Car seats and hospitals

[Weevie]

Dh half and I are about to buy the car seat and we were planning on buying a stage 0+1 one. However, we have heard that they have to see the baby fitted into the car seat before you leave. But the combination one is a little too heavy to be carting around on its own let alone with the baby in it!

So I was wondering if anyone had been in this situation?

Also what does your hospital say about it?

Thank =)

[mistressploppy]

Surely if they are that desperate to see your baby fitted into the carseat they can pop down to the car park/drop off area to check?

Not all of them are easily removable, like you say.

[diggingintheribs]

my kids left in their car seat (easier for us) but I saw others leave being carried or in a pram

ask your midwife if you are concerned

[diggingintheribs]

I should add - no one watched us put the babies in the car seat - so we could have walked out with them not strapped in and no one would have noticed

[lovemyOJ]

we had this and a midwife walked down with us (baby was in one of those wheeled cots, we wernt allowed to carry him)

[SurprisEs]

DD car seat had to be checked for the orange sticker that says the car seat complies with UK regulations or something like that and she had to be sitting in it before we left the hospital but we didn't have a conbination seat. I would assume that a MW would go with you to the car.

[grubbalo]

No-one has ever been with us but I am guessing it varies from hospital to hospital. As mistressploppy says, surely they could pop down to the car if they are that bothered?

[emsyj]

We had a 'normal' maxi cosi carrier type car seat but midwife came to the car with us and kissed and hugged me and waved us off with tears in her eyes. She was such a lovely lady.

[thisisyesterday]

hiya weevie

the reason hospitals ask you to take baby out in their car seat is so that you don't drop it! nothing to do with safety actually in the car as far as I am aware.

if you have one that is fitted into the car then they may insist on you taking baby down in its cot instead, accompanied by a midwife.

but remember this is YOUR baby. there is no law that you can't carry your child and if you insist loudly enough then they actually cannot stop you from carrying your baby down and putting it in the car

[Weevie]

Thank you for all of your replies. Im seeing the midwife next week so I will ask then but there is a strong possibility that we wont be having the baby in her area but at least I will have an answer.

Hopefully we will be car seat shopping next week then =)

[LaWeasel]

They didn't ask to see DD in her car seat when we left hospital with her. We just explained that we didn't have a car and were being picked up by a relative (who had our car seat in their car ready!) and they were fine with that.

She's 2 1/2 now but I'm sure they would be equally understanding now.