Hello,
could anyone tell me if it's necessary by law to use a baby car seat when travelling by taxi in Japan? My newborn and I need to visit the hosptial for post-natal check-ups and as it's so cold outside at the moment I thought i'd go by taxi rather than walk, however it just occured to me that I might need a baby car seat - or is this something I can request if I order a taxi by telephone? Is it safe to travel without one even if it's just a 10 min ride - I'm not sure I'd want to risk it with the way taxis drive in Osaka!

Many thanks in advance.

Although it's said there's a law requiring car seats for children, it seems to NOT apply in taxis - where, as you say, it's needed the most!

You can get in an accident just as easy in a 10 minute ride. If you don't feel safe - and most would agree- better to walk. Be careful in the crossings!

Thanks for your advice Scott, I thought as much. Don't want to risk travelling in a taxi without a baby car seat, and the exercise will do us good as I haven't really left the house with my baby since coming home from the hospital 3 weeks ago, other than quickly popping to the supermarket. I tend to get dissaproving looks from people that think newborns should be kept inside for the first month or so.

Sadly, the existing law requires buckling up in the front seat only so back seat safety is an option not a requirement. Unfortunately, 10 minutes is actually a very long way in a car and an accident can easily happen. Statistics show that most car accidents happen within 7 km of the home.

Ordering a special taxi with a car seat is a good idea to try since you are going at set times and can plan.

Another option is to borrow a car seat. We used to have one of those combi buggy/car seat. The car seat doubles as a rocker/carrier. They easily snap into a car seat belt and are quite handy for a newborn. Taxi driver will easily help you with these.
cheers, anne

Those are good ideas, Anne. But, my experience is that many - I'll say 50% - taxi's seat belts in back are inaccessible. Whenever I ride any distance - and always on the highway, I try to use them. Most of the time, they are stuck down inside the seat irretrieveably. I am very persistent and often cannot get them out.

When I point out to the driver, they always say, "Oh, it's OK. You don't need to put them on!"

I tried a few times to use a baby seat (the portable rocking seat kind for small babies) in a taxi, but after several experiences with non-existent/too short seatbelts, and grumpy taxi drivers who don't understand why they should wait a couple of minutes while you try to fit the seat, I gave up on that. When the children were small and I had to take taxis, I usually put the baby in a sling (Baby Bjorn or similar) and put the seatbelt between myself and the baby - not ideal, but at least that way the baby won't get crushed by the seatbelt, and won't get thrown around in a sudden stop.

I wonder how many decades it will be until Japan follows Australia's example: there you can easily hail or telephone for a taxi with a babyseat and in fact it's illegal to take a baby under one in a taxi without a babyseat.

And the taxi drivers here who say "Oh, you don't need a seatbelt in the back" must not have read the research which shows that drivers are more likely to be killed when backseat passengers are not wearing a seatbelt - it's not that hard to imagine what happens when an adult-sized object comes flying through the air and hits you on the back of your head.

Dear Ann,

Don't worry about that disapproving look, l started bringing out my baby girl when she was three weeks old, now she is 5months old to bring my elder daughter to school. I walk everyday back and forth and when we go to the hospital for check up, I put her on the baby sling while taking a taxi for I agree with you, it's really cold out there. For you seldom encounter a taxi driver that understands our situation. Well... Goodluck.