Car seat question

[Easterweiss]

My husband and I are getting ready to have our first child. In the US, babies are required to be in a car seat, but here we haven't really seen anyone use a car seat.

We don't have a car so it would just be for occasional taxi rides, should we still get a car seat? If so, any recommendations on what kind?

Thanks!!

[rodandhelen]

Hi Congratulations on your pregnancy, you must be very excited.

The best car seat for you to get is an infant carrier, you can use these until baby is about 12 months depending on the size of them.
Also depending on your pram some prams you can attach the infant carrier.
There are so many different brands around.
I actually bought a second hand infant carrier (maxi cosi) as my son is quite big and he only used it for 4-5 months, It was in great condition as it hadnt been used for long and only cost $60.... made my hubby happy! Just be careful to check harness etc on second hand one.

Hope this helps

Helen

[JimH5]

We're also from the US. . .Our daughter is now 4 years old.

In the US, we used a Graco travel system, which was midpriced, and had an infant carrier, a base, and stroller. The base would use the latch system to secure into cars, and then the infant carrier (rear facing), would lock into the base.

In Singapore, most of the taxis--but not all-- have a backseat middle seatbelt that would work to strap in the base. I don't think the latch system is used here at all.

After our daughter grew out of the infant seat, we went with Britax car seats. One was the Roundabout, and the other is a Marathon. The Roundabout is smaller, and can get into the back of a smaller car, whereas the Roundabout is enormous, and is best used in a truck or SUV.

We don't use either car seat in Singapore, and just belt our daughter into the back seat of taxis. She's big--about the size of an Asian 6-year old, so it's not so much an issue as it would be with a newborn.

Best wishes to you and your family!

[Isambard]

We have a Bugaboo Chameleon which is also one of the travel systems described by Jim and Helen. It's great as it gives total peace of mind when travelling in cabs as the Maxi Cosi car seat which attaches is one of the best around (NCAP 5 crash test rating I believe).

The Bugaboo is also good in that the cot and stroller can be switched to face either direction which is useful in the bright sunshine. The chasis is very manouverable so can be driven one handed and off-road.

HOWEVER, to break down the system takes a bit of a knack and also requires 2 hands and a foot so travelling on your own takes a bit of practice and a patient taxi driver. It's also quite wide so if you have a car and if the shop will allow it, check that the whole thing does actually fit in your boot before you buy (don't just rely on any measurements given).

I'm pretty happy with it but would definitely advise you play about with any system you think about buying in the shop before you hand over any money. I should have. I left it until after I'd given birth then had to learn in that first week. I'm afraid I had an unseemly tantrum...!

[snowqueen]

I was wondering about the same thing. My baby is due next March and I was wondering if it is worthwhile buying a car seat just for the taxi home from the hospital.

I don't think it's a legal requirement here like it is in the UK, just more of a safety and piece of mind thing on your part. I think I'm more likely to wear a baby carrier and put the seat belt over us both.

[rodandhelen]

Maybe you can hire a car seat for the trip home or borrow one from a friend? The toy rental club hire out car seats.
I prob wouldnt put a seat belt over yourself and the baby as if you were in an accident the belt would crush the baby.
Hope this helps
Helen

[thesicks13]

just a quick comment to snowqueen. We are expecting our second child in 6 weeks. Our first in 2 and a half. One thing I am sure of is that we will have a baby car seat for our next arrival. I have seen numerous reports of babies and toddlers being seriously hurt in accidents when being strapped to a parent. It is not so much the impact as the crushing of the parents weight against the baby and the seat belt. Sorry sounds graphic! Seat belts are designed for adults, not infants.

If there is one thing that I do not understand is made law here. Kids of all ages should have to be in either a car seat or an appropriate, for their age, safety seat. You drive anywhere in SG and you see kids on parents laps, sitting in the divide on the front seat, in fact everywhere in a car. They are the most important part of our lives and yet no one here seems to care that they will suffer the most in any car accident as they are not strapped in.

All I here is "you can't go fast enough in SG to cause injury".I think a youg child thrown against a car seat, window etc at 30k would cause injury.

My own opinion I know...Your babe to be ids worth a few hundred bucks for those occaisional taxi trips just in case. Good luck.

[here_i_am]

Dont even bother computing the net-worth of a carseat because its absolutely one of those must-have priceless equipments they need. You will not be able to hold on to the infant in case of an accident. In fact even if there wasnt an accident, the baby will not be able to handle jerky movements as easily as you will. These can cause whiplash because their necks are still very soft and weak. It takes a while for a parent to adjust to using a carseat, but after a while you will start appreciating it. For instance, I loved that it held my son securely because it freed me up to setup his stroller and my packages properly when getting on or off a taxi cab. As well, the carseat makes rides more pleasant for us and our son because its his special area where he can relax and sleep properly. In fact the most unpleasant car rides we've had were when we didnt have the carseat with us because my toddler son would go crazy playing around in the car.

[mrdodge]

Dont even bother computing the net-worth of a carseat because its absolutely one of those must-have priceless equipments they need. You will not be able to hold on to the infant in case of an accident.

Absolutely agree. The appropriate car seat is mandatory - small kids can be badly be damaged by even a low speed accident (<10 kmh).

[MinniMe]

If you use Babybjorn or similar (Ergo or Manduca are much better choices) you NEVER put the seat belt over the baby and you, you put the seat belt between baby and you.

And, I just had no 2 baby, I bought the Bugaboo Bee for her, I also have Bugaboo Cameleon, Bee is better for Singapore

[MinniMe]

And, about the baby seat in taxis, unfortunaltely I've been in taxis which didn't have all the seat belts on the back seat