Home from hospital in a taxi?

[InPraiseofOldHouses]

Does anyone know whether it's okay to bring baby home from hospital in a taxi? Do we need a car seat? The hospital is 10 minutes from our house. Thanks!

Yes that's fine, but yes you need a carseat - they won't let you out without. Can you practise fastening the carseat into a car before though, as that can be stressful when you are just coming out and don't know how to do it.

You can get a black cab with the buggy.

It is legal to take a baby in a taxi without a carseat for a short local journey - however, as Ellypoo says, the hospital may refuse to discharge you on that basis.

A hospital cannot refuse your discharge because of a car seat. If they say they will not discharge you, then you request your own discharge. If they attempt to detain you, call the police.

They are however right to make an issue of the importance of car sets from the very off. They are wrong to assume a) everyone leaves by car and b) it is appropriate to demand the removal (by a novice) of a properly fixed car seat in order to display it.

The law on the use of child seats and restraints is detailed on the govt website here www.dft.gov.uk/think/education/early-years-and-primary/parents/7-to-11s/car-seats-boosters-and-seat-belts/. It does say that if a restraint or child seat is not available in a taxi then a child can travel without it. However, the main issue here is that the law was created for a reason. If a child is involved in a car accident and not in a child seat then they are likely to be seriously injured or worse and for that reason alone you should try and make sure that if your child is travelling in any vehicle they should be in a child seat. Is there anyone who could lend you a child seat for the journey home or maybe you could ring round taxi companies and see if any of them do provide car seats for babies.

Sorry - meant to say the law regarding the use of child seats was created for a reason. The reason there is an exception for taxis is due to practical reasons and not safety.

When I had my DS 13 years ago the hospital initially refused to discharge me without a car seat. Thy tried to sell me one for £20. They took some convincing that my son would be perfectly safe in his sling on the bus. The hospital was Whipps Cross in London.

I personally wouldn't - at the end of the day the journey may only be ten mins but you could still be involved in an accident ( even though unlikely) and your baby would not be safe. Like others have said perhaps there is a taxi company who can provide one. Is the problem that you just do not plan on having / don't need a car seat? If so could you borrow one from somewhere?

I live in central London and we don't drive. I remember being worried about this when DD2 was born, however it's never been a problem. My parents were down and we drove the 3 min car journey home with DS2 on my lap. We niw have a car seat at my parents as they live in a rural area and we use the car alot there. However we regularly use taxis and mini cabs in London for short journeys and it's never been a problem.

Midwives and nurses generally have better things to do than check on whether you have a car seat. Don't know where this urban myth arose...

Can you borrow one? Or perhaps get one from Freecycle or a nearly new sale? My Freecycle car seat was absolutely pristine.

On both occasions the mw took us down to the car park and watched us strap the dc into their car seats!

When they were babies I took them in black cabs quite a few times (but strapped into thieir buggies)

Thanks everyone! We have a car and will be getting a car seat, it's just that I'm the only one who drives and am not planning on driving to hospital whilst in labour. I suppose we could just bring it with us when we go in...

Like someone else has said just because its a short journey doesn't mean you definitely won't have an accident! Would you ever forgive yourself if your baby (god forbid) was injured because you made the choice not to use a car seat?
Hoping you make the right decision and take a car seat. It's really not worth the risk! X

I got taxis to and from the hospital with DD2 (easier around here and also then we have to worry about the parking charges). Just take the baby seat with you when you go in and you're good to go, as it were. You'll need to have bought a baby-seat by then anyway. Good luck.

Sorry - should have read 'and also then we didn't have to worry about the parking charges' ...

We did (took a car seat to avoid agro) - driver was ace! Treated us v well (no rushing, asking if everyone was ok, driving carefully etc.) think he was chuffed to have a newborn on the car tbh!

GL :)