baby car seat & stroller or not

[birdman2010 0]

My wife, son, and I will be traveling to Guangxi province in China in April. We have a car seat that we can drop into a stroller. I was thinking of not taking a car seat or stroller for our 6 & 1/2 month old for the following reasons:

1. While walking down the street in cities such as Nanning or Beihai the streets are often in such a state of disrepair & are so uneven that the use of a stroller would be difficult if not impossible. Also often when walking on smaller streets you have to go on and off the sidewalk again and again. The sidewalks are frequently blocked in various places and then you have to go out on the street, and then back again.

2. Sometimes the only type of "taxi" that is findable is a motorbike taxi. We have had experiences where no regular taxis were available, but there were plenty of motorbike taxies.

3. We have a short layover in Beijing on our way down, perhaps a bit too short. And we may have to move quickly, off the arriving airplane, and through checkpoints to get to the new plane.

4. Hiking or walking through parks such as Liang Feng Jiang Forest Park or parks with a lot of stairs such as Qingxiu Mountain.

5. If we make it to Yiling Cave near Nanning or even Guilin a stroller won't be of much use in a cave (first place) or on a boat (second).

Have you traveled to China with a kid younger than one year? How did you carry your kid around and what was your experience?

It's true that a car seat is safer and easier to use in a stroller - on roads & walkways that aren't severely damaged or blocked. But in Chinese taxis often the seat belts are buried, and there's no seat belts in motorbike taxis.

Maybe we could use a wrap or a sling as an alternative. But if you've had good experiences with strollers or car seats in spite of what I mentioned above let us know also. We're still noobs to the use of a wrap or sling and will be searching for instructions on how to use these. We have two wraps but haven't used them yet. Our son can hold his head up better than before, but he's not quite as stable as a 1 year old yet.

Thanks,

Jonathan

[hikergirl 277]

When my daughter was little I hiked with her (in the Canadian Rockies) in one of these: http://www.snugli.com/soft-carriers/front-snugli-vented/

Completely doable and very flexible.

If you are worried about space, just get cheap fold up stroller that can fold up really small. I found them better for busy places like malls and fairgrounds.

I hope you really enjoy your trip.

[MuDelphi 159]

Good luck finding a taxi with accessible or functional rear seat belts to make that car seat work.

[unlockingsky 94]

When my daughter was little I hiked with her (in the Canadian Rockies) in one of these: http://www.snugli.com/soft-carriers/front-snugli-vented/

Completely doable and very flexible.

If you are worried about space, just get cheap fold up stroller that can fold up really small. I found them better for busy places like malls and fairgrounds.

I hope you really enjoy your trip.

this is the best method for several centuries! and that is a modernized device too.

[HappilyDone 0]

When my daughter was little I hiked with her (in the Canadian Rockies) in one of these: http://www.snugli.com/soft-carriers/front-snugli-vented/

"Recommended for:

• Moms who carry babies for longer periods of time

• Moms in warmer climates

• Moms who are more active when carrying baby"

Dads carry their baby too.

You can also call ahead and have a family member order one off Taobao (they just order and it is delivered in 2-3 days) and meet you at the airport with it. Snuglis are $50-$80 in the USA, $6 on Taobao http://ershou.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3140071380 .

[unlockingsky 94]

foreign branded items sold in china could have a significant reduced quality. i rather get it in the states.

[bigdog 376]

Do the right thing for your kid, only you know the answer!

[HappilyDone 0]

foreign branded items sold in china could have a significant reduced quality. i rather get it in the states.

"U.S. Snugli baby sling" ¥35.00 http://ershou.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3140071380 is the way to go unless you enjoy paying 5-10X more for the same thing in the USA. I just have to laugh when Americans do that but, hey, it's your money.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

"U.S. Snugli baby sling" ¥35.00 http://ershou.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3140071380 is the way to go unless you enjoy paying 5-10X more for the same thing in the USA. I just have to laugh when Americans do that but, hey, it's your money.

Are you seriously comparing the product in your link to the product previously linked? They look completely different.

And you're right, why on earth spend 5-10X more for a product that you KNOW is genuine when you could get an el-cheapo that you don't know is genuine and could result in your baby falling out of the sling/sling breaking. But seriously, for a product such as this where failure of the device could have horrible consequences, you are much better off paying the extra for a genuine product.

At that said, there are cheaper options, it doesn't need to be that particular brand. Baby Bjorn, Moby wraps, and other such brands.

**Edit - OP, it definitely seems like a sling or carrier would be your best option.. BUT the baby will get heavy so work on your back strength!

Edited March 9, 2013 by Vanessa&Tony

[unlockingsky 94]

I should also remind consumer safety rregulation is much better in america than china. I am not dismissing china product are cheaper. But I rather have something reliable to hold my child. I dont mind if it was a cheap or laptop from china.

[HappilyDone 0]

Are you seriously comparing the product in your link to the product previously linked? They look completely different.

And you're right, why on earth spend 5-10X more for a product that you KNOW is genuine when you could get an el-cheapo that you don't know is genuine and could result in your baby falling out of the sling/sling breaking. But seriously, for a product such as this where failure of the device could have horrible consequences, you are much better off paying the extra for a genuine product...

Yes I am comparing Snuglis, the GENUINE product. The one in the original link was a higher priced one but I looked at the complete line of Snuglis and they ranged, as I mentioned, between $50-$80 online. As a experienced sling parent I know you don't need the super model.

The one on Taobao says it is a USA Snugli brand one, not a Chinese product. The exact same one online in the USA is $50. What makes you think that the one in China is a fake and not genuine? Yes, every country has fraud. Is this specifically a slam on China?

I'm just saying there is a much better deal for that brand on Taobao, which is normal, Taobao is where millions of people go to get deals on reliable products. When I lived in the USA we bought a sling at the local store for about $20. I wish that I had the choice for Taobao then as I do now living in China, it is fully trusted and very convenient.

Best of luck to the OP, maybe they need the sling starting in America so they will get one before they go. Just giving another option, that's all.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I actually preferred the backpack styles to the front hanging. I never liked working around the child when I wanted to eat or drink. Also some backbacks have frames that allow them to stand with a child in them which allows you to set the child down easily.

[unlockingsky 94]

I actually preferred the backpack styles to the front hanging. I never liked working around the child when I wanted to eat or drink. Also some backbacks have frames that allow them to stand with a child in them which allows you to set the child down easily.

seen those too. they are good for traveling at your home state. but if you are going on a vacation, it would be nice to have it lightweight and less clunky.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

They are less clunky than a car seat/stroller and I didn't have to worry about a little one up ending hot coffee on themselves.

[ama537621 3]

I well be working in China when our baby is born.

After talking it out we decided to bring a baby car/plane seat when I move over next month. I had bought a complete travel system but Yuan says that the stroller is to big for use in China. And I agree with her it is good for American streets and sidewalks but would be a disaster for use in China.

I will make the driver keep the seat belts available for use in the car this will make feel a lot better with the baby in the car.

For the plane ride back I think the car seat would be a good idea. If a bassinet is not available the baby will have a seat that she is used to for the 14 hour flight home.