Does Uber Have Car Seats?

Medically reviewed by Candice W. Jones, MD, FAAP

Rideshares such as Uber and Lyft are dominating the roadways in both big cities and small towns across the country. Their convenience is a game-changer—a spontaneous luxury that has revolutionized how so many of us get from A to B. (Honestly, how did we ever live without them?)

That said, if you're a parent trying to cart your kids around, the idea of grabbing an Uber or Lyft at the last minute isn't always in the cards. After all, your child's safety is of the utmost importance. This dilemma, for many parents, leads them to wonder: Does Uber have car seats?

In this article, we'll look into the different rideshares that offer car seats and their policies, along with how to ensure that your child stays safe whenever you choose ridesharing for travel.

Does Uber Have Car Seats?

Yes, Uber does offer a car seat option—but only in New York City.

Initially launched in 2014 in three cities (New York City, Washington DC, and Philadelphia), Uber's car seat program was designed and implemented by Alisa Baer, MD, a pediatrician, nationally certified child passenger safety instructor, and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady.

For Dr. Baer and her team, safety was the number one priority, and car seat installation training was crucial. "Before any driver could leave the training, we sat in the back and watched them install the car seat" she explains. "If they didn’t do it correctly, they didn’t leave the training until they could."

Implementing this new program was exciting for Dr. Baer, who is proud to have designed a parent-friendly ride option. "It was the first time parents got the same degree of convenience, spontaneity, and safety that was afforded to other adults," she says.

Dr. Baer stayed on the project until 2016, after which Uber partnered with the nonprofit organization Safe Kids Worldwide to continue the program. Today, Uber Car Seat is only available in New York City and can be requested through the app in the same way you would request a regular ride.

Using Uber Car Seat (Only in NYC)

• Open the Uber app and set your pickup and dropoff locations

• Select "Car Seat" under the list of available vehicle types

• A $10 car seat surcharge is added to the total price

When scrolling through the available vehicle types, you can select "Car Seat," which comes with a $10 surcharge added to the total price. Uber Car Seat only offers one forward-facing car seat with the following minimum requirements for your child:

• 2 years old

• 22 pounds

• 31 inches tall

As for a rear-facing car seat, Uber spokesperson Becky Katz Davis confirms to Verywell Family that it is perfectly fine to use your own. She adds that Uber drivers in other states also have the option to provide car seats for passengers. "Uber Car Seat drivers outside of NYC can install their own car seat for passengers once they have been trained by a certified child passenger safety technician," she says.

Related: Baby's Legs and Rear-Facing Car Seat Safety

Does Lyft Have Car Seats?

Yes, Lyft offers Car Seat Mode, only available in New York City. Like Uber, they only offer one forward-facing car seat for children older than 2 years old, between 31” and 52” tall, and between 22 and 48 pounds.

To order a Lyft with a car seat, you can open the Lyft app, select the "Car Seat" ride type, and enter your pickup and dropoff locations. The service tacks an additional $10 onto the total cost.

Using Lyft Car Seat Mode (Only in NYC)

• Open the Lyft app and select "Car Seat" under ride type

• Enter your pickup and dropoff locations

• Request the ride

• A $10 fee is added to your fare

Of course, you can use your own car seats as well. Lyft spokesperson Katie Kim tells Verywell Family, "Parents tell us they prefer to use their own car seats most of the time, so that's what we ask them to plan for. Lyft's policy is that children are welcome in a ride when accompanied by an adult, as long as children have the proper car seats that fit local laws and regulations."

Using Your Own Car Seat in an Uber or Lyft

Although it could be tempting to buckle your child on your lap in the back seat of an Uber or Lyft, Dr. Baer stresses the incredible importance of bringing a car or booster seat for your child.

"The [car seat] laws of the city and the state may vary, but the laws of physics do not change," she says. "If you get into a crash and your child is not effectively restrained, they are more likely to get hurt."

Car seat usage reduces the risk of injury in a crash by 71% to 82% for children, as compared to seat belt use alone. Dr. Baer also points out that wearing your baby in the car with a Baby Bijorn, Ergo, etc., is incredibly unsafe and does not replace the effectiveness of a car seat.

"Not only is the Bjorn not a substitute for a car seat, but it can make things even worse than just holding the child," she explains. "When the parent puts the seat belt over them and the child, the child could become crushed between the parent's body and the seat belt in a crash."

Related:

Other Rideshare Options for Kids

In certain cities, there are rideshares available that are specifically tailored for parents and their children. Here are a few popular options:

Kid Car

Kid Car is a car service for kids that offers airport travel, local rides, and kid-centric carpool. They require reservations to be made two to three hours in advance, but recommend up to 24 hours beforehand. Kid Car’s drivers are fully vetted using criminal background checks and are required to complete car seat installation training.

Kid Car currently operates in the following cities:

• Atlanta, GA

• Baltimore, MD

• Fort Lauderdale, FL

• Los Angeles, CA

• Miami, FL
  

• New York, NY

• Northern NJ, NJ

• San Diego, CA

• Washington, DC

• West Palm Beach, FL

Kidcaboo

The Kidcaboo app allows parents to schedule one-time or recurring rides, whether it's far in advance or at the last minute. It's geared more toward working parents who need extra help transporting their children to school, practices, etc. The Kidcaboo Nannies are highly-vetted and available to meet with the family before starting rides. The corresponding app allows parents to track the entire trip via GPS, and they are instantly notified of pickup and dropoff.

Kidcaboo currently operates in the following states:

• Arizona

• Connecticut

• Nebraska

• North Carolina

• Pennsylvania

• Texas

• Virginia

Kango

Kango is an app-based rideshare for kids that offers both rides and childcare. It was created by parents who understand how busy parents are, whether working or not. They serve children of all ages, but any child under 2 years old is required to be accompanied by an adult. Kango drivers and sitters must go through a vigorous background checks, and parents can track their child's ride using the app.

Kango currently offers services in California and Arizona, specifically:

• San Francisco Bay Area

• Los Angeles

• Central Valley

• Orange County

• San Diego

• Phoenix

• Tucson

A Word From Verywell

Whether you're using your own car or rideshares, safety should be the top priority when traveling with young children. In New York City, Uber and Lyft offer car seat options using fully-vetted drivers trained by child passenger safety technicians. In other locations, rideshare apps are available that tailor specifically to kids and busy parents.

The biggest takeaway? Using car and booster seats is non-negotiable when traveling with kids. Buckling them into a back seat or on your lap does not provide the same level of safety as properly-installed seats designed to protect their developing bodies.

If you have any questions about how to install your child's car seat, you can always check out the website of your local Department of Transportation or search for child safety seat technicians in your area.

Read Next: When Can My Baby Face Forward in Their Car Seat?

Read the original article on Verywell Family.