DC trip with infant and no car seat

[Anonymous]

We're coming to DC in the fall with our infant and want to avoid bringing his carseat. We lived in DC until last year when DH's job took us to another city. We're flying into BWI and wondering if its possible to do this trip without the carseat. Night one we plan to stay in Baltimore to go to an Orioles game. I believe we can take the light rail. Then we would take the train to DC and since we're staying in Southwest we can do everything on metro (yes, I know it's a mess) and buses.

The challenge is getting back to BWI. If we take MARC then we have to take a shuttle to the airport, correct? And I'm guessing the shuttle requires a carseat for an infant. It's this last bit that has me hung up. Anyone have experience with this?

[Anonymous]

Bring a seat.

[Anonymous]

An infant bucket car seat can double as a great place to let D.C. nap and rest and play. Bring it. If you only have a big convertible seat, ask around and see if someone has an old infant seat you can borrow. Babies stay in it for such a short length of time that someone must have one that is still good.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bring a seat.

Yup.

[Anonymous]

Bring the car seat and get a Snap-n-Go that will hold it. It's lightweight and easy to move around.

[Anonymous]

The shuttle from the BWI MARC train stop does not require a car seat. It's a big bus - like the ones that take you from long term parking to your departure gate at the airport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're coming to DC in the fall with our infant and want to avoid bringing his carseat. We lived in DC until last year when DH's job took us to another city. We're flying into BWI and wondering if its possible to do this trip without the carseat. Night one we plan to stay in Baltimore to go to an Orioles game. I believe we can take the light rail. Then we would take the train to DC and since we're staying in Southwest we can do everything on metro (yes, I know it's a mess) and buses.

The challenge is getting back to BWI. If we take MARC then we have to take a shuttle to the airport, correct? And I'm guessing the shuttle requires a carseat for an infant. It's this last bit that has me hung up. Anyone have experience with this?

Nope, it's a bus. You won't need a car seat. This is very very doable.

Be aware that MARC does not run on weekends, however you can use Amtrak on that line instead. Google maps will map out transit from point A to point B for you. You can bring a stroller on the bus, but you will need to fold it.

[Anonymous]

I would try Uber carseat. I've never used it myself though, so I don't know how available they are and would probably book in advance to be safe.

[Anonymous]

Bring it or borrow one when you get here. While it looks like you can move around without one, you will want it for when you're not moving around like eating in a restaurant or visiting with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The shuttle from the BWI MARC train stop does not require a car seat. It's a big bus - like the ones that take you from long term parking to your departure gate at the airport.

Agreed no way to install a seat even if you had one.

[Anonymous]

You can use uber with a car seat. We have done it a couple times for going to the airport and it's always worked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An infant bucket car seat can double as a great place to let D.C. nap and rest and play. Bring it.

This. I can't imagine not wanting to have the car seat with a snap-and-go. It's like having a helping hand to hold your baby and IMO makes travel so much easier. (A convertible seat is another story.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would try Uber carseat. I've never used it myself though, so I don't know how available they are and would probably book in advance to be safe.

Last I checked this had only forward facing, maybe convertible car seat. Not suitable for infants.

[Anonymous]

Don't do MARC. Metro to Greenbelt and take the $6 Metrobus shuttle to BWI. Much more reliable service.