Driving back from hospital (bit PFB)

[Honeywitch]

Hi

I know this is going to sound really silly, but when you have had your baby and you are taking him/her home from the hospital, does s/he have to be in a car seat or can s/he be in a sling tied to you?

If they do have to be in a car seat, what happens if they cry???? Can you take them out and hold them or do you have to park? Can you give tem a soother or will this stop them being able to breast feed?

(I'm not due till February and here I am already with the PFB questions!)

Car seat, never a sling.

Car seat only.

A newborn will probably sleep the whole way home but if they cry, you sit in the back with them so can be close, then the driver can pull over somewhere safe for you to soothe them.

Car seat always.

They need to be in a car seat. Its not safe to take them out to comfort them, if you feel you need to take baby out the seat you need to pull over.

Thank you. I think I need to chill out!

Oh, go into detail! :-)

They have to be in a car seat, it's the law. AFAIK, some hospitals won't let you leave without one.

If they cry, then I'm afraid you'll have to park up somewhere to settle them.

Not sure about soothers.

if you are in a car they need to be in a car seat, definitely not in a sling, and you need to stop the car and take them out if you need to do so

oh and while it's true that most hospitals have a policy of making you take them out in a car seat they cannot force you to do this, although they will often insist that if you don't have a car seat (perhaps if you are walking/taking public transport) that you take baby down in its crib.

sadly it would appear that they are at risk of litigation should you fall/drop baby while walking around with it

They do have to be in a car seat, for safety.

Also, make sure that you know how to put the car seat into the car properly before you try and put it into the car with the baby in it. We (stupidly) didnt, and it was the worst possible time to try and figure it out.

All makes sense. It's just confusing when you see photos of glamorous fifties stars etc taking their new baby home wrapped in a blanket, but I gues this was in the days before car seats!

Does the hospital still provide a blanket for a baby - my stepchildren were given them by the hospital, but maybe we bring our own now?

No, no blankets. You need to take that, plus nappies and, if you plan in advance to ff, most hospitals say you have to take bottles and formula too.

Don't expect the hospital to provide anything. I would be very surprised if they provided blankets and pretty annoyed if they did. More deserving things need to be bought with money than a baby blanket. Can you imagine the expense?

The hospital provided everything our son needed for the first 12 hours of his life as we had nothing with us due to it being an emergency but you really need to take your own things.

Oh yes, on an emergency admission, they have everything to get by.

That's reassuring.

My DH is saying we shouldn't buy anything until baby arrives as it might jinx things, but I now know we defo need a car seat, things for the newborn to wear and somewhere for s/he to sleep when we get home.

When I think about it, his son was an emergency admission, which is why he thinks that the blanket is standard, but that is 22 years ago!

As other have stated a rear facing car seat for trip home from hospital.

If you have had a c section - either planned or emergency -then take lots of pillows in the car for you to sit on and around, cos you will fell every last little bump on the road...

Does he also realise that, if things go well, you could be discharged the same day (or the day after)? Not a great time to go shopping...

Before baby is born you either need to do a big shop or be confident that your dh will get the right stuff.

You will need

car seat
somewhere for baby to sleep
nappies
cotton wool
top and tail bowl or something similar
bedding
hat/coat
babygrows
vests
muslins

For you

breast pads
knickers
sanitary pads

That list is going on the fridge!!!

(although I might leave it till a month or so before due date! lol)

You can buy stuff - but tradition states you don't have the pram or pushchair in the house before the baby is born - it is usual for hte shop to store the pram etc for you.

Though the cot is put up ready, so it is only a jinx/tradition/superstition.

Everything else though is brought and unpacked and washed and put away ready for the arrival.

I am sure I will have forgotten really obvious things!

Change mat and changing bag.

We had the pram in the house and never once have I thought that is why ds1 was in trouble.

ooh never heard that tradition! i had everything i needed by about 30 weeks, all set up and raring to go i was very excite about it all lol

def get a few essentials in though, as a previous poster says, you could be out the same day, so unless your husband is off out shopping immediately you'll need stuff. and to be honest you'll want to rest and relax with him and your new baby once you get home, not have him out buying stuff without you (or traipsing round shops yourself)

If your DH is worried, make sure you check the returns policy at the shop where you plan to make most of your big purchases - we used a lovely independent retailer who said they'd give a complete refund for about a week after the baby was born (and we could pick it all up whenever we wanted to).

I was chatting to my mum before DD1 was born having the "so have you got everything ready" conversation. I said we just needed to pick up the car seat and she was horrified - "I carried you home in my arms!" In 1975... Slings are lovely but not in a car

We brought the pram home when I was about 37 weeks - much to some friends horror. They were compromising by keeping theirs in the garage. Unless you've got outside space or an accommodating friend (to either store it or pick it up at short notice) most new parents don't have a choice these days.

Only other thing I'd say is don't buy too many sized items - DD1 was 9lb12. Went pretty well straight into size 2 nappies (as soon as we'd used up the bag we'd got in advance) and didn't fit in a lot of brands "newborn" size at all.

I realise you have had a lot of advice, but thought I'd post this link anyway. It sort of rams home the importance of car seats. (It's very sad)

baby killed

as others have said, the car seat is required by law

I was pretty nervous about buying baby things too early but started getting things ordered etc after 7months. While it's unlikely with a first pg, you have to remember the baby may come early so don't leave it too late to start shopping.

congratulations btw!

I wouldn't leave it too late to start ordering items such as pram, car seat, furniture etc as many of the popular items and colours you will find have to be ordered in and you may find you have to compromise and not get what you really want. We try to hold items here for the customer as we don't want it sat there using up warranty before baby arrives but it gives peace of mind knowing that the items are ready for them should baby arrive early!