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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Do I Really Need a Car Seat?

39 replies

catsofa · 06/09/2014 20:20

All advice seems to say we'll need a car seat, right from when we take new baby home. I'm confused though because we don't have a car and won't be getting one, so although I have no idea how we would get baby home, I'm a bit reluctant to buy a car seat just for one taxi ride home.

What have I not thought of? Can you hire them from somewhere? What will the hospital do if you need to go home but don't have a car seat?

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Memphisbelly · 06/09/2014 20:24

They like to see you leave hospital with baby in a carseat, my friend didn't get released for an extra day as they hadn't bought one as they lived walking distance to the hospital. Not sure if this is the same at every hospital though.
Have you got a friend or family member you could borrow one off?

Andcake · 06/09/2014 20:26

We were in a similar situation - hospital advised on taxi firms who hired car seats when we did our nhs pre birth class. Also newborn car seats are only for about 6 months - we now have a bigger one which will last years for when we hire cars etc

Andcake · 06/09/2014 20:27

Ps we are central london so hospital told parents not to drive but get taxis anyway

CultureSucksDownWords · 06/09/2014 20:29

If you don't have a car then you don't need a car seat. You can legally travel in the rear of a taxi without a car seat (this article has an explanation).

I've done this once, with my baby in a pushchair. I would only do it for short town trips though as I felt that although legal, it obviously isn't ideal.

squizita · 06/09/2014 20:31

Many hospital recommended taxi firms have their own car seats. Ask your labour ward for numbers. :)

Artandco · 06/09/2014 20:36

Newborn car seats ( the 0+ ones), now last until approx 18 months old so probably worth getting one

We live in London so have no car either but found we use car seats a fair bit still, in taxis/ car hire here and abroad/ grandparents cars/ etc

LBNM19 · 06/09/2014 20:49

I didn't drive when I had dc1 but still got a car seat, because if someone is looking after them who drives etc or your getting picked up dropped off somewhere (used to go out with my mum in car quite alot) but depends on your situation I suppose xx

Scoobsmam13 · 06/09/2014 20:49

When I had my DD (6yrs ago) the hospital advised you couldn't leave without a car seat, it was in a rural location to be fair. I haven't seen or read anything this time, and am in a different area. I didn't have a car with DD1 but bought a seat from mothercare for about £40 as figured it was good to have for grandparents and friends cars.

BikeRunSki · 06/09/2014 20:55

Leave the hospital with the baby in a pram, and get bus or taxi. Neither need a car seat.,

Smartiepants79 · 06/09/2014 20:56

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3764879.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:18091973125%7Ctsid:59156%7Ccid:189942085%7Clid:96720220525%7Cnw:g%7Ccrid:53116098925%7Crnd:6337249726175101753%7Cdvc:t%7Cadp:1o3

Here's one for under £30
Are you planning to never travel in a car at all?
My Dd is still using hers 20 months on.
It was also used by her sister.
It's been worth every penny.

Original poster

catsofa · 06/09/2014 21:16

Neither of us can actually drive so we won't be hiring any cars either, I really never do travel in a car apart from when coming home from festivals with too much luggage to take on the bus - something I guess I'll not be doing for a while now!

Obviously if we do find we need one later then we'll get one, but it's quite possible that we won't get in a car at all for the first year so I really don't want the expense if it's only going to be used for a 2 mile journey home from the hospital. What we will need is the best push chair in the world as I imagine our lives will revolve around it quite a bit...

A taxi firm with seats to hire sounds ideal, and will be useful for future emergencies too, so I'll have a look at that. Thank you!

OP posts:

AliMonkey · 06/09/2014 21:29

With DS, I was putting him in sling to take him home and midwife said "you aren't taking him in that are you? "Yes" You can't leave without a car seat" "why not?" Etc. I'm afraid I deliberately played dumb until she actually asked me the sensible question of whether we were going home in a car. We lived 5 mins walk away so of course were walking. Once she worked that one out she let us go. Perfectly right that they should check baby will be safe but not by making assumptions!

