Carseats and hospitals

[OnNaturesCourse]

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?

If this was true (I. E. They don't let you leave without a car seat), how long do you think they would keep baby there against your will? When you called the police to get them to release your baby do you honestly think that "but they don't have a car seat" would be a good excuse for them?

I just carried my baby out, no one asked where the car seat was or demanded we use a pram, or accompanied us to the car.

Gin... I am only asking as that was what I was told by midwife and others I know. I did think it was a little odd but I've seen stranger things.

It's a reasonable question, they certainly make sure you have a safe way of taking baby home at our local hospital. DH brought the carseat in and they just checked it was suitable and that we did the straps up tightly enough, she actually did them slightly tighter than I otherwise would have.

I'm happy for them to come to the car I guess, if they insist. I can kind of understand the reasoning but thought it was odd to insist baby left in a car seat.

I guess if need be the grandparents will be getting a baby carseat so we could just get them to pick us up.

Our hospital didn't even check us when we left....but also as above posters have said, not everyone leaves in a car, some could walk or get a bus/train home!

I've heard some hospitals insist on a car seat even if you're travelling home by bus or taxi, and some also don't let you walk home. Depends on the hospital - you'll need to ask. You can get a £34.99 kiddicare car seat for the hospital I guess?

Are you going to book a tour of the Labour ward? Best bet is to ask.

It absolutely does not depend on the hospital. Once discharged you can leave. Midwives don't do car seat fitting as part of their training so are no more qualified than parents to see the baby is in correctly. It is absolute nonsense that anyone should consider spending £34.99 on a car seat they do not need.

Just passing on what I've heard Empire. Not saying I agree with it.

Thing is, our car is tiny so most car seats that fit are the streamlined/compact versions which are expensive plus there is little hope of 6ft+ DP being able to reach in back and put a belt round (doubt I'll be fit to climb in and out etc)

At our local hospital they walk out to the car with you if they can't check the seat in the hospital. If you get the bus or walk they check you've got a lie-flat pram or a suitable sling. Can't imagine you wouldn't be allowed to leave at all!! They just check that you have a safe method of transportation. If you don't I think that might be a social services worthy thing? Not sure really.

I had my little boy Friday and even though we had the car seat next to the bed when we were waiting to be discharged, neither the doctor or midwife said anything about car seats. Whether that's because they saw the car seat or not I don't know but no one said anything before it was bought into the ward either. I don't think they can stop you, it's your baby at the end of the day and anyone who takes a baby in a car seat is out of their mind so I don't think they'd think you didn't have one x

I do have an appropriate pram in mind... Lie flat etc. I'll have to ask when I visit the birthing centre xx

Just passing on what I've heard Empire. Not saying I agree with it. the problem with just passing on what you have heard is that you have no idea whether it is true or not; then 40 people read this and pass it on etc etc so we get to the point where people genuinely think they are not allowed to leave hospital with their own children.

Not really, I spoke with my midwife about it.

It's illegal to not have an appropriate car seat for a child if travelling by car. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think that illegal behaviour towards a newborn would be social services worthy, and that the hospital would refer where appropriate.

whattheactualfudge are you planning to come back and tell us what you're basing that ludicrous comment on it was it just more of the complete bollocks new parents get told on a daily basis?

Whattheactualfudge is talking complete rubbish

It will be fine op, worst case scenario they will come out to the car and check. But I know some London mums who don't have cars or carseats and managed to take their babies home fine.

I had DD in a busy London hospital. We had a carseat but there is so little parking nearby that we got taxi back. Hospital had list of taxi companies with car seats for newborns; other people got bus or tube home. Nobody asked how we were getting home.

Not really, I spoke with my midwife about it.. That's great, but she is a midwife, not a car safety specialist. It doesn't matter what she said because as I have already said, once you are discharged you are free to leave. Car seat isn't part of the medical discharge.

People do realise that once you have baby you can go out and about right? So this whole nonsense about not being allowed to leave with a baby in a pram makes zero sense; I could take mine out in a car seat, drive home then put baby in pram and go for a walk. It makes no difference. You are allowed to walk out of the hospital, with your child, whether they are in a seat, a pram, a sling or in arms. They are your child.

OnNaturesCourse just a thought, with a 3 door car you may actually find one of the isofix plates with a seat you put on with baby already strapped in and then it clicks/lights up to show you it has worked easier. We have a fixed car seat that swivels, you have to be able to stand alongside (5 door) to get baby strapped in and unless you get into the car you would not be able to do. For your DP it may be tricky?

I'd say that would be fine.
(Though I think a lot of people like the thought of carry mining the baby out in the infant seat)

Thank you all.

Rusk. We can't get a carseat to fit through the door with the seat forward. We are looking at one that rotates 360 , I can hop in and put baby in or DP can go in from the other side if need be. To fit the seat it will need to go in through the boot. Not easy but best we can do... Or best we've thought of so far. X

Infant carriers can usually go on the front seat, provided the airbags are off. I know that's probably a pain for the other adult in the car, though, but might that work better for you?