can i gate check a zippy?

Has anyone checked their zippy at the gate while traveling? or is it too big? does anyone know? also, is it against the law to ride in a taxi while the baby is in the baby bjorn? we live in nyc and we are trying to get away with bringing the car seat because our relatives will have one for us at our destination. dd is 6 months.

[hardysmom]

I've gate checked a Zippy many times. Fact is, you can gate check ANY stroller, regardless of size. I have also checked a 40 lb Teutonia Y2K... if the stroller is to big for the x-ray (which the Zippy isn't, BTW) they will hand check it.

It isn't against the law to go w/o a car seat in a taxi, though for the airplane, I always find it much easier to have the baby in a car seat. They seem to stay quieter since it is a familiar setting, KWIM? Even if you don't buy a ticket, if you tell the agent at the gate that you would like to use a carseat on the plane, they will do EVERYTHING they can to make sure there is a free seat next to you... if you told them you were bringing your infant when you made the ticket, they probably have already saved a seat... it will be the last they sell if the flight fills. If they do fill the flight, they'll just gate check the carrier along with the stroller... no biggie.

I traveled a lot w/ my son and never bought him his own ticket, but he always got his own seat anyway. It so much easier (and safer) if you have a place to set the baby down. You don't have to bring the base, just strap in the seat... as long as dd is still in a carrier, it is so simple, particularly since the Zippy takes seats... plus, then you'll have it for cabs and such.

Stephanie

Yup you can check gate any size stroller.....

[Momof3Labs]

I thought that it was a NYC law that babies under one year of age must ride in a car seat...

[jesseandgrace]

While there might be an exemption to the law for a taxi (i don't know), I think it might be dangerous to travel in a car with the baby in a Bjorn. I think my Bjorn actually had a warning on it against this, but I might be remembering incorrectly. Someone else might know better. If you have an infant carseat, it might be easier just to bring it for the peace of mind.

Jennifer

Yes, you can check Zippy -- I've done it with mine lots, and that one-hand fold is fabulous when you are trying to juggle baby and bags at the end of the jetway!

I live in NYC, too, and while I don't know if it is "legal" or not, I must confess to having taken a taxi or two without the carseat. It just happens: total meltdown at zoo, whatever, and you have to get home ASAP.

That said, I took a great babycare class at NY Hospital where a car seat expert (yes, they exist!) came to speak to us. She told us NOT NOT NOT to use the bjorn instead of the carseat because two horrible things could happen: one, the fabric on the bjorn will shred if enough force is applied, and at ten miles per hour, a ten pound baby is the equivalent of a hundred pounds of force. Two, if the bjorn does hold, it is almost worse. If the cab stops short or hits something, your head will snap forward and down -- right on to baby's soft spot of skull. Sorry for gruesome horror image, but it did scare me straight into being very, very diligent about carseats!

Anyway, if you can deal with carseat at all -- bring it, it is so easy to check, and it is nice to have your own anyway that you know how to work!

Have a great trip,

Katharine, mummy to Christopher 16 months

[hardysmom]

I know my friends in NYC (and other big cities) don't use car seats in Taxis and always rolll their eyes when I drug along my carseat... once DS outgrew the infant carrier (at 5 months) I did hold him close and hope for the best....

I don't know if there is a taxi exemption or if the law just isn't enforced. I've never had a driver say anythng... they generally sided with my friends that I should leave it at home. I've never seen anyone go out with kids and a convertible seat.

Stephanie

thanks for all your great advice ladies. I'm definetely going to consider the carseat for our trip to atlanta now. However for our trip to greece, I"ll have to think about it because we will have the bassinet that attaches to the wall in front of us. You think I'll still need the car seat as well?

[Momof3Labs]

Will you be riding in any cars in Greece? If so, I would bring the car seat along - then you know that your baby will be as safe as possible!

[ShayleighCarsensMom]

Yes, I would definitly bring the carseat when flying overseas...we took our DD to Germany when she was 3 months and I only left her in the bassinet for short periods because you never knew when the turbulance could hit and there is no way for your precious cargo to be secured in the bassinet..(it was great for diaper changes though!)