Travelling with infant - France, Switzerland, Italy

Probably not - taxi drivers are usually exempt - but the question you should ask yourself is whether or not you are willing to put your baby in danger for a quick taxi ride (and I'm guessing the answer is no). Only alternative is to avoid taxis and walk or take public.

I can't help wondering exactly how many babies in pre-carseat days, were actually put in danger by the "occasional" taxi ride.

Legally, no, as far as I know taxis are treated like busses and no seat is required. Obviously, if you were renting a car you'd need to bring or buy/rent a seat, but not for taxis.

I'm a bit of a car seat obsessive, but even I don't worry about the occasional, short taxi ride. When traveling with kids, especially babies, I avoid taxis as much as reasonable (walk, bus or train when it's an option), and I wouldn't take a multi-hour taxi tour without a seat. However, I have done and would do again a point A to point B within a given city taxi ride. This is how parents in US cities with taxis do it as well. You really can't install a car seat in a taxi for a short ride, anyway, IMO, so your choices are no taxis or taxi without a car seat. It's up to your comfort level.

My only qualm here is the plane. Does your child have their own seat? If so, you'll want a FAA approved seat for the plane so they can sit in it. If they are on your lap…that's a ton more dangerous than the random taxi, and I'd look into airplane safety with lap children.

When I traveled with children under 2 (mine are preschool/school age now), they always had their own seat on the plane and I brought a car seat for the plane. The seat was then either installed in a rental car or left in the hotel during the trip. It was a giant pain in the neck when moving between cities, but that was my safety comfort zone. Luckily, now they can just sit in the airplane seat with the seatbelt, and I obtain a seat in Europe if renting a car.

...deleted sarcasm. The answer is car seats are not required in taxis - take your answer - leave the guilt trips. Enjoy your trip.

Well I have BEEN in a French taxi.. in Paris, more then a few times over last 40 years and no way in heck would I feel comfortable with my baby in my lap. And yes there ARE car accidents in Paris ,, most fender benders of course but those can hurt anyone unfastened whether adult or child .

I suggest you learn the buses there.. they have a great system.. and you can roll the stroller on and in the middle of the bus there is stroller space.

If wanting a taxi from the airport there are private taxi companies that do provide carseats but you have to preorder.

I travelled with three kids.. and all of them were infants at some point.. I took the carseat for infants with me BUT not just for safety but for convenience.. so many places will have no highchairs.. so an infant seat that clips into a stroller frame is great.. Plus you can use it to feed baby in when in hotel room( or are you renting an apartment that will be supplied) Plus on the plane my babies always slept better in their carseat.. sleeping babies are a beautiful thing.. lol
The carseat is a good item to have around for alot of reasons.. not just safety.

Why take a chance you wouldn't take at home. I would not travel by taxi with a child/baby without the proper car seat.

I suggest looking into the carseat/stroller combos. They're fairly lightweight now and super functional. They're approved airline carseats with a handle that pulls out and have rollers on the bottom so you can pull it along with the infant in it through the airport. We have many friends who have used them and have loved their flexibility.

Yes car seats are required in Switzerland and no taxi's are not exempt (what a silly idea, I suppose they are also banned from having accidents.). Most Swiss taxi drivers will have access to a range of seats that the taxi rank, so it should not take more than a few minutes for them to set it up for you.

Jim I think Switzerland is a very civilized country and this only reinforces my thoughts! I agree that the idea that a taxi is exempt is not based on safety but on playing the odds( since most people do not taxis that often) .. I don't like playing the odds when its my childs safety.