Should we buy a car?

Hi all,


Our baby is 4 months and we are taking her out and about more often. Would like to ask parents who have a car the pros and cons of having one.


The cons we can think of:

1. Costs - the car itself, maintanence, insurance, gasoline, parking

2. Hard to find parking space in HK (though we have a car park space at home)


The pros we can think of:

1. Flexibility - we can go anywhere anytime (while we think taking taxis is probably equally flexible)

2. Less to carry - can always keep the stroller or other baby items in the trunk so no need to carry it back and forth (especially important since we don't have an elevator in our complex and we have 4 flights of steps to take)


We used to rent out our car park space so we thought it made a lot of sense to take taxis. But the tenant moved out a few months ago so we started to think about getting a car.


Car? Taxis? Appreciate your advice!!!

We managed fine without a car here until the baby came along. Life is just easier having the convenience of a car when you have a young kid with all the extra baggage that involves.


If it works out financially viable then do it - it's no fun struggling with public transport with a baby, particulary when the weather's bad!

If you have a car space at home - then i would suggesat you get a small car (under 1500cc) - these are cheap to run and register and parking is never a problem in HK- there are plenty of car parks - you just just pay - but you can get away with minimising what you pay by parking where there is a Park n shop or wellcome who pay for parking when you spend over a certain amount and plan your shopping at the same time.


You will probably find the cost of taxi's and your own car is similar - depending on where you live and where you want to drive to.


Being able to get in your car and drive in this nasty weather is big bonus.


If you stay off the road in peak times traffic is not usually an issue unless there is an accident.

If you can afford it and with a space at home, I'd say yes. As dimac4 said, you do not need a big car or a big engine; once you have space for a car seat and a buggy. You are not going to be driving very far with lots of luggage (there's a limit to how far you can drive in HK). It is usually easier and safer than travelling by cab, and most car parks are free if you spend a certain amount (or eat in the restaurant etc.)

Just another thought - you will probably see more of HK than if you never have a car - it is easy to drive to the NT to explore places with a car.

expat123, by 4, a child is usually ready for a booster seat, there are 3 types;


(i) a little seat without a back which used the adult belt to thread through 2 slots at hip level. This is the smallest and lightest option. Possibly the easiest for taxis.


(ii) Highback booster; this also uses an adult seatbelt, but due to the extra places for adjustment of the seatbelt, provides extra support. It also has a headrest. When the child gets too tall, it can be used as a basic booster (aboce) by removing back; and


(iii) Highback Booster with Harness; I have been advised that this is the safest option. The seat has a 2 strap harness (similar to the rear facing and early forward facing seat). The adult seat belt threads through the seat rather than the child and apparently this provides extra protection in an impact for a young child (4+). One the child becomes taller (i.e. his/her shoulders are above the top of the harness straps), it can be used as the standard highback booster with the adult seatbelt (above) and eventally as the basic booster (top), so this is the more expensive option but offers maximum flexibility and optimum safety at various stages.


Cannot suggets brands as the models seem to change every 2 minutes. Any supplier (Bumps to Babes, Mothercare, Babies R Us etc) will be able to give you the best information. Happy shopping!

Oh gosh, I just had to get a car for use in the USA this summer. When I think "car," I think $$$$$ -- parking, taxes, tags, insurance, maintenance, cost of car itself, fender benders, etc etc Plus I think buses are safer b/c of their size (but I live in China not HK and traffic here is definitely not safe). I admit it's more convenient with a baby, but the only thing I kept in the trunk of my car was an umbrella stroller and safety supplies like flashlight and first aid kit (yes it did get used). If you get a car, always train your child to sit properly buckled, no exceptions, or they will forever resist!

We got our car when we had the children. You say your baby is 4 months, I can think of some advantages not yet mentioned:


1. You can breastfeed in your car. Sometimes being out and about, it's hard to find a place to feed Baby. If you have a car you can always go back to it, feed in the car park if necessary, get a little curtain if shy to put at the window, switch on A/C and bliss!


If you're not the driver, you can even feed going along if Baby gets hungry / upset mid-journey. This prevents Baby being hungry as soon as you reach your destination and then the first thing you have to do is find a place to feed.


2. My 35 month old always does a wee in the portable potty before we get out of the car. It's so handy - we don't arrive at our destination and have a frantic search for a toilet first on our to-do list. For longer journeys, unlike being on the bus, I can always pull over and he can use his portable potty in the car.


3. As mentioned in another recent thread, it's really hard to keep an older baby safe in a taxi. If you have a car, you can have a car seat in it permanently. You can also permanently keep in your car other baby stuff such as toys to make the journey less boring etc etc.


4. If you can't speak Cantonese (like me) you don't have the unpleasant struggle every single time to get the taxi driver to understand where you want to go. (I'm not blaming the cabbies at all.) You can also adjust the A/C and radio how you like and how your child likes, not how the driver likes.


Big car vs. small car

I've actually got a Toyota Picnic (6 passengers + 1 driver) because I have 2 children, 2-in-laws and my DH in addition to hubby and me. Soon I will have 2 helpers, it's really easy to fill up my car. It's a bit of a pain to park, but you have to consider your family size. If you plan to have another baby before you replace your car you may need something a bit bigger, especially if you like your DH to come with you on outings.

Breastfeed as you go along??? What about seat belts and restraining while the car is in motion??? Many babies have died from being held in the mothers arms with even slight pressure of the brakes - they get flung out and hit their head on the seats in front or the dashboard - doesn't take much of a knock to kill a child.


You can always upsize later if you find you need a bigger car - start small and see how you go!

Dimac4 - it's not that bad, surely? Look at that other thread and see how people have to cope in taxis when they can't take a carseat.


Of course it's much better to have the baby in a car seat, but when my child was crying really badly, we took him out and calmed him down before putting him back in, and that sometimes included a breastfeed.


Also, how safe is it to be driving along with a screaming baby in the back of the car? It's a huge distraction to the person driving - much better feed the kid and get him / her settled.


That said, of course it's not ideal and it's not like I habitually do it. But sometimes we all get caught out.

Well our rule is, if the baby is out of the car seat the wheels of the car are stopped. With our first child we bent the rules but lived to regret it after she was old enough to pitch a fit and whine about not wanting to go in the car seat. It was just easier to have a bright line rule (and safer, too). We have another rule, too. If the kids are fighting, the car stops until they stop. They really don't like having their trip interrupted, and it's amazing how fast they can get over a hopeless squabble when they're motivated to get the trip rolling again!