carseats for babes in cabs?

[brooklyngal]

Do the taxi cabs in NOLA have car seats for toddlers? We are seriously considering taking our son to JF this year and my brother and his wife are thinking of bringing theirs as well. They will both be under 2 and we may be renting a house uptown. This means we will need a safe way to get to the fairgrounds each day but we don't want to schlep our own carseats if we can help it. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[stlbarb]

Do the taxi cabs in NOLA have car seats for toddlers? We are seriously considering taking our son to JF this year and my brother and his wife are thinking of bringing theirs as well. They will both be under 2 and we may be renting a house uptown. This means we will need a safe way to get to the fairgrounds each day but we don't want to schlep our own carseats if we can help it. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

i'm having a deja vu on this thread subject, i do a search. but i think the consensus was the cabs do not have child seats. think about it - where would they put them when not in use, they need the trunk space for luggage.

check with the airlines, even if flying as lap kids, you may be able to bring the child seat at no extra charge. assuming the cabs have seat belts that work, you can use your own and i'm certain you can find a place to stash it for the day inside fest - no one ever messes with our stuff, i cant imagine why anyone would want a child seat.
years ago i thought communities provided loaner carseats for travelers but i believe it was confirmed this was Not available in Nola.

but 4 adults & 2 child seats means you will need a van cab, and i'm not sure how patient cabbies will be with setting up the seats. you may want to consider renting a car, i believe carseats are available at an additional cost.
i can hook you up with family friendly parking just outside the gate.

i think Amy & Jeff are experts on this subject, and will likely comment soon (weather permitting).

update:
try these posts/threads for some good info
http://www.nojazzfest.com/chat/showthread.php?p=126569&highlight=carseat#post126569
http://www.nojazzfest.com/chat/showthread.php?p=324019&highlight=carseat#post324019

[chrisjoseph]

Having been thru this not that long ago...taxis do not have car seats. Nor will they install them (liability issues, the same as most rental car companies...though rental car companies still will rent them to you). We found that holding our children in our laps in a taxi was just fine.

[Delta]

Cabs are exempt from the child restraint laws, but they must be buckled in.

If you decide to rent your own vehicle, you'd have to use the seats. The law requires car/booster seats up to 6 yoa/60 lbs.

(1) A child younger than six years of age or weighing sixty pounds or less shall be restrained in a child restraint system as provided for in this Subsection that complies with standards of the United States Department of Transportation and is secured in the vehicle in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the child restraint system and the passenger seating position is equipped with a safety belt system that allows sufficient space for installation. The child restraint system required for a child younger than six years of age or weighing sixty pounds or less is, in descending order of protectiveness, as follows:
(a) A child who is younger than one year of age or weighs less than twenty pounds shall be restrained in a rear-facing child safety seat.
(b) A child who is at least one year of age but younger than four years of age or who weighs at least twenty pounds but less than forty pounds shall be restrained in a forward-facing child safety seat.
(c) A child who is at least four years of age but younger than six years of age or who weighs at least forty pounds but not more than sixty pounds shall be restrained in a child booster seat.

Car seat violations are a primary offense in LA with a $100 fine.

[brooklyngal]

"you may want to consider renting a car, i believe carseats are available at an additional cost.i can hook you up with family friendly parking just outside the gate. "

I'm thinking this might be the best (and safest) option. The parking you are offering would be great stlbarb!!!!

[Lit]

BG, FWIW, having been through this a few times and dealing with all the options (i.e., renting car w/car seat option; renting car and bringing your own car seats; going without), our experience is that bringing our own car seats was by far the best option. Car seats do not count toward your baggage allowance (fyi, baby strollers don't either), and it really isn't much of a hassle. You can check the seat curbside (unless you plan to use it on the plane), and you throw it on the bus to get to the car rental place when you arrive.

The one time we paid for the car seat option on the rental car it was a nightmare. Of course, the van they gave us did not have the seats installed when we got there. And then it took them around 1/2 hour (at least) to get the seats and install them; all the while we were steaming in the hot sun in the parking lot of the rental place. The seats they provided were filthy, and they were barely secure. Bringing our own turned out to be far easier than expected, and much better on all fronts.

I can vouch for Barb's parking hook. It is awesome. My only advice there would be to leave the fairgrounds either early or late; or have a driver with nerves of steel, as you will have to drive very slowly through throngs of people for a few blocks as you exit if you leave during peak leaving time. I did it a few times and it took every ounce of concentration I could muster.

[brooklyngal]

BG, FWIW, having been through this a few times and dealing with all the options (i.e., renting car w/car seat option; renting car and bringing your own car seats; going without), our experience is that bringing our own car seats was by far the best option. Car seats do not count toward your baggage allowance (fyi, baby strollers don't either), and it really isn't much of a hassle. You can check the seat curbside (unless you plan to use it on the plane), and you throw it on the bus to get to the car rental place when you arrive.

The one time we paid for the car seat option on the rental car it was a nightmare. Of course, the van they gave us did not have the seats installed when we got there. And then it took them around 1/2 hour (at least) to get the seats and install them; all the while we were steaming in the hot sun in the parking lot of the rental place. The seats they provided were filthy, and they were barely secure. Bringing our own turned out to be far easier than expected, and much better on all fronts.

I can vouch for Barb's parking hook. It is awesome. My only advice there would be to leave the fairgrounds either early or late; or have a driver with nerves of steel, as you will have to drive very slowly through throngs of people for a few blocks as you exit if you leave during peak leaving time. I did it a few times and it took every ounce of concentration I could muster.

