Mexico City and Oaxaca with 1-year-old and no car seat

Hello there,

My husband, one-year-old and I are travel to Mexico in January. We currently have flights in and out of Mexico City and plan to spend the bulk of our two weeks in Oaxaca. We were hoping to avoid bringing a car seat with us so we have a number of questions:

Are there any taxi companies in Mexico City or Oaxaca that could provide a car seat for a 1-year-old upon request?

Assuming not, we've heard Oaxaca City is very walkable, and we are comfortable carrying our son in a wrap. Would it work to mostly get around by foot?

How safe are the buses in Oaxaca City?

Could we take a bus from the airport to the city center?

I imagine Mexico City is trickier because it's less walkable. Is there a part of Mexico City that is more walkable? If so, would we be able to take a bus safely from the airport to that part of the city?

Any other advice for traveling with a one-year-old would be welcome :-)

Thank you!!

Are there any taxi companies in Mexico City or Oaxaca that could provide a car seat for a 1-year-old upon request?

I don't know, but I'll ask a taxi driver this afternoon.

Would it work to mostly get around by foot?

The centro historico of Oaxaca is flat, and lots of indigenous mothers carry their baby in a wrap.

How safe are the buses in Oaxaca City?

Local buses are likely not as safe as those where you're coming from. But intercity buses are quite safe.

Could we take a bus from the airport to the city center?

Do you mean Oaxaca or Mexico City? From Mexico City international airport you could take the MetroBus. Comfortable and safe. From Oaxaca airport you could take the collective van, or walk a bit and take a collective taxi, or walk further and take a local bus.

Is there a part of Mexico City that is more walkable? If so, would we be able to take a bus safely from the airport to that part of the city?

This is a matter of opinion. Lots of people walk in Mexico City, but you must be aware of the different rules that apply (or don't apply).

Hello there,

My husband, one-year-old and I are travel to Mexico in January. We currently have flights in and out of Mexico City and plan to spend the bulk of our two weeks in Oaxaca. We were hoping to avoid bringing a car seat with us so we have a number of questions:

Are there any taxi companies in Mexico City or Oaxaca that could provide a car seat for a 1-year-old upon request?

Assuming not, we've heard Oaxaca City is very walkable, and we are comfortable carrying our son in a wrap. Would it work to mostly get around by foot?

How safe are the buses in Oaxaca City?

Could we take a bus from the airport to the city center?

I imagine Mexico City is trickier because it's less walkable. Is there a part of Mexico City that is more walkable? If so, would we be able to take a bus safely from the airport to that part of the city?

Any other advice for traveling with a one-year-old would be welcome :-)

I see some parent with "leashes" for their small children, might be worth considering.

FWIW, I consider Mexico City very walkable, once you are in a particular neighbourhood. Of course, being the megalopolis that it is, it can be tiring and cumbersome to move between neighbourhoods. Condesa and Roma are great for families; lots of tree-lined streets, parks, playgrounds, restaurants, cafes, etc. Centro Historico is a must-see but the sidewalks can be very crowded until early evening. Polanco is an upscale neighbourhood so it's walkable and safe; lots of nice places to walk in between the main drag of Presidente Masyrk and Chapultepec Park. The main street of Reforma - that connects Chapultepec to the Centro - is also very good for walking.

FWIW, I carried my then 7 month old in a wrap on a trip to Oaxaca and Mexico City. I don't remember having any issues getting around.

Uber, Lyft, Cabify all offer it, but only in CDMX, as Oaxaca taxi syndicates have kept most services like that out. You could easily arrange one there, it'd just take a bit more work.

"leashes" for their small children

For a 1-year old in Oaxaca? LOL! Maybe for the husband.

hardyharhar enroute- keep the wife leashed up too! Them Oaxaca nights can be peligrosas..

I asked a taxi driver from sitio Alameda in Oaxaca yesterday and they answered that they don't offer child seats.

Thanks for your reply! So Uber, Lyft, and Cabify offer a car seat option right in the app in CDMX?

Thank you! That is so kind of you to ask a taxi driver :-)

Thank you! This is super helpful info.

Thanks everyone for chiming in so far. So it sounds like the most challenging part might be getting from the airport in Oaxaca to the city center. Of the options, collective van, collective taxi, or local bus, which would you recommend considering the risks of car accident (without a car seat) or theft? Perhaps best to walk to the local bus? I would also appreciate any advice on traveling to nearby areas (like Mitla) with our circumstances. Thanks!

The safest way to get from the Oaxaca airport to your hotel would be the official collective van. Price 85 MXN each, more or less.

Thanks for your reply! So Uber, Lyft, and Cabify offer a car seat option right in the app in CDMX

Absolutely... for example, UberX and then "car seat," Lyft has "car seat mode," etc.

The safest way... collective van

With a baby!? How could this be safer than a private taxi? You never know when some fellow passenger is going to wig out!

After getting settled, the best option would be to meet a few taxi drivers and see who you want to make your guy for the duration... preferably a kindly old man with lots of stories and a clean vehicle as opposed to a bleary eyed drunk in some dented up lemon. Then stick with him (or her, if you're lucky).

I asked a taxi driver... and they answered that they don't offer child seats.

This doesn't sound like a good candidate! He should talk to the hand. I do know for a fact that some drivers offer them, specifically in Oaxaca (also mentioned this in the thread below). You just have to ask around, your hotel would almost definitely be able to help find someone.

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g150789-i740-k4137749-Baby_seats_in_taxis-Huatulco_Southern_Mexico.html

Private taxis aren't allowed to pick up passengers at Oaxaca airport. But you can opt for an official private sedan provided by the airport at additional cost.

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