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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Hospital won't let baby leave unless in car seat?

113 replies

Chimerah · 12/06/2016 08:39

Been reading on various other threads how hospitals won't let you leave hospital with baby unless they're in a car seat?

We have not purchased a carry car seat, only one that's 0-4 and always stays in the car.

Will they really not let me carry the baby out of the hospital? Or will they want to come with us to car to check?!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PacificDogwod · 12/06/2016 09:16

I was actually grateful with the help because getting tiny preemie DS2 correctly in to a newborn car seat was not that easy….

Yes, just ask them - they will not hold you hostage for lack of a car seat if you are walking home for instance

Roomba · 12/06/2016 09:20

When I had DS1, 10.5 years ago, they certainly wanted to check that not only was the baby in a car seat but also that it was installed correctly. When we left, a midwife came out to the car with us to check it was in okay.

However, this clearly only applied if you were leaving by car. One lady who was in with me just told them she was using her pram as they were walking home. That was fine with them too.

When I had DS2, almost 4 years ago - same hospital, no one asked to see that he was in a car seat, or that it was installed in the car properly. Whether they were just far too busy and understaffed by then to go out and check everyone, or whether they knew I was a 2nd time mother so assumed I knew what I was doing, I don't know.

I'd love to know what they think police/SS would actually do if they rang them to say someone was getting into a taxi with no car seat, given no crime is being committed there whatsoever? How exactly would they stop you leaving hospital with your baby when you're doing nothing wrong (whether it's sensible is another matter!)? Surely that would be false imprisonment or something?

treaclesoda · 12/06/2016 09:22

This blows my mind really. I totally understand that parents need reminded of the importance of appropriate car seats and safety etc. But I hate the assumption that parents won't bother their arses doing things properly unless a properly trained person stands over them and makes them. It is utterly meaningless anyway, because if you wanted to, you could drive round the corner, take the baby out of the car seat, put it on your lap and drive off. It is only stupid box ticking.

I spent hours of my labour alone because there weren't enough midwives to go round all the women in labour. If I subsequently found out that there were midwives in the car park checking people's car seats instead of inside the hospital providing care for women delivering babies, I think I would have been tempted to sue the hospital...

ipsogenix · 12/06/2016 09:25

They can't actually keep you in hospital. We left without permission, with ds wrapped in a blanket at 10.30pm in the cold. We had a car seat but it was in the car and they did not ask. The hospital was too full and understaffed and we were safer at home so we just made the decision to go. It was fine.

ipsogenix · 12/06/2016 09:28

btw we needed to put a folded towel in the bottom of the car seat as ds was so long and thin that he would have been folded up in a weird way if we had just put him straight into the seat. It might be a good idea to take a towel in case you need it to make the seat safe for your dc.

Borogoves · 12/06/2016 09:34

They can't not let you leave! They can't keep you prisoner. It's your baby, you're the parent, just leave when you are ready to and you have both got the ok medically.

daffydoo · 12/06/2016 09:37

This is all very bizarre to me after 2 home births and no one giving a flying fuck if I carried my baby, if I had a car seat or a pram

maggiethemagpie · 12/06/2016 09:38

my baby left hospital wrapped up in my partner's fleece jumper as we forgot to bring up the car seat AND the snow suit. They can't stop you leaving hospital at any time, it's not prison!

WhereTheFuckIsMyCunt · 12/06/2016 09:43

Where I work we don't have any rules about car seats, etc. Apart from as a midwife I am not "allowed" to offer any car seat assistance as its not something we're trained in and the hospital are worried that if anything happened we would be sued. Can't say I always follow this rule if someone asks for help!

We did once have some parents who dragged in an upright forward facing car seat to put their newborn in. The midwife looking after them told them they couldn't leave with baby in it and came to me to ask me to back her up. I told the parents it was totally unsuitable and dangerous (it was) but that we're not the police and can't stop them using it. They trotted out with the baby in that seat. But legally a midwife has no power to detain anyone so they can't keep you in a hospital no matter what they think to the car seat arrangement.

MumOnACornishFarm · 12/06/2016 09:44

I can't imagine how they would know, unless they demand you bring your car seat into the hospital? Can't see that they have the time and staffing levels to come and check. It's a hospital, not Halfords. What about those who don't have a car and therefore don't have a car seat? Sounds like nonsense to me. I walked out of hospital with DS in my arms, and nobody had any clue of how we were getting home. I'm sure it'll all be fine.

Lottielou7 · 12/06/2016 09:45

Our hospital won't let you leave with the baby unless it's in a car seat.

MumOnACornishFarm · 12/06/2016 09:46

But Lottie what if you were leaving on the bus? Or walking? Or by unicycle???

hownottofuckup · 12/06/2016 09:51

Presumably they'd expect you to take them out in a buggy for the bus Mum
I think you might have actual probs trying to take them off on a unicycle though.

PacificDogwod · 12/06/2016 09:51

They can (and do!) call the police if a baby is taken away by car and without a car seat!

Yes, we were encouraged to bring the car seat on the ward.

Of course you can leave without a car seat if the baby is not being taken home by car.

PacificDogwod · 12/06/2016 09:52

Unicycle

hownottofuckup · 12/06/2016 09:52

Obviously if you don't have a suitable carseatso buggy you have to stay until the baby is of an age where they can walk out by themselves.

NicknameUsed · 12/06/2016 09:53

What PacificDogwod said.

When DD was born nearly 16 years ago we were accompanied down to the car and they checked that we had a car seat and it and DD were properly secured.

The car seat rule is obviously just for car seats. Taking a baby in a car without a car seat is so unsafe.

Does anyone remember the flack that one of the members of the royal family attracted when taking a baby home carried in arms in the front seat of a car? I can't remember if it was Princess Anne or Princess Diana.

Sleepybeanbump · 12/06/2016 09:55

My hospital didn't give a fig. I actually had to ask them to come be check we had DS in the car seat properly.

MumOnACornishFarm · 12/06/2016 09:56

My new goal for DC2 is to discharge myself on a unicycle

treaclesoda · 12/06/2016 09:57

I don't think anyone is arguing that it is fine and dandy to take a newborn home in a car without a car seat.

nousernames · 12/06/2016 09:58

Which hospital are you going to be at? Someone on mumsnet may have been there recently.
I was Newcastle RVI and it's not something they do there.

PacificDogwod · 12/06/2016 10:05

Mum, I would pay to see that!
You could sell tickets

NannyMarmalade · 12/06/2016 10:06

A nurse carried the baby to the front door of the hospital. After that, we were on our own. I had a carry cot with restraining straps on the back seat of the car. This was 1970s before car seatbelts became compulsory (1983 in UK).

MumOnACornishFarm · 12/06/2016 10:12

Pacific I may be over-reaching myself here, given that I haven't even been on a bicycle since I was about 10 But I imagine the drugs will give me confidence, even if they don't particularly help my sense of balance. And if DC1 is anything to go by I will be needing ALL the drugs.

MaisieDotes · 12/06/2016 10:18

his is all very bizarre to me after 2 home births and no one giving a flying fuck if I carried my baby, if I had a car seat or a pram confused

The hospital has a duty of care- it's all about liability and the potential to be sued, unfortunately.

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