Thanks Lit! Good advice.

[CINDYLOU]

I have wanted to bring my boys to Jazz Fest and haven't so far because of this issue. To be honest....some of my scariest cab rides have been to and from Fest! That is why I wouldn't risk my kids just on my lap. Lugging around car seats, no thank you. I think that the rental car option is the best. This way you put them in once and are set. Also, having the option to leave Fest when the kids are ready (not that you will be) would be a major bonus. Waiting in the cab lines with kids could be brutal after a long hot day at Fest. Make sure you know how much parking will cost if you are staying at a hotel.

[Amy Winette]

BG, FWIW, having been through this a few times and dealing with all the options (i.e., renting car w/car seat option; renting car and bringing your own car seats; going without), our experience is that bringing our own car seats was by far the best option. Car seats do not count toward your baggage allowance (fyi, baby strollers don't either), and it really isn't much of a hassle. You can check the seat curbside (unless you plan to use it on the plane), and you throw it on the bus to get to the car rental place when you arrive.

The one time we paid for the car seat option on the rental car it was a nightmare. Of course, the van they gave us did not have the seats installed when we got there. And then it took them around 1/2 hour (at least) to get the seats and install them; all the while we were steaming in the hot sun in the parking lot of the rental place. The seats they provided were filthy, and they were barely secure. Bringing our own turned out to be far easier than expected, and much better on all fronts.

I can vouch for Barb's parking hook. It is awesome. My only advice there would be to leave the fairgrounds either early or late; or have a driver with nerves of steel, as you will have to drive very slowly through throngs of people for a few blocks as you exit if you leave during peak leaving time. I did it a few times and it took every ounce of concentration I could muster.

Oops, I always forget to check other forums besides the main one on here! I pretty much second everything Lit said. When we've brought Natalie in the past, we have brought along our own car seats (no charge by the airline, same with stroller), rented a car and parked in Barb's friend's place right outside the Sauvage entrance. We rented a car seat once from the car rental company and I agree with Lit -- took forever, and was way too expensive.

All that said, we are bringing both kids this year and planning on just cabbing it. Our friends had their baby along last year and just held her in laps, no problems. That's what we'll be doing this time (we've had Natalie in lap in cab in NYC before without issue).

[Amy Winette]

Oh wait, forgot we had both kids along for Festgiving/Lis & Ed's wedding in 09 and didn't rent a car/use car seats. Kids were fine in cabs and on the street car!

[johnstp]

If your kids are small enough (3-ish or younger), you might want to consider investing in a Sit-n-Stroll Car Seat and Stroller. It's a little pricey, but totally worth it.

We took our son to two Jazz Fests and one trip to Disney with it.

It's a standard car seat, which installs quickly into any car (using the car's own seatbelt). Then, when you're ready, you grab a handle, push down, and four wheels pop out the bottom! A handle extends from the top and you have a stroller!

We've used it on airplanes, NOLA taxis and trolleys and pushed it for miles at the fairgrounds and along city streets.

Our son is a little too big for ours now (about 35 pounds when he outgrew it), but it really gave use peace of mind.

[brooklyngal]

(we've had Natalie in lap in cab in NYC before without issue).[/QUOTE]

wha??? i would never do this amy!!!! nyc cabbies are notoriously dangerous as are the rest of the folks on the road around here. i have had the misfortune of 2 accidents in cabs so far in the 6 years i've lived here, one was pretty bad. be super careful!

i'm pretty sure we'll do the rental with our own carseats and thanks again Barb for helping with us parking, if that's still available. when do i need to arrange for that with you?

that aside, i'm glad that our kids are potentially going to meet this year. yay! :)

[chrisjoseph]

we've held the kids in our lap, too, in cabs. My wife didn't like it, but it was fine. Worked for decades before seat belts and car seats!

[brooklyngal]

we've held the kids in our lap, too, in cabs. My wife didn't like it, but it was fine. Worked for decades before seat belts and car seats!

YYR, just scares me. Now that I have kids I have become pretty conservative on risk taking.

[Amy Winette]

(we've had Natalie in lap in cab in NYC before without issue).

wha??? i would never do this amy!!!! nyc cabbies are notoriously dangerous as are the rest of the folks on the road around here. i have had the misfortune of 2 accidents in cabs so far in the 6 years i've lived here, one was pretty bad. be super careful!

i'm pretty sure we'll do the rental with our own carseats and thanks again Barb for helping with us parking, if that's still available. when do i need to arrange for that with you?

that aside, i'm glad that our kids are potentially going to meet this year. yay! :)[/quote]

I know what you mean, it can be scary, but we just take a deep breath and hold on tight! I've gotten more relaxed about it as time goes on and we've had them on planes, boats, trains, street cars, in cabs, etc.

I think it definitely sounds like our kids are going to meet this year! Maybe they can entertain each other during long fest days :) I would just email Barb about parking.

[Laurelh]

We just returned from NOLA (well, a few days ago..) and we brought our 4 year old, and his stroller (thankfully!), and his car seat.

The cab at the airport told us that no cab would pick us up without our child in a car seat. Also, we only ended up taking a taxi one other time due to this issue and the taxi also told us that absolutely, car seats are required.

We ended up walking around town, taking the bus to the fest, and taking the street car as an alternative to schlepping our giant car seat with us. The one time we had to, we had to have the hostesses at Commander's Palace keep the car seat up front while we ate lunch.

Our experience was definitely--car seats are a must for the little ones!