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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Do you have to actually carry newborn out in a car seat?

60 replies

Pansy0926 · 21/07/2018 21:50

We bought a car seat which is quite heavy and doesn’t have a handle, a Joie one that has a huge heavy seat and clicks into an isofix base. Literally impossible to safely carry around with a newborn inside. For my previous kids, they said we couldn’t leave without baby in a car seat. Does this mean a midwife is going to have to walk us out to the the car park to check we have a car seat? Will they even do that? Or are they likely to make us go and quickly buy a cheap one of the kind you can carry around? We bought the kind we did because it adjusts to fit older children so we thought we’d rather get one that we could use for years than keep buying bigger ones

OP posts:
Stroller15 · 21/07/2018 21:52

I thought the same but they weren't worried with my ds1. Only asked if we are travelling by car and if we have a car seat.

WeShouldOpenABar · 21/07/2018 21:52

Can't you just say you're getting the bus they're hardly going to follow you down the road to check

Smurf123 · 21/07/2018 21:54

At our hospital you have to carry baby out in the car seat. They won't let you leave the ward without one.

PersisFord · 21/07/2018 21:57

They tried to tell me not to leave with my baby in my arms. I gave them a hard stare and carried on. They backed down.

lilyblue5 · 21/07/2018 21:57

So two babies in two hospitals, one checked car seat etc etc. One just waved us out!
Does car seat fit onto buggy wheels?
Are you having a hospital tour or can you call and check ahead of time?

EssentialHummus · 21/07/2018 21:59

Nobody checked/asked. Lewisham Hospital, 10 months ago (if that helps you).

NynaeveSedai · 21/07/2018 21:59

You know hospitals can't actually stop you leaving with your baby right? And they can't insist on any particular mode of transportation?

Zephyrsinskyatnight · 21/07/2018 21:59

We were in the same position with both our children. We carried newborn out, asked us where car seat is. Told them its in car and not portable. Let us on our way. So stupid if they dont let you home. They can bloody well follow me if theyre that arsed.

AnotherOriginalUsername · 21/07/2018 22:00

I'm sure if they question it, you can just explain that it's a fixed seat and surely if necessary (these things are just policy based rather than disbelieving you) they can just come down to the car with you ?

Bingbangboo1 · 21/07/2018 22:00

Asked me too, but DH carried her to the car in his arms

mustbemad17 · 21/07/2018 22:01

Our hospital make sure you have a suitable car seat. With my first (6years ago) i carried her out in one, when i was due to be induced this time i had to check because we have the joie every stage which stays put. They just said my DP would have to drive the car to the entrance so a midwife could check there was actually a seat in there. They also won't let you leave if they know you're travelling by bus at ours!

Almostthere15 · 21/07/2018 22:03

Ours has suggested you bring the pram, as they aren't comfortable letting you carry the baby out but Im not sure they can stop.ypu really! This is going to be a bigger issue as people buy erf seats, that don't fit onto travel systems.

SilverDoe · 21/07/2018 22:04

Best to double check :) I gave birth 8 months ago and they were very funny about me walking my newborn down the long corridor to the entrance in my arms. I’d been in for 3 days being induced so had they tried to stop me I would have torn something off them - but they did look very anxious and called me back to say they aren’t supposed to leave without a car seat, so it’s best to avoid that scenario if you can.

ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 21/07/2018 22:04

I walked home after both my labours. Baby went into pram. Wasn't asked about car seat at all (St Mary's Manchester).

Astrid2 · 21/07/2018 22:09

Mine wouldn't let me walk anywhere with my baby in my arms!! Had to push her round in the bedside cot. Even to go and collect breakfast.

I would maybe just bring your pram in when your partner comes to collect you. Then you have more hands free for belongings etc and don't need to worry about having the car right outside the door!

ShovingLeopard · 21/07/2018 22:09

While it's great they are concerned about babies' welfare, what on earth do some of these hospitals do if the parents don't have a car? I'm not sure travelling without a car seat in a taxi would be safer than travelling without a car seat on a bus.

NynaeveSedai · 21/07/2018 22:10

They won't let you leave by bus??
What planet are these hospitals on? Are you sure that's true, and not just something you heard? Hmm

TrashPanda · 21/07/2018 22:10

We have an erf seat and they were fine for us to leave without baby in a seat. I honestly don't understand the whole 'can't leave without a car seat' thing. There is no legal requirement to have a car or car seat, only to use a car seat if you take a child in a car. They surely can't stop you walking or getting the bus, legally they have no right, surely.

Wherismymind · 21/07/2018 22:11

You know hospitals can't actually stop you leaving with your baby right?

Actually is your baby is admitted as an inpatient they can.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 21/07/2018 22:13

When I gave birth a couple of weeks ago we were planning to carry baby down to the car and they said we had to have either a car seat or a pram to leave. We meekly went and got the car seat, but thinking about it now that can't possibly be enforceable!

NynaeveSedai · 21/07/2018 22:13

They can't stop a parent from discharging their own baby without a court order Hmm

whatshouldIdo999 · 21/07/2018 22:17

Both mine had fixed birth to 4 years car seats, 1st no one asked and left in pram, second I just explained car seat can't be removed and there was no problem.

There wouldn't be a market for birth to 4 years or birth to 12 car seats if this was a fact, They probably need to be sure you have a seat, some hospitals may be happy to trust you, others may come down and check but I doubt any would actually stop you from leaving.

INeedNewShoes · 21/07/2018 22:32

Our hospital has a policy of babies not being carried around in arms so they insist on pram or car seat, but there's no lift apart from the patient lift so you end up lifting the pushchair down the stairs!

GerdaLovesLili · 21/07/2018 22:52

I had a sling, carried him round in the sling in hospital, went home on the bus with him in the sling. how can they enforce the car-seat thing?

KitchenFloor · 22/07/2018 00:00

Walked out with baby in sling both times, no car seat in sight or mentioned

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