One of the most amusing adventures you can ever have is traveling with children. Apart from those feelings you have like packing your whole house (from bottles to an inflatable baby tub), another major thing you need to worry about when you are about to get to your final destination is the car seat. Sometimes, it is not just feasible and easy to lug a heavy car seat where you need to go.
In the United States, it is illegal for children to be unrestrained in a child safety or booster seat in a moving vehicle. Your chosen device must pass the federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Thankfully, you can count on Kidmoto to come to your rescue as they provide car seat friendly transportation. All you must do is download the app and book a car for your safe and convenient ride. Then a Kidmoto driver, who is proficiently trained by professionally qualified car seat technicians, will be available to assist you to get to your destination without any worries. Now, you may be wondering how this app fares compared with the other popular car service, which is Uber. Let us enumerate the discrepancies between the two below.
Where are the areas of operation?
Today, Kidmoto operates in multiple metro areas. Kidmoto is on a mission to grow and start operations nationally, including Dallas, Houston, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, Washington DC and more.
With Uber, child car seats are only available in the New York City market as of October 2020 with Uber X vehicles. When in NYC, keep in mind that you must be rest assured that the driver has an available car seat, not every driver has a car seat, which may take time to find one. Moreover, Uber drivers provide ONE forward-facing car seat for small children (22-48 pounds). Therefore, if you have multiple children, you need to remember that you are in an According with the American Academy of Pediatrics, “All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their CSS’s manufacturer.” Most convertible seats have limits that will permit children to ride rear facing for two years or more.
How much does it cost?
The car seat fee has been already included in your Kidmoto fare, which is computed based on your destination, car of choice (sedan, minivan, or SUV), and the number of passengers. This premium experience comes with no extra charges. You do not have to worry because you are assured to fit in with all your children and luggage without feeling cramped. Do ask about promos because the company is generous in providing discounts!
In contrast, if you are travelling with Uber in the New York area, you can add a car seat to your Uber X by topping up $10 or more. With Uber, you also must consider that they offer a variety of personal vehicles. As such, you must consider the cleanliness of both the vehicle and the car seat.
What if I have multiple children?
Kidmoto has tailor-fit solutions to solve or cater to every family’s unique needs. Kidmoto provides up to FOUR installed child car seats in vehicles. The passenger chooses the exact car seat installation setting for every car seat to fit each child. You can be at peace, knowing that clean and sanitized car seats are fitted properly by trained professionals, who will do all they can to safeguard your little ones. The car will arrive with the right size of professionally installed car seats.
With Uber, if you have multiple children, you cannot order multiple seats or a larger vehicle. Additionally, the car seat is only provided in a smaller Uber X vehicle. With an on-demand service like this, you may need to wait a while before you get your ride. Sadly, waiting and kids do not go together well.
As for installation, you can only hope that your chosen Uber driver has installed the car seat properly to assure the parent of maximum safety. Uber has a history of not following the rules and irresponsibility. As a parent, it would also be prudent to check if the seats are indeed safe and secure.
What types of car seats are used by Kidmoto and Uber?
Uber uses ONE car made seat, called Go, from a company called IMMI. It is a forward-facing car seat rated for small children (22-48 pounds). In contrast, Kidmoto provides premium rear facing (up to 45 pounds), front facing, and booster car seats, which have been tested and certified by NCAP crash testing standards. This means you get the peace of mind knowing all Kidmoto vehicles operate under the maximum safety standards to assure utmost protection even in times of extreme accident conditions. Kidmoto drivers have also undergone rigorous training sessions to guarantee proper installation of the seats.
As for car seats and age, Uber and Kidmoto offer forward-facing seats for children of ages 2-10 years old. Kidmoto offers rear-facing seats for infants with a maximum of 45 pounds. However, do note that Uber does not offer any rear-facing car seats at all. As a parent, you must keep this in mind when you make your bookings because it can be fatal for your baby to travel without a rear-facing car seat option. And it is against the law!
How large is the vehicle?
Traveling families need space because there are lots of luggage and strollers involved. “It’s like traveling with a small army,” a great Kidmoto passenger once said. Uber is not ideal for the traveling family but Kidmoto is perfect. Uber provides a maximum of ONE forward child car seat in smaller vehicles Uber X vehicles only in New York City. Kidmoto, however, provides larger vehicles with up to FOUR installed child car seats in larger vehicles like minivans and extended SUV’s in multiple cities.
Where in the vehicle will the car seat be installed?
It is common for the car seat to be fitted in the 2nd or 3rd row. With Kidmoto, you can state your preferences when you make your advanced booking. The Kidmoto vehicle will arrive with a pre-harnessed and pre-installed car seat ready to go, because a stitch in time saves nine. It would also provide your safety and convenience. As for Uber, since it is on-demand, you must be ready to wait. This will certainly test you and your kids’ patience. Apart from waiting for the car with the right number of car seats, you may also have to wait for on-the-spot car seat installation, which can compromise safety if everything is done in a hurry.
How do I know the car seat is not expired?
Both Uber and Kidmoto car seats expire. Kidmoto car seats have manufacturer expiration of ten years after production. However, Kidmoto goes the extra mile of discontinuing the use of car seats every three years. If a car seat is not adequate or seems to look faulty, it is replaced immediately. Kidmoto wants to ensure that we provide passengers with clean, good looking and well-maintained children car seats.
Who maintains the car and seats?
Both Uber and Kidmoto drivers are tasked to maintain both the car and car seats. However, since Kidmoto is a premium service, the drivers go the extra mile to sanitize the seat and car before each use. There is just something about a freshly cleaned vehicle that makes if feels comfier and safer. They also check for conditions of straps, cushions, and other fittings to ensure that your child will be safely ensconced in the child safety seat.
What will happen to the seat if it is involved in an accident?
When it comes to safety, Uber and Kidmoto see eye to eye. Passenger safety is especially important. Both companies no longer use seats that have been compromised in a car accident. The only difference is the level of service because Kidmoto is a niche company that caters to the needs of traveling families with small children. The Kidmoto app will connect passengers seeking a secure car seat to a network vetted and professionally trained drivers who provide the right car seat sizes and the correct installation every single time.
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