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Planes, Trains and Automobiles

I’m taking a short break from packing to drop you all a quick note. I got some nice feedback on G’s guest blog, so I suppose we’ll be inviting him back sometime in the near future. But not today. Today I want to talk transportation. As in taxis, car seats and airplanes. I may not be a child-proofing freak, but when it comes to safety in moving vehicles, I’m pretty much a nut. But sometimes it becomes nearly impossible, doesn’t it?

I’m all set to fly with the girls on Tuesday to New York. It’s Eva’s first birthday and we’re meeting up with some friends and family in the Big Apple. I’ve been planning this trip for months and very much looking forward to it. However, there is now a little glitch: G says he might not be able to fly over with me. Hmmm. 7 hours in a plane. 2 infants. One Mommy. Sounds glorious! (I used to look forward to these flights, visions of a glass of champagne and a featured film, uninterrupted by ringing phones or emails, dancing through my head. Now I just want to throw up.)

My normal travel plan involves 2 car seats and a stroller, plus luggage. Car seats into taxi, lugged into the airport and then checked at the counter. Stroller is loaded with children who were previously occupying said car seats, then that is checked at the gate. On the other end, stroller receives children, we get through baggage and retrieve our big old Graco 32s and back into a waiting vehicle. But now I’m one Mommy. With 2 arms. How exactly is this supposed to work?

Miracle of miracles, there are apparently car companies that provide infant seats. And other companies that rent car seats for travel. So somehow, someway, I’ll be getting two infants and a stroller, plus luggage, across the ocean without the added pain of maneuvering a pile of restraint systems at the same time. Someone asked me if you really need to use a car seat in a taxi. The technical answer is, “No.” Generally taxis are exempt for child-safety laws. However, until they are exempt from motor vehicle accidents, I’m going to try my very best to not go there. Especially when I’ve got all of you watching me.

Dr. Lara Zibners, Oct 17, 2010

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