Do I really need to have a carseat to leave the hospital?

[djonz]

Hi,

I'm due soon and I've heard that hospitals won't discharge you if you don't have a carseat. I've also read that when you're taking a cab (maybe it's just a black cab) you're not required to use a carseat, so I'm confused. These to regulations would seem to contradict one another.

I live in London, don't have a car and almost never use taxis so I really have no need one. Can they really prevent me from leaving when what I'd be doing (getting into a cab w/o a carseat) isn't against the law anyway?

(Please don't reply with lectures on the merits of carseats -- I fully appreciate them but given that I don't see using a car more than just this once over the next few months, it doesn't seem like it makes a lot of sense to buy one if I can avoid it.)

Are you getting a pushchair?, alot of travel systems are most have the carseat inclused (travel systems) and even if you are not going to use a car there might be occasions when having the seay is useful, eg when taking baby to the doctors it's handy to have travel system and take out the carrier into the waiting room so that you are not holding your baby for the wait. I bought a britax car seat for about £45 in sale and then a few days later bought a lie flat pushchair but I hav eto say the carsear has been very useful, also for visiting neighbours and friends within walking distance as the baby has somewhere to sit safely and that doesn't take up the space of a buggy in their living room if you see what I mean.

I know of no law which states that the hospital is allowed to prevent you leaving without a car seat. Remember, you are not a prisoner and neither is your baby and you are free to leave at any time. A hospital may choose not to discharge you if your baby doesn't have a car seat, but you are perfectly within your rights to leave without being discharged. If they want to prevent your baby leaving the hospital they would have to apply for a court order.

It is of course a very sensible idea to use a car seat even in a taxi.

I would never put my baby - newborn or now toddler in a car without a car seat. It just isnt worth it. I know you mean well but also think about the fact that London traffic isnt exactly sedate. You would never forgive yourself if something happened. And newborns are tiny!

DH wanted to take DS home in an armoured vehicle!

With an escort! LOL

My friend strapped her child carefully into the car seat in front of the nurse outside the hospital but it wasn't until they got home they realised the car seat wasn't actually fixed to the CAR!! New parent stress, they forgot to check that bit! She goes white even now when it comes up on conversation and her son is 13!!

That's a great price for a seat. I know you think you don't need one - but riding in a taxi without one even for a short trip is a risk you don't need to take. Stop agonising over what the hospital policy is and buy a seat. If you really don't use it much then you will be able to sell it on in due course and maybe even make a profit!

It will have taken you pretty much 9 months for your precious little one to be ready to come into this world, it takes less than 9 secs for an accident in a car to take that new life away, that is what our road safety officer told us at antenatal classes to emphasise the importance. There's really no excuse not to have one to bring baby home in, if you can't see it's uses as I've mentioned previously and don't want to buy one then borrow one, there are many things a baby doesn't actually need but a safe way to be transported in a car is definately one that's needed.

can i add that if yu having c section pack a pillow for you for the journey - to put between you and strap - just felt a bit more comfy - god i felt those bumps on the way home!!!

also having baby in a car seat will make ilife easier for you honestly - you will both have stuff to carry/hold and you may feel a bit wobbly - you can always sell it later on ebay