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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Do you have to take a car seat into the hospital to bring baby out?

34 replies

halfwaythrough2 · 20/05/2021 19:37

Hey wise people,

For my first I had a a baby seat I took into hospital but this time we've got a isize joie 360 and it doesn't remove from the base! So wondering if they will let us walk out with baby in arms or not! Sounds silly I know but I was told to bring a car seat and I don't see the point in buying another just for 2 mins to the car and I'm also super sleep deprived so appreciate I'm probably being a plonker asking this haha

Thank you Grin

OP posts:
MamaWeasel · 20/05/2021 19:38

Can you bring the pram in instead, and transfer the baby to the car seat (under supervision of the midwife who escorts you out, if necessary)?

SwanShaped · 20/05/2021 19:41

We weren’t allowed out without the baby in a car seat. So you’d best check with hospital. You couldn’t carry a baby out in your arms. It was a safeguarding thing.

emmaluggs · 20/05/2021 19:45

They don’t like you leaving with the baby in arms due to any accidents that could happen. My first I had car seat you could take jn abs out. My second like yours wasn’t removable so my partner went and got the pram when we were ready to leave

Vodkaandballoon · 20/05/2021 19:47

Just tell them the car seat doesn't come out. I can't see how they can stop you. When I had my 2nd I didn't have a car so no need for a seat. I left with baby in a pram & got the bus home

Archiduchesse · 20/05/2021 19:54

It's a hospital, not a prison and your baby! Do what works best for you.

olderthanyouthink · 20/05/2021 19:55

I walked out of hospital with baby in arms and got un a black cab (someone was supposed to get us a car seat but was being a twat). Central London hospital, they are used to people not having cars.

If I did it again she'd be in a carrier for the walk out to a taxi and we obviously now have a car seat

Wingingthis · 20/05/2021 19:55

I couldn’t anyway due to COVID restrictions, I had to walk/push the hospital cot with DD in it with a midwife walking with me and then meet DH at the main entrance. We then carried DD in arms to the car x

NotAnotherPushyMum · 20/05/2021 19:56

No, it’s not a prison. Just leave however you want to.

baileysisforme · 20/05/2021 19:59

Just take your pushchair in to the ward and take baby out to the car in that

Happycat1212 · 20/05/2021 19:59

We weren’t allowed to leave without a car seat, actually had to borrow one because I didn’t have one because I don’t drive!

turnthebiglightoff · 20/05/2021 20:02

We weren't allowed to leave without a car seat either, despite living a 10 min walk away.

sylbunny · 20/05/2021 20:07

They'll probably have you wheel baby down to the door in one of those mobile cots. My husband had to meet me at the door due to covid rules and this is what I had to do. A midwife came with me and helped with bags

Doublechocolatetiffin · 20/05/2021 20:16

They can't keep you or your baby in a hospital and they don't have any say over how you transport your baby! Just use a pram, or a sling or just carry the baby out in your arms. If anyone tries to stop you tell them they are welcome to come and see the seat in the car.

Original poster
halfwaythrough2 · 20/05/2021 21:06

Thanks for your replies Smile
So there's some mixed answers so I'm guessing it's who ever is running the shifts choice/preference. Will bring the pram or like others have said might have to wheel her out in the crib.
X

OP posts:
WeatherwaxLives · 20/05/2021 21:12

I think it's more about them being in something than necessarily a car seat. If you're not taking them home in a car then a sling would probably be fine.

I remember a dad being told off when we were in hospital with newborn DD - he was walking round with his new baby in the corridor and nearly had a nasty accident when someone flung a door open suddenly
He was told he had to wheel the cot thingy if he needed to move the baby from the nursery bit to where the mum was.

mrssunshinexxx · 20/05/2021 22:15

I'm really confused what would the midwife actually be able to do ? Is isn't a prison and it's your baby OP just push the baby to the entrance in the little crib then carry x

Liervik · 20/05/2021 22:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

DonGray · 20/05/2021 22:23

no

EvilOnion · 20/05/2021 22:37

Contact your maternity unit as they all seem to do it differently.

At ours I was told off for carrying DS in the corridor to the day room, they said it was in case of an accident as there can be emergencies where the halls become very busy/rushed which makes sense.

A midwife would accompany you to the entrance with the baby in the Wheely fish tank thing and then you can carry them to the car.

SwanShaped · 21/05/2021 07:02

Our maternity unit had locked doors and you had to be buzzed in and out. And they wouldn’t buzz you out if you were carrying baby. It was after a sad case happened that was in the news. So they got strict after that.

lavenderandwisteria · 21/05/2021 08:36

I think it’s one of those things that if you wished to argue you would win. They aren’t a prison and have no right to keep you or your baby in there against your will. I think most people just can’t be bothered, though!

Checkingout811 · 21/05/2021 08:37

We had the britax romer dualfix and just walked out carrying our 3 babies.

EekThreek · 21/05/2021 08:53

We had a dualfix last time (3 years ago). Our hospital asked DH to bring the pram in, and they walked us to the door.

As it happened, she hated the pram, screamed her head off, so I picked her up and carried her, while DH pushed all the bags in the pram. They didn't stop us or frown on it, obviously.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 21/05/2021 08:59

We’ll be taking the baby home in a black London cab, no car, we don’t drive. I honestly can’t see how they’d stop us leaving 😂

That’s our baby, and it’s not a secure unit. I’m sure they’ll have the critical thought process to realise that it’s not an option to not ‘allow’ us to leave!

LakeShoreD · 21/05/2021 17:58

I wheeled both of mine out in their prams. DC1 went home in a black cab without leaving the pram. DC2 was transferred to the fixed car seat in the car park. This was London though so I presume very common to not drive.