How to bring baby home?

[Llamallamallama]

We're in Central London and don't have a car. MW said a car seat is not required to leave the hospital, but how do we carry the baby home? Will presumably be in a taxi, 15 minutes home. I'm thinking the bassinet from our pram would be alright, though it is fairly bulky. Any other suggestions? Ta!

In a black cab you don't need a baby seat.

In a crash you may ‘need’ it to save your child’s life. But yes, they are not a legal requirement. Doesn’t make it safe to travel without one though.

Having witnessed a baby held by a parent being thrown from a seat down the centre aisle of a bus all the way to the driver after it had turned a corner and then had to brake sharply - city centre, in traffic, low speed - there is absolutely no way on this earth I would take a newborn baby in a taxi improperly secured. You cannot predict the behaviour of other road users. For the sake of £40 or so for a basic car seat to give you the flexibility of occasional use (Joie Juva, for example) - just buy the seat!!

Buy one. You won't use it once. There will be trips to medical appointments when the weather is dreadful, baby is screaming, you are in a panic etc so you will be going in a taxi or neighbours car. There will be trips out with Friends and family when you go in their car. There will be many many times a car seat will be used. I live in London and do not drive. Also taking a 'pram' on public transport will be a massive nightmare (believe me) so please get an easy to fold suitable from birth buggy. I had one that clipped the car seat on. That was good if I had to fold the buggy and I could leave baby in the seat rather than struggle to hold her and carry loads of bags at the same time . Always felt safer to me. I did use a sling but on crowded tubes you have to literally push people away to stop baby getting squished.

Our first was conveyed home in a Lotus Esprt Turbo but it was only a short trip she did have a baby cot strapped in the back seat!

Oddley enough it was the first car she drove around 9 years old but it was on a very large grass airfield so all was well, shes been bought up propper like;)

Suggest you do as most everone has suggested ask a Taxi firm for a cot i do expect they do this every day of the week.

Anyways enjoy the little one when he/she does get home:-)

We also live in central London and don’t own a car. I decided not to take the risk and travel in a taxi with a newborn, and purchased a Maxicosi Cabtiofix second hand.

Thinking back, I probably should have bought a brand new one (as the history of the seat is unknown), but it looked in great condition and had barely been used. We actually ended up using it a few times when baby was small, so it wasn't a completely wasted purchase. You can always resell it on Gumtree?

Just buy a basic car seat ! You may need to use it again for trips to A&e / bad weather / tube strike etc. Why would you risk it ?!

Very suprised the midwife says it’s not a requirement. Most hospitals do not allow you to leave without one.

Frankly I'd just buy a basic car seat, or borrow one. But otherwise you could get back to your house by public transport with your baby, or walk, if you were up to it, or pack your husband off with your baby on public transport and you get a cab. But really - a car seat is so much easier, and you will use it. If you don't have one just ask around and you'll probably find someone who would lend you one anyway.

Even without owning a car you should have some form of car seat.

This is for taxi journeys, lifts from family and friends but alps we had to have one to take DD in an ambulance when she was smaller. I thought they'd take her on a trolly like a normal patient but no had to have a car seat.

Buy the cheapest you can find, keep it for a week or so to see if you use it and then sell it on?

Are you sure the midwife said you dont need a car seat if your panning on using a car/taxi to go home?
Are you sure she didnt just mean she knows many people live local so will walk home with baby in sling or pram, or take bus or tube, hence the requirement isnt there that a baby has to be in a car seat to leave?

I would get a car seat. buy one this weekend, its black friday sales still so bargins to be had. £50-100 off amazon will do it. Its handy to have. babies are unpredicable, and you may need to use a car or taxi more often with them. A hospital trip at 2am isnt fun on the night bus.

Just buy a car seat. I wouldn't play roulette with a new born.

I've seen a child die in a crash due to not being in a car seat it's a risk I'd never take, just get a car seat!

Baby carrier?

Our hospitals in south London do not let you leave without showing the baby in the car seat first