Help me figure this out! Plane and taxi trip...

tcottawa · Aug 19, 2008

So, DD1 is going this weekend for a trip out west to calgary, then medicine hat. The logistics of this trip have changed about a million times, so this is why it's so last minute.

The only time she will need a carseat is on the place, and on the taxi ride from the calgary airport to the hotel downtown. Everything else will be public transportation, or carseat installed in grandma's car in Medicine Hat.

She'll be 4 in September, around 34lbs, and is pretty short for her age. Currently she's in a MA, but that thing is a beast to lug around. Is there anything (cheap!) and light that I could get for her? If it weren't for that one taxi ride I would get her a CARES in a minute, but I can't find any shuttle or anything that operates at that time of night...Anyone have any suggestions?

tcottawa · Aug 19, 2008

I just found a place here that will rent CARES for a week for $20! I just have to convince DH that it's not unreasonable for him to spend an hour on the bus with a 3 year old at midnite

Or again, does anyone have a better idea?

tiggercat · Aug 19, 2008

I suppose you could get something like an Evenflo Express/Vision/Chase/whatever they call it these days.

Is it really safer to be on public transportation though? I know you don't need a seat that way, but I'm a bit wary about taking my kids on busses, especially in the middle of the night.

Wait, does she fit in a Scenera? I have one as a back up (that my friend if borrowing, LOL), I could loan her my 2nd MA for a bit and you could borrow it. She's totally trustworthy, one of the only people I'd let install my kid's seats.

tcottawa · Aug 19, 2008

tiggercat said:
I suppose you could get something like an Evenflo Express/Vision/Chase/whatever they call it these days.

Is it really safer to be on public transportation though? I know you don't need a seat that way, but I'm a bit wary about taking my kids on busses, especially in the middle of the night.

I think the Chase is about $120, and not that light IIRC...I wish we had cheaper carseats here!

Do you mean safety crash-wise? Or as in crime? I just learned to drive last year (my big secret!!!), so my kids have been on public buses alot...I've always felt pretty safe. Admittedly, though, I grew up in a big city and have different ideas about safety - there was no option other than the subway, so we just did it. And big cities in Canada are safer than, say Boston, NYC, Philly, DC, the cities I grew up in

I always feel safe here!

It'll be about 10:30pm Calgary time - I think DH's main issue will be that the bus takes an hour!

tcottawa · Aug 19, 2008

tiggercat said:
Wait, does she fit in a Scenera? I have one as a back up (that my friend if borrowing, LOL), I could loan her my 2nd MA for a bit and you could borrow it. She's totally trustworthy, one of the only people I'd let install my kid's seats.

We must have posted at the same time! That's very generous of you! I'm sure she would fit, she's only 37" tall and would probably fit RF still if she were a couple lbs. lighter...

The other thing is - taxis don't have UAS, do they? But they do have locking seatbelts, right? I can't imagine DH with a locking clip in airport in the middle of the night - I'm sure he's never even seen one before! (I don't think I mentioned, but I'll be staying home this trip - already scared about that).

tiggercat · Aug 19, 2008

tcottawa said:
I think the Chase is about $120, and not that light IIRC...I wish we had cheaper carseats here!

Do you mean safety crash-wise? Or as in crime? I just learned to drive last year (my big secret!!!), so my kids have been on public buses alot...I've always felt pretty safe. Admittedly, though, I grew up in a big city and have different ideas about safety - there was no option other than the subway, so we just did it. And big cities in Canada are safer than, say Boston, NYC, Philly, DC, the cities I grew up in I always feel safe here!

It'll be about 10:30pm Calgary time - I think DH's main issue will be that the bus takes an hour!

The chase is $99 at Canadian tire (on the website). I thought I bought mine for $89 (It's expired, or I'd have offered that one)
I guess both. Busses have a lot of metal things to slam into in a crash. I've lived her all my life, so I'm a bit nervous in other places. I feel safe here. I learned to drive at 23, LOL.

tiggercat · Aug 19, 2008

tcottawa said:
We must have posted at the same time! That's very generous of you! I'm sure she would fit, she's only 37" tall and would probably fit RF still if she were a couple lbs. lighter...

The other thing is - taxis don't have UAS, do they? But they do have locking seatbelts, right? I can't imagine DH with a locking clip in airport in the middle of the night - I'm sure he's never even seen one before! (I don't think I mentioned, but I'll be staying home this trip - already scared about that).

Taxis are just normal cars, so if it was made after Sept 2002 it should have UAS. It should have locking seatbelts, but they could lock at the latchplate or retractor. How carseat "with it" is your husband? It might be a good idea to teach the locking clip install ahead of time.

When are they leaving?

ETA, do you know how long her torso is? Megan is a similar height, but she is too tall for the scenera in harness height.

tcottawa · Aug 19, 2008

Crash-wise, every statistic I've read is that public buses are much safer than cars, although, yes, the amount of human projectile potential inside one is scary

I guess cars always scare me anyway - why I learned to drive so late, and why I became a tech!

Don't know her torso height, but her shoulders are an inch below the second slots down on the MA.

My husband can be taught, but does not have native carseat intelligence...I don't think he had ever installed a carseat until last sunday when I taught him how to install the MA with LATCH.

And actually, the lock-offs on the MA would make it easier to install if he got an older taxi. Hmm...

I might leave it up to him - renting (or buying,

) CARES and taking the bus, or toting the MA around.

bubbaray · Aug 19, 2008

The Chase/Vision was IIRC $79 at Walmart last time I was there.... They are the same seat, just different covers. My DD#1 (4 last April) still fits in hers with the harness & she has a long torso.

tiggercat · Aug 19, 2008

tcottawa said:
I might leave it up to him - renting (or buying, ) CARES and taking the bus, or toting the MA around.

Ok, let me know if you want the Scenera, I'll have to drop by and exchange it at my friend's place.

tcottawa · Aug 20, 2008

Thank you so very much for your offer...he feels more comfortable taking the bus, rather than haul the car seat around. It's going to be quite an adventure!

Now, it's just up to grandma to make sure her chest clip isn't riding by her belly, and I'll calm down about all the car seat stuff...

tiggercat · Aug 20, 2008

So you're going to use the cares on the plane? Nice. Make sure he takes pictures!

Help me figure this out! Plane and taxi trip...

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