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Original poster

Carseats and hospitals

53 replies

OnNaturesCourse · 01/05/2017 14:19

So we've decided upon a fitted car seat for our four door car. It rotates so it'll make life easier... But... I've heard baby must be in a hand held car seat to leave the hospital? Does this mean I'm going to have to buy another seat!? Can't I use the carrycot from our pram to leave and then put baby in the seat?

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Zebrasinpyjamas · 01/05/2017 14:23

Yes you will be fine with that. Our hospital didn't make any requests about handheld car seats. They want the baby to be transported safely so they didn't like anyone walking about the ward carrying their baby (I assume they were worried we would all keel over and drop them?!) but didn't have any other rules. Besides not everyone will drive home! A pushchair is fine. Good luck with your new arrival.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 01/05/2017 14:44

Ultimately it's your baby, they can't actually stop you from carrying them out in your arms. It's not so risky it would warrant social services intervention. I would take a pushchair/sling for the baby because you will need hands free for opening doors/carrying bags etc.

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 01/05/2017 14:56

That's what I was thinking but apparently they are really quite straight with it and it must be done. Bit surely if I can prove the car seat is bolted into the car it should be fine.

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kateclarke · 01/05/2017 15:03

Can you just take a photo of the seat in your car to show them if they ask?

AveEldon · 01/05/2017 15:05

You don't need to buy another seat

Xmasbaby11 · 01/05/2017 15:05

Buggy is fine. Some people don't even have a car so don't own a car seat!

Empireoftheclouds · 01/05/2017 15:05

The whole idea that everyone leaves hospital wth their baby in a car seat is ridiculous, I have no idea why people think you are not allowed to take your baby if you don't have a car seat, what do yo do? Remain in the ward until your child is bloody twelve! No, you can take your baby home as soon as they are medically discharged. Medical disacharge will not be based in car seat approval.

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 01/05/2017 15:09

My midwife told us...

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Empireoftheclouds · 01/05/2017 15:31

Yeah, it's not law.

Empireoftheclouds · 01/05/2017 15:32

Oh and I didn't mean you in particular it's really common for people to think they are not allowed their babies home without a seat,

ScarlettFreestone · 01/05/2017 15:34

My friend had a similar car seat.

In our hospital someone would come to the door with you and have a quick check of the car seat in the car.

NotEvenListening · 01/05/2017 15:34

When I had dd 6 years ago neither of us drove and we lived on the same road as the hospital and we're told we had to have a car seat to take her home. We bought one and paid a taxi to drive us 1 minute down the road. It's absolutely baffling!

whattheactualfudge · 01/05/2017 15:35

I wouldn't put a newborn into a fitted car seat. I know they say they're suitable from birth but the best seats for them are the handheld ones, rear facing on a base.

savagehk · 01/05/2017 15:41

We left with baby in a sling.

Oysterbabe · 01/05/2017 16:18

It'll be fine. At our hospital they would come to the car with you to check baby is strapped in correctly.

Empireoftheclouds · 01/05/2017 16:21

I wouldn't put a newborn into a fitted car seat. I know they say they're suitable from birth but the best seats for them are the handheld ones, rear facing on a base. evidence to back this up?

Kintan · 01/05/2017 16:25

No one even asked us how we were getting our baby home when we were discharged!

Empireoftheclouds · 01/05/2017 16:27

At our hospital they would come to the car with you to check baby is strapped in correctly.. I would be asking where they did car seat fitting as part of their midwifery.

AWaspOnAWindowInAHeatwave · 01/05/2017 16:49

Nobody even asked at our hospital. If they had, they'd have gotten short shrift from me and DH.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 01/05/2017 16:57

I left hospital last week with baby in a pushchair. DH had forgotten the adaptor to put the car seat on the travel system. No member of staff asked any questions. Presumably if you walk/get the bus everywhere you don't need a car seat.

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 01/05/2017 17:21

Thank you all.

Our fitted car seat rotates so can be rear facing up to 18kg depending on the height of the child. It's iso fix too so it's very safe. Unfortunately we would struggle getting a hand held seat in and out the back seat of our 3 door car. Doable but only if we tip the seat slightly and break our backs.

OP posts:
RuskBaby · 01/05/2017 17:25

We brought our baby out of hospital in her pram but we could have carried her and no one would have said anything as they didn't even look at us as we left.

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 01/05/2017 17:27

Well I guess if it they moan we will just have to show them our car?

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Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 01/05/2017 17:28

To be honest I'd be pretty annoyed if they confronted the matter.

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Misspilly88 · 01/05/2017 17:30

At my hospital they walked us out to the car, so they might just walk you out to check babys strapped in properly.

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