To not want to buy a car seat

[Onfoot241]

..only for it to be used once.

I'm expecting a baby at the end of October. I don't drive, I either walk places or get a bus if it's not within walking distance.

Its not my first baby but I no longer have the old car seat (which I begrudged buying that time too) and It seems so wasteful to buy another just for the sake of getting back from the hospital only for it to never be used again. The last one wasn't.

I'm told you can't leave the hospital with baby without a car seat which is bonkers to me. Why can't I take baby home in a carrier wrap or his pram?

You can get a taxi without legally needing one

You can take the baby home in the pram if it is walkable but of course if you are going home by car you need a seat. Borrow one?

You can take him home in his pram. You can’t take him in a car without a car seat, but plenty of people leave hospital by means other than driving and don’t take a car seat.

I guess it depends on how you're getting home? Can you borrow one?

It is a myth that you can't leave hospital without a car seat. It is a hospital, not a prison and they have no right to detain you.

You can take a taxi without a car seat, you can walk with baby in a pram, you can take the bus.

They tell you that but it's bollocks. They cannot legally hold your baby hostage. You just tell them no, and leave.

Borrow one or go back by public transportation

If you need to take your child in to A&E urgently but where it should not warrent calling an ambulance how will you transport her safely in a taxi or a neighbour/relatives care. Not having a car seat is not an acceptable reason to call 999, therefore it is worth considering this and planning ahead. Therefore having a car seat ready is important.

Can you ask around trusted friends and family to see if someone can hand you down a car seat to save you spending money on something you won't get much use out of.

@EgonSpengler2020 in those circumstances you would be fine to travel without a car seat

Just tell them you're walking home or getting a taxi and just leave

Egon not everyone has a car

What if you plan on walking home with the pram and end up needing EMCS and unable to walk?

I don't know the hospital rules but this one is pretty cheap and scores well on safety if you have to buy one.

www.online4baby.com/joie-juva-classic-group-0-car-seat-black-ink?istCompanyId=de21a2a3-8ec8-4653-bd6c-4559fe95eb33&istFeedId=7d9bc8c6-c509-4e2d-81e8-cad6c9102c34&istItemId=iprxwwtrl&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAjwy7CKBhBMEiwA0Eb7akNqxGwYv75isSjXvZb8jlezmZZtn81eLB55Du8N9KkwnvVLe1hRhxoCofgQAvD_BwE

I don't have any friends or family I can ask to borrow one from unfortunately.

I was planning on walking home with the pram as it's not very far, but failing that if I didn't feel up to it then I'd be getting the bus.

I ruled out a taxi on the basis of not having a car seat. I didn't realise you could take baby in one without.

@MrsTesfaye

What if you plan on walking home with the pram and end up needing EMCS and unable to walk?

Then DH walks home with the pram and I get a taxi

Thank you for the link mafs I'll bare that in mind.

@MrsTesfaye

What if you plan on walking home with the pram and end up needing EMCS and unable to walk?

I was wondering this too I couldn’t have walked home after giving birth and being discharged two of the three times due to being in quite a lot of pain from stitches And all three times from bleeding very heavily as often is the case!

If you live in London, you can take the baby in a pram in a black cab.

I don't drive and have walked to A&E with my DD (all of 10 minutes, obviously that's not possible for everyone). There will always be 'what if' scenarios, but if you don't need one, don't buy one!

Both of mine went home from the hospital in a black cab, in their prams, not in a car seat. How far are you from the hospital and what is your plan to get home?

If you ring round a couple of local taxi forms one might have a car seat so you could use them. Otherwise as you said DH walks with pram, you get a taxi, i don't think I could've walked home straight after giving birth.

Is there a local Facebook group where you could post and ask to borrow one? People are always giving them away in our one.

[quote Threearm]@EgonSpengler2020 in those circumstances you would be fine to travel without a car seat[/quote]
Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should as it would be very dangerous for such a young baby in the event of, even a fairly insignificant, collision.

I do live in London yes.

Hospital is a 15 min walk from home, probably 30 mins if I'm being realistic about walking back post birth.

My plan was to push him home in his pram or get a bus if I didn't feel up to walking.

I didn't realise you could take a pram in a black cab that's very helpful thank you.

I've only lived here for 4 years so not totally clued up yet as i predominantly use busses.

Sorry didn’t see your update - DH walking with the pram and you in a taxi will be fine!

Definitely don’t buy something you don’t think you’ll need. If things change and you do want to get one in the future then you can buy online and get next day delivery if necessary.

Your plan sounds fine really, or as PP said if you want to have one to hand ask on a local FB group.

Or go on fb marketplace, plenty on there for next to nothing and you can resell it when you have finished with it?