Original poster

catsofa · 06/09/2014 21:36

So many people seem to assume that everyone goes everywhere in a car, no wonder we're doing such incredible environmental damage!

I'm also planning on using a sling a lot, I guess I just don't want to rely on being able to walk very far by the time they kick me out of hospital.

Not sure if I'll be in the hospital half an hours walk from home or the one 5 minutes walk either. Half an hour is probably a bit much, I'm guessing.

OP posts:

backinthebox · 06/09/2014 21:47

On the one hand, (and it is probably be because I live in a very rural area) I cannot imagine someone never travelling anywhere in a car, ever. My nanny doesn't drive, but she and her baby often get a lift from me, her sister, friends. Otoh, if you really are planning to walk home, you are not at the mercy of the hospital - you are not their prisoner, you can go home whenever you want. They are their to support you but you can discharge yourself whenever you want, and take your baby with you.

I think I am no more likely to crash my car than a taxi driver is though. If you think it is essential to have a car seat in a private car, what makes taxis immune to the same kinds of accidents other cars have? Are they somehow immune to being rear-ended at traffic lights?

iK8 · 06/09/2014 21:50

NCT hire car seats www.nctshop.co.uk.

They hire other stuff too.

CultureSucksDownWords · 06/09/2014 21:51

Backinthebox, would the same thing also apply to buses?

Artandco · 06/09/2014 21:59

Culture - no because of the size of a bus. If a car hit a bus the car will be worse off. If a car hits a taxi they are even so more chance of bad injury

OrangeyTulips · 06/09/2014 22:21

we didn't have a car for the first four years of ds's life. We bought a car seat for use in taxis - not all taxi firms supply seats and I felt uncomfortable bringing ds in a taxi without a seat even if it was legal. We did need to use taxis due to a hospital stay so the seats were well worth it.

CultureSucksDownWords · 06/09/2014 22:28

Artandco, that's a good point. And seeing as you can get a car seat for £30 or less then that's not too bad for occasional use.

I wonder why there is an exception in the law for taxis?

UpUpAndAway123 · 06/09/2014 22:46

Some hospitals can be really funny about you leaving without a car seat. Could you not borrow one from a friend/family member to travel from the hospital?

Original poster

catsofa · 06/09/2014 22:49

But I don't know if I'll even be going home by car. If the hospital are funny about me leaving without a car seat when we're not getting home by car then that is very much the hospital's problem, not mine!

OP posts:

MultipleMama · 07/09/2014 01:08

We were told when we asked why was because a baby has to pass the car seat test before they leave hospital (well they did where mine were born). They didn't want us taking baby home, and for whatever reason needing a car seat only to have baby's stats drop without us knowing. Overall, safety reasons, I think.

Good reason too, as my son first failed it - and we didn't have a car only his travel system, so he couldn't go in it until he passed.

Acorncat · 07/09/2014 07:23

My car seat stays in the car, the hospital asked if we had one, we said yes and that was it - they didn't actually check. So definitely varies by hospital incase anyone is worrying.

AggressiveBunting · 07/09/2014 07:33

The exception for taxis is that it's not practical. What would people do with the seat at the other end? You can't leave it i the taxi and not all seats for onto stroller bases. Also if people need to get a taxi in an emergency or for an unplanned journey ( because the train got cancelled etc).

Artandco · 07/09/2014 07:47

It's reAlly up to you if you get one, just saying we found one handy even without car.

Also bare in mind time like now as just adults you are happy to walk to train somewhere but with baby sometimes taxi/ friends car better. Ie if baby is ill and needs doctors ( but not hospital), it's far easier ask a friend / phone taxi and take then it is getting on a bus with a vomiting baby. Sure you can go without in emergencies but depends on preferences. Personally I prefer an already sick baby to be in car

Before we might have visited friends across town and taken last tube home. With baby it's easier to pop them in taxi at midnight rather than drag a sleeping baby up and down escalators and tubes etcetc

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