0-4 car seat that remains in car - leaving hospital

[Caspianberg]

How does this work? I have read on here and elsewhere that hospitals refuse to let you leave unless baby is in car seat, or i guess strapped in pram if planning to walk home.

We have ordered a car seat that remains fixed in the car, so it can't be taken out. Has anyone else used similar from birth and just walked out of the hospital with baby in a sling or arms to the car?

It wasn’t true in my case. They didn’t bat an eyelid and I left the hospital with my baby in my arms.

We had one of these, the midwife came down to the car with us to make sure we had one

Bring the pram or sling and put the baby in that. They can't actually stop you leaving, and whilst there is no need to be rude to them it's fine to point out that not having a cat seat to leave the ward does not equal irresponsible parenting. If they're that concerned they can come out to the car park and watch you get into the car, although with the poor level of staffing on post natal wards I think I'd be complaining to the hospital if they wasted time doing that.

Car seat, not cat seat! That would be strange...

Thanks. Maybe I should take a picture of it set up in car.
Like you say, they can always come down if they want to see it, but would be easier if DH can just pop baby in sling and carry down as Maternity is 5th floor here, so i doubt they want to be trekking up and down lift all day checking this.

I just walked out the hospital with him in dhs arms. No one even checked we had a car seat (we did!)

They asked. I told them it was in the car and we left. No drama no fuss.

When we left, everyone in our room of 6 had been discharged that morning and had staggered departures after receiving paperwork. We were one of the last to leave and as we left we saw no staff and having been in hospital for 4 days I never saw anybody having their car seat checked.

I only ever had my first baby have a check we had a car seat. 2nd baby (in same hospital) didn't even ask, and discharge was much more slack as well. Although I was in high dependency for first baby and on the "natural" birthing ward for the second so perhaps a difference.

No one checked our car seat. A friend of mine is a midwife, she said sometimes she is asked by new parents to check their child is strapped in and the seat is appropriate - she actually has no idea as midwives receive no training in this! I very much doubt they have staff free to come down and check your car and as above, they can’t actually stop you leaving. If they make a fuss tell them you’re getting the bus.

One of the midwives came down with us and checked that dd was strapped in properly. She actually helped us because we had no idea how it worked 🤣

My useless midwife almost let me leave with my cannula still in so she definitely didn't give a toss about car seat

I was not asked/checked with regards to car seat with either of my babies.