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Original poster

Is it true that hospitals say you MUST have carseat to take baby home in?

94 replies

comtessa · 03/07/2010 15:47

It's just that we don't have a car and so are NOT going to buy a car seat!

I'm not due until end of November, so thinking about this early on, but I do want to know whether this is true or not. DH, DC and I would be going home in black cab or bus. No fast roads between hospital and home (about a 10 minute drive) so would be planning to take baby home in pram.

Any experience - especially of Nottingham hospitals - greatly appreciated!

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peppapighastakenovermylife · 03/07/2010 15:50

Do you really want to take your newborn in a cab without a car seat? Even slow roads - 20 miles per hour - if there is a crash you could crush your baby.

Do you really never go in a car? Will a friend or family member never offer to give you a lift?

If nothing else a car seat is somewhere to put the baby whilst you juggle everything else

They do not have to be expensive - or if you really cannot afford it can you borrow one from a friend or family member? You are not meant to use second hand just in case the seat has been involved in a crash but it is better than nothing and if you know the person? You can get them really cheap on ebay for this reason.

EldonAve · 03/07/2010 15:51

will you never travel in someone else's car or taxi?

Original poster
comtessa · 03/07/2010 15:53

Thanks, I wasn't asking "am I going to be a bad mother because...?" I was asking about NHS policy.

OP posts:
japhrimel · 03/07/2010 15:54

You'd have to ask your MW as this is an individual hospital policy thing. Also, I know it is legal to take a baby in a taxi without a car seat, but would you really want to risk it with a newborn? I know I wouldn't - even a pretty minor car crash could be serious if the baby flew out of the pram or your arms.

And if you ever travel in a relative or friend's car then you need a carseat as the legal loophole is for professional taxis only.

What I saw suggested on another thread for people like yourself who don't have a car & don't ever travel in one is to borrow a group 0 car seat from someone for that morning/afternoon - you'll only need it for a few hours to get home.

insertexpletive · 03/07/2010 15:54

Wouldn't the best idea to be to ask your hospital/midwife?

greensnail · 03/07/2010 15:55

I think some hospitals will try to insist on this, but they can't hold your baby hostage just because you haven't got one. If the baby isn't going in a car then it doesn't need one.

Original poster
comtessa · 03/07/2010 15:55

Of course, but I'm not seeing MW for another few weeks and my MIL is very keen to know as well.

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Original poster
comtessa · 03/07/2010 15:56

Thank you greensnail for answering my question! )

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piratecat · 03/07/2010 16:03

if your not going in a car then you don't need one.

imo

sarah293 · 03/07/2010 16:07

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EmmaBemma · 03/07/2010 16:10

It would just take a couple of minutes to ring your hospital and ask, though hopefully you won't be as pissy with them as you've been with some of the people who have taken the time to read and respond to your thread on here.

mummytime · 03/07/2010 16:30

I'd give you mine if you wanted, but Nottingham is a bit far. Try Freecycle. If the baby is ever going in a car, even a taxi then I would want to use a car seat. Actually some Taxi firms have them, so ask. (My friend's taxi firm has them as they often transport children.)

MrsC2010 · 03/07/2010 17:20

You can get really cheap car seats. If you're planning on a cab I would get one. I'm sure that my midwife said any form of car (i.e. private or cab) counts as requiring a car seat. Bus wouldn't I assume as there would be nowhere to put it.

I'm sure you will be even more sarky now as I have not stuck to the letter of your OP, but try to take it in the way it was intended: friendly advice/alternatives.

Octaviapink · 03/07/2010 18:03

We didn't have a car either and I was really annoyed about having to get a car seat, but our hospital said they wouldn't let us take the baby home unless we did! We got the cheapest one available from Mothercare and it got used all of three times before she grew out of it when she was 10 months. Still the most useless bit of baby kit we bought - especially as you don't have to have a car seat by law for local taxi trips.

Definitely worth asking your hospital. If you decide to get a taxi and don't have a car seat, I would recommend a wrap sling and tying the baby tightly to you - don't just hold him/her because in the event there was a crash s/he could easily fly out of your arms.

thisisyesterday · 03/07/2010 18:05

they actualy cannot force you to use a car seat to take your baby home and anyone who says otherwise is mistaken

turns out, it's YOUR baby, and if you wish to carry them home then you can

i would advise getting/borrowing one if you are planning on taking a taxi home tohgh, or ever travelling in anyone elses car

porcamiseria · 03/07/2010 18:07

I'd check with hospital, alot of people have had same issues I know

they did not even look/ask us

dont worry! you will be able to leave with your precious one X

Petsville · 03/07/2010 18:10

We don't have a car and are planning to bring the baby home in a sling in a black cab or on the bus or Tube (depending on what state I'm in) - the midwife says that although the hospital prefer you to have a car seat, they don't insist (especially as it's a central London hospital so most people don't go home by private car). Can't imagine a black cab driver would be terribly pleased with us trying to fix a car seat in the back anyway. We are going to get a car seat before the baby arrives, because we hire cars from time to time, but it's one more thing to get to the hospital when I go into labour, and for a short journey where it isn't legally required we'd rather not have to. (We're hoping I can have the baby in the midwife-led unit and DH will just be able to stay with me throughout and won't be going home to get stuff).

wrinklyraisin · 03/07/2010 18:13

I don't think you need a carseat unless you will be travelling by car. I would NOT advise putting baby in a sling as you would still need to be strapped in and the straps could hurt the baby in the event of a crash. It's just not worth the risk. Borrow one or buy a cheap one then ebay it. Seems silly to go to all the trouble of having a baby then not transport it safely.

StealthPolarBear · 03/07/2010 18:14

no, of course not
the hospital can be very insistent, but presumably the only way they could stop you leaving would be to call the police or social services - because you don't have a car seat - can't see that happening if you're not actually planning to travel home by car

barkfox · 03/07/2010 18:14

Can I ask a relevant question? How do buses and baby seats fit into all this? I have never seen anyone using a baby seat on a bus, and can't think how one would - although I do see lots of mothers and babies on the bus, now I think about it. Usually held on laps.

Just... all these warnings about how even a minor crash in a slow moving taxi is dangerous surely apply to buses as well? What do people here do - just avoid ever using buses?

StealthPolarBear · 03/07/2010 18:15

no idea barkfox, i wonder that too!

sarah293 · 03/07/2010 18:16

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StealthPolarBear · 03/07/2010 18:18

but presumably a pram isn't crash tested like a car seat?

sarah293 · 03/07/2010 18:19

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strawberrycake · 03/07/2010 18:19

My hospital didn't even wave us off, I was discharged in bed and given all my forms then sat there to wait for dp to get car (parked 10 min away to save huge car park charges). When we actually left noone saw,

I have seen though that many, even most, hospitals or children's centres have schemes where in exchange for a deposit you can borrow a car seat for the journey home.

If it worries you get a bus with the pram.

At the end of the day most NHS hospitals can't wait to free beds and I can't see them keeping you in just becaue you don't have a seat if you stand your ground. They will strongly recommend but if you're not going in a car and not breaking the law they will have to accept it's your business what you do.