Hi!

I know I have been reading in this board about a special car seat for kids that is easy to carry around, something that sounds like Clip&Safe... Does anyone know what I talk about? If so, from how many kilos is it appropriate and where to find it in Sing?

[Car seat queen]

Tote n' Go is a board that goes on the child's  back.

Then there is the sit n stroll which is a car seat with wheels.  

I have both and love the sit n stroll.  The board one takes a while to get used to and is very fidgety - but very portable.

Good luck.

You can get them both from Kid's Mall at Suntec.
 

[Taxi Phobic]

I totally understand where you coming from, I get so worried when travelling in a taxi, the majority are psychotic drivers! Anyway that's for another message board

In regards to your question, I use a stroller by Baby Trend called Santa Fe Trendporter that uses a Latch-lock system. It comes in two parts, the pram and the car seat. When travelling you can unlock them, put the pram in the boot/trunk and strap the car seat into the back using any of the seatbelts.

The car seat can take up 9kg

We bought it at Kids Mall at IMM in Jurong East, check out their website. They also have a stroller similar to one car seat queen was talking about.

An alternative is to carry your baby in a snugli and have a regular lightweight pram that you can chuck in the boot.

Hope this helps

P.S. If you go to IMM avoid Sundays, it's packed!

[This message has been edited by BoardManager (edited 31-05-2004).]

[in between]

I found the problem comes when the baby is too big for the car seat but too young/small for something like a tote and go..... If you are going to consider a carrier (which isnt really designed as a car safety device... but that has been discussed many a time already) do remember to check

minimum and maximum weight limits (the baby bjorn in particluar doesnt last long!)

How well is the baby strapped to you ( the sarong style slings still leave baby quite free)

The snugli looks good, however I chose a hug a bub because there is no minimum or maximum weight limit and could be used for my small birth weight baby and I will still be using it when he is a toddler!  Also it has lots of different carrying postitions...another thing to consider!  

[localmum]

I'm 30 years old and a mum of a 29 days old infant. I woul say, avoid taking taxi if you can. 2 decades ago, taking cabs was pretty safe. Nowadays, due to the intense competition and increasing number of cabbies, everyone of them seem to be driving as if he is the only one on the road. Even with a childseat, I think it is still not safe. just put up with the inconvenience and take train or bus - they are safer

[NMS1]

I don't trust the taxi drivers either but have you seriously tried getting onto a bus on your own with a pushchair, baby plus all her paraphenalia?!

If you live next door to one of the MRT stations that is pushchair accessible then you are OK but not all of them are. Go & check it out before you try. e.g. you can get into Clementi via escalators but not out.

[are you kidding]

Bus drivers seem to have no idea how to brake or accelerate gradually.  Only yesterday I was on the bus, baby strapped to me and sitting beautifully.  The bus driver braked so hard we both shot forward and baby's head slammed against the seat in front.....and that was just stopping for a bus stop!!!

On top of that there is trying to negotiate the aisles with baby, bag and pushchair and finding a seat before the driver slams on the accelerator and shoots me along the bus....

I would say walk everywhere.....but with the state of the pavements I usually end up walking on the road...

wow you have really got me on my soap box now :-)

[localmum]

Yeah I know what all of you mean. I just feel that chances of accident is lower for MRT and buses and survival is higher.  Whenever I am in a cab, I feel like I have to hang on for my life - the way they zigzag between cars, across lanes.....goodness.

[AAsa]

Tote n go,
I guess that's the one I have been reading about.
And in answer to some other replies. Yes, I also feel safer both on bus and MRT, but sometimes going by taxi seems the only way. And I do think I do a lot of walking when I can. But going alone on the bus with the stroller...

Since my baby is growing out the baby seat we brought with us, I still like to have something better then having him completely loose in the car. But I do know that children below 2 years should always face the rear... :-I