Paris and no baby seats in cabs! Post Reply

[nycmommy]

Hi all,

We are heading off to Paris this coming weekend and my husband has informed me that it's nearly impossible to get a cab with a babyseat. I emailed one cab for hire company and they said "no". I can't bring our car seat because it's HUGE (rear-facing for toddlers, it's the size of a car...)

Does anyone have any suggestions other than the Metro. We really just need it from Gare du Nord to the hotel.

I do not want to take my child in a car without a babyseat!

Thank you,

S

[jingo_x]

I guess it depends on the age and weight of your little one, but we just went away to Thailand with our 2.5yr old(who is tall) and knew we would struggle to find any transport with a toddler seat. We bought a Boostapak to take away with us and were really pleased with it. It can be used for over 15kg and we figured it was better than nothing, plus it can be used as a booster seat in the car at home until they are 12 so we hope to get a lot more use out of it. Our toddler loved it, jumped willingly into his 'special seat' for all our car journeys and we stored his blanket and teddy in it for the plane journey as well.
http://www.boostapak.com/home.html
not sure if there is anything like this on the market for younger babies though I'm afraid.

[kiwimummy]

Unfortunately, that is how they do it in Paris - cabs have the right to drive without the seats. We are not keen on it either and have always avoided using them.

My French husband advises there might be some minicab companies who offer the service but he thought they would be difficult to find.

If it was us, we would probably get me to take all the luggage in the cab and my husband would take the metro with our daughter. Sorry not to be more help.

[Raspberry-Sorbet]

This doesn't answer you question but reminded me of the time we took our one year old to Marrakesh. I bought a lightweight Chicco car seat to take as I was told there are no car seats in Marrakesh (too impractical to take our existing Britax) only to find that the taxis don't have seat belts in the back so I was unable to belt in the car seat! I was very worried by this until I saw a family of 5 travelling on a moped - they had attached a plank of wood to extend the length of the seat and the end person had a babe in arms....Anyway, it was not the most relaxing journey and I continue to take my car seat to any other holiday destinations!

[Stigi]

Hay

Trunkie do a booster travel seat which I would definitely consider buying as the reviews seem quite good but I suppose it depends on the weight etc of your child. :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trunki-BoostApa ... 363&sr=8-1

Also a friend of mine has this booster seat as a spare in her car incase she has to take a friends child with her in the car:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bubblebum-Infla ... _by_text_b

which you could also look into. Good luck

x

[Almaceti]

Hi
When I take cabs in London with my kids, they don't have car seats either... actually last time, they had one, but the driver could just not fix it and we lost 10 minutes one our journey to St Pancras, to take the Eurostar to Paris!
I have checked on the website of a big taxi group in Paris (taxi G7) and they say it is not a legal obligation for children to travel in a car seat in a taxi, and not an obligation for the taxi to provide one. I suppose your concern is rather about safety, but at least you will not risk a fine!
If it is just a short journey to your hotel, I would do it by cab with the child on my nap. Otherwise, it is true that the metro is really not convenient with children, buggy and luggages (you may not find anybody to open the door to pass with the buggy, there are a lot of stairs and nobody will give up space in the metro for you to put your buggy).
You can also try the buses, they're not too bad and you have space for buggies. Have a look at the ratp website to prepare your journey http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/
Enjoy your week-end!

[Eclo]

Completely agree with Almaceti... forget the metro, it's hell with a buggy.
You can consider buses though... but I would go for a taxi with my child on your lap. I did that several times in Paris it's legal and as long as your child is on your lap and you buckle up your seat belt, they have the booster effect + the safety belt.
Enjoy your trip!

[nycmommy]

Ugh, leave today. Sounds nightmarish...Thanks everyone. The booster seats were too big. I'm going to attempt the Metro, I can't bear the thought of not having her in a proper car seat.

[MrsAmanda]

good luck!

[supergirl]

Good luck on the metro, I am from paris and it is the same hell as it is in the underground in the oldest stations with no lifts!!!

You don't want to travel with your child on your lap? Fair enough, but Addison Lee here no longer offer the car seat service, and some minicab do have a car seat sometimes but as someone said, very often they dont know how to fix it... And just one question whilst we are at it... When you put your buggy in a black cab, suppose it has an accident, do you it is safer than your child on your lap? Or if you don't want to leave the child in the buggy, you end up with a child on your lap anyway....

[moops]

I know it's a bit late now but did you see The Apprentice last night? That booster seat that turns into a backpack seems like a good idea for times like this!