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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Getting home from hospital without a car

30 replies

NinaMimi · 29/01/2021 17:56

What do most people do? I have searched and see there is a taxi company near me that has car seats for children. Will need to check they have ones for newborns. I had thought of hiring a car but so expensive. Also didn’t want the hassle of trying to get a friend or relative to come since most with cars live a bit away from me.

OP posts:

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beachplease28 · 29/01/2021 17:58

Why don't you see if anyone has a baby car seat you can borrow - or buy one and then you can get a taxi 👍 probably be handy to have one

superram · 29/01/2021 17:58

I think it’s handy to have your own car seat regardless, I wouldn’t put a new baby in a car seat I didn’t know hadn’t been in an accident. It will be handy going forward when you get taxis or lifts.

DollyP23 · 29/01/2021 18:17

I bought a cheap one to use in taxis. It's been useful for other taxi trips as well as coming home from hospital.

Aj1400 · 29/01/2021 18:28

Have a loook at the Doona car seat..

It's £300ish - but it's a car seat / stroller.
We walk a lot and occasionally get lifts n public transport (when we could get lifts) so looking at it as a strong contender for the future.

(I've not actually used it- if anyone has, do share if it's as good as the videos make out).

Chelyanne · 29/01/2021 19:02

There are usually contact details for taxi companies that have the appropriate carseats in the hospital. Next time you're there have a look on the bulitin board.
It's wise to have your own carseat even if you don't travel in cars often.

ivfbeenbusy · 29/01/2021 19:05

Not sure I'd trust newborn seats provided by a taxi....

Do you have a pram? If you order a black cab type taxi I believe these are legal to carry prams which are just wheeled in the back

I'd check your hospital policy too.....some are very strict about what they allow a newborn to leave the hospital in

grisen · 29/01/2021 21:40

When I gave birth we didn’t have a car but bought a car seat, and I don’t regret it. Just knowing that if I needed one I had one ready kept my mind at ease. I wouldn’t get the doona because it shouldn’t replace a lie flat pram, so wouldn’t be good for everyday walks, and if you know you’re getting a lift and you get a travel system, or even like the Silver Cross Reflex you could just attach your car seat onto that for the day.

MeadowHay · 29/01/2021 21:45

Neither of us could drive when DD was born. We got a taxi to hospital when I was in labour and then a relative drove us home when I was discharged. We bought a car seat that fitted onto the pram base as part of a travel system. I ended up using it a lot more than I expected we would do so I would definitely buy a car seat. In our city not one of the taxi companies have car seats as this is something we've enquired with all of them about on numerous occasions. It is not a legal requirement for a child to be in a car seat in a taxi btw but personally I would always have mine in one.

Original poster

NinaMimi · 29/01/2021 21:53

Thanks for the replies. I’ll need to look more into car seats. I thought they needed a base and thought that’d be difficult to fit into a taxi.

OP posts:

Moo678 · 29/01/2021 22:32

You can get ones that are just strapped in with the seat belt.

Respectabitch · 29/01/2021 22:35

Buy a Stage 0 infant car seat. They just belt quickly into any car. Then you can get a taxi home and use it on any taxi or car journey subsequently as well.

Babyfg · 29/01/2021 23:03

It might have changed since I gave birth but I thought you couldn't leave the hospital without a car seat . Although saying that no one ever checked what I took my babies home in.

Original poster

NinaMimi · 31/01/2021 12:07

Thanks I’ll look into getting a car seat suitable for travelling by taxi.

OP posts:

Baker0104 · 31/01/2021 22:56

@Aj1400 I've bought a doona for when my baby is here but I'm still buying a proper pram. It's an amazing car seat and I can't wait to use it but it's not lie flat so it can only be used for a limited amount of time. I got it as I have to do school runs twice a day (I'm a nanny) and it's so easy to just flip the wheels down when we run into the classrooms etc lol x

Aj1400 · 31/01/2021 23:00

Hi @Baker0104

Thanks.
I was looking at getting a proper pram too, but use this for nipping to the shops / if we go away to parents etc - also with a sling so baby isn't in it for too long.
babies can be non-flat for like 40 mins or so at a time right?

PrawnCorset · 31/01/2021 23:08

@Babyfg

It might have changed since I gave birth but I thought you couldn't leave the hospital without a car seat . Although saying that no one ever checked what I took my babies home in.

Well, we walked home, so just waltzed out with DS in a sling. I don’t remember anyone querying it.

Baker0104 · 31/01/2021 23:10

@Aj1400 ahhh OK, sorry I thought you was saying to buy that as the full time pram. Yes all the reasons you've said is why we got one... Just so useful! Also we don't have a driveway and sometimes have to park quite far away so I can just wheel the baby to car rather than hurt my back carrying the seat lol.
I think from what I've read it's different timings for different ages. First 6 weeks I think is 30 mins. Then it goes up to 90 mins and then at some point 2 hours but I can't remember exactly when 😂 z

LittleTiger007 · 31/01/2021 23:18

@Aj1400

Have a loook at the Doona car seat..

It's £300ish - but it's a car seat / stroller.
We walk a lot and occasionally get lifts n public transport (when we could get lifts) so looking at it as a strong contender for the future.

(I've not actually used it- if anyone has, do share if it's as good as the videos make out).

Not used it but we are looking at this as well. You can buy an isofix base but it can also be strapped into a car/taxi easily.

AntiHop · 01/02/2021 09:52

@Babyfg

It might have changed since I gave birth but I thought you couldn't leave the hospital without a car seat . Although saying that no one ever checked what I took my babies home in.

We took dd home on the bus. No one asked us why we were leaving without a car seat.

AntiHop · 01/02/2021 09:56

OP we don't have a car. But it's a good idea to have a car seat for taxis or lifts from family or friends. Car seats can be strapped in without a base.

Or can you take public transport home? We took dd home on the bus.

Dollywilde · 01/02/2021 09:58

Our car doesn’t have isofix so we have a car seat that just straps in using the seatbelt (Maxicosi Cabriofix, would recommend it!)

The car seat is quite handy, ours lived in our kitchen until she was big enough for a high chair which meant there was always somewhere safe in there for her to sit if I was making a cup of tea or something.

Clickncollect · 01/02/2021 09:59

I drive but my husband doesn’t so we had bought a car seat (maxi cosi pebble) and put that into a taxi using the seatbelt method in the back.
Was interesting getting into the taxi post c-section and had to ask the drive to go really slow over the bumps!!
Good luck OP.

Dollywilde · 01/02/2021 10:00

Also public transport will depend how close you are to the bus stop - I really wouldn’t have fancied walking with the baby and my hospital bag back from the bus stop 2 days post partum with stitches etc. All births are different so would be fine for some people but I felt very battered and bruised and needed to be delivered directly to my front door

Chelyanne · 01/02/2021 10:02

@NinaMimi

Thanks for the replies. I’ll need to look more into car seats. I thought they needed a base and thought that’d be difficult to fit into a taxi.

I don't remember the car seats with bases being around when we had our eldest. We had a group 0 seat for our eldest 3 that was part of a travel system but our twins had matching ones that we got for a bargain £60 for the pair, bargain from mothercare. George @ Asda have a Nania one in for £29 atm which is worth looking at, if you're not going to use it much it's not worth throwing hundreds at a seat if the safety rating is no better.

JC12345 · 01/02/2021 10:04

The joie juva is a well tested, inexpensive seat which can be strapped in with seatbelt. Depending on your pram you could get adapters to fit it on.

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