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

[comtessa]

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!

I'm with I'llhaveacoffeeplease -OP is allowed to ask questions.....lots of us come on MN rather than ring the hospital or look things up in other ways. That is what it is about.

I had dd2 in Nottingham City and they didn't ask me about car seats at all. They did carry my dd2 to the door and told me that that was their policy. Then I took her and off we went.

My dd1 was born at St Richards in Chichester and we almost lived in the carpark. They insisted that we had a carseat and we had wanted to walk home and they were not having it. We gave in in the end.

I suggest you ask the hospital, just explain you use public transport and don't own a car. I think the rules are in place to prevent babies being dropped etc untilyou have left hospital it isn't in place due to the car seat laws.
We were told we had to use the lift when we were leaving and uder no circumstances use the stairs, the life was stuck so had no choice nobody commented when we used the stairs.

I am sure they have a procedure in place for people who don't own cars so have no reason to have a carseat.

I personally wouldn't take a child in a taxi without a carseat but that is my personal choice. Just because the law doesn't require it doesn't mean it is safe.
On a bus there is no option, there is nowhere to fasten a carseat in, but there are other means or securing a baby whilst travelling on a bus.

Excuse my spelling on that post, I appear to be the exception to the rule I really can't do two things at once .

That should read I don't think it is in place due to the carseat laws, I am no hospital procedure expert so don't know for a fact.

Other option is they do insist, is it not possible to borrow a seat from a friend or family member to save hassle?

"I'm with I'llhaveacoffeeplease -OP is allowed to ask questions.....lots of us come on MN rather than ring the hospital or look things up in other ways. That is what it is about"

I agree totally - but if you want a straight, factual answer to a factual question, and are going to get defensive when any discussion arises from the question, then perhaps a discussion forum is not the best place to ask it.

...imho, natch.

I think the OP has had some unreasonably harsh reactions. Her question was straightforward - and she's not the 1st person to ask this on MN - some people chose to read it very partially (spectacularly ignoring the bus element...). She was asking for factual info, and I think that's reasonable. She wasn't posting in AIBU. I dislike the idea that 'this is a discussion forum so what did she expect' justifies all reactions. Esp on MN, which, when it works well, IS a good resource for factual info and advice.

FWIW, I googled the OP's question - couldn't find any clear answers. I dare say she might have tried to do the same before posting here. She also explained why she hadn't asked a MW or rung the hospital yet, AND made it clear she wasn't asking here instead of asking them.

Also, this thread, like many others, has demonstrated that everyone's experience seems to be different! And this is NOT a criticism of anyone - but I've had such dire warnings about getting a baby seat second hand, because you don't know if it's been in a crash etc and could be damaged, this has been the 1st thread where I've seen a fair few responses along the lines of 'I got mine for a tenner from a charity shop' etc.

NOT a criticism, as I say. Just pointing out that what some people judge to be okay, others don't, and the OP really didn't post anything extreme or unreasonable.

Its all been said but just to add, they cant insist.
And with regards to the risk of public transport for a new born... when is it ok then? If its unsafe for a new born surely its unsafe full stop and we shouldnt take our children on there ever?

Good luck with evrything op

Sometimes I do wonder if the "dont buy second hand car seats" stuff is propagated by the car seat manufacturers.

I mean, if the seat had been in a crash serious enough to crack it/ render it unusable, it would have to be a quite significant crash, not just a fender bender.

I did buy a new one in the end but if I'd been offered one second hand by someone I knew I'd probably have gone for it tbh.

I don't know about car seats, but I know from horse riding that a relatively minor fall can damage a helmet in such a way that it looks fine, but is structurally compromised inside so that it will break open more easily in another accident. I guess the same is probably true of car seats - it doesn't have to be obvious to be serious.

Also, it wouldn't have to be a major car crash - if someone dropped theirs down some stairs for example, that could damage it.

My understanding is that they insist on you having one in your own car as it's the law. If you read the legal guideline car seats are no required for occasional journey's such as in taxi or on public transport. Also if it is an emergency journey and you don't have your car seat you can travel without it- read very carefully when I wanted to change from a baby seat to booster seat with back for DS. The moral dilema's don't come in to it with hospitals just what is legal so you can't sue them.

No only was I escorted out of the building when I had DS but I wasn't allowed to carry him out and the midwife put him into the car seat herself.

If you are worried about when the hospital will say I would suggest taking you pushchair with you and pushing that upto the hospital putting baby into that and meet the taxi round the corner. I'm sure the hospital can't stop you taking your baby but may have some control over whether you put them directly into a car without a seat when you do.

Riven- that's the thing. I dont think it would. It would only be damaged if it actually collided with something (or was dropped, as Japhrimel points out, but they dont say "if you drop your car seat, go and buy a new one".)

Maybe I've just spent too much time in the baby shops recently but I am getting a little tired of the extent to which the baby industry preys on parental fears.

It's the same with the new mattress thing.

cinnamongreyhound - do remember that while there is a legal exception for taxis, occasional trips in a private car are NOT included in this loophole. So if you want to go in a friend or relative's car with the baby, then you must have a carseat.

I think it is illegal to have drive with a baby in the car and no car seat. Unsure about taxis though

There is a legal exception specifically for professional taxis. But otherwise it's illegal.

From dft.gov.uk

Exceptions to the rules
In limited circumstances, children can travel without the correct child restraint.

1. In a licensed taxi or licensed private hire vehicle. If the correct child restraint is not available then, in the rear seat only, children under 3 may travel unrestrained. Children aged 3 years and over must use an adult seat belt.

2. In cases of unexpected necessity over a short distance. If the correct child restraint is not available then, in the rear seat only, a child of 3 years or more must use an adult belt. This exemption does not apply to children under 3 years and does not cover regular school runs or other journeys that are planned in advance.

3. Where two occupied child restraints in the rear seat prevent you fitting a third. In this case, provided the front seat is occupied, a third child aged 3 years and over can use an adult seat belt (lap OR lap and diagonal) in the rear. If the front seat is free, then they must seat there using the correct child restraint.

4. In older vehicles with no rear seat belts. In this case, children 3 years and over may travel unrestrained.

www.dft.gov.uk/think/focusareas/children/childincar