Can anybody answer this for me...Carseat question?

Question

I dont know if this pertains to ALL hospitals or if its only some of them. But I know here in North Carolina, When you give birth and your about to go home, you have to have the carseat inside the hospital, You are NOT aloud to carry your baby outside with them not strapped in a carseat, Its mandatory and they have to watch you. But my thing is what if you have a convertable carseat for your baby, like the one i have is a Britax boulevard and You can use it from Birth to 6 years. I wouldnt be able to take that out of the car! Its heavy and isnt a carrier... Any body think about that? I wonder what the hospital staff would do or say....It got me thinking because my 2nd child im not going to buy one of those crappy carriers im just going to buy another britax convertable and I Just thought that was interesting....

Answer 1

My experience has always been that they follow you to your vehicle and make sure that you have it installed correctly and the baby secure. I have never HAD to take the seat out of the vehicle.

Answer 2

Well in some hospitals i know that the nurse takes the baby to the front of the hospital in one of those little crib cart that they have in the hospitals and meets whoever is picking you up in the car in front of the hospital entrance and then they have to see there that you have the carseat installe in the car and they see you there when you strap the baby in the carseat you don't necesarily have to take the carseat out and take it up. Well that is how we did it in the hospital  where i had my son

Answer 3

isn't it interesting that people actually think they can't leave the hospital with THEIR baby without the hospitals permission? ask them to come out to the car and ensure your seat is installed properly.  

end of discussion

as for comfort of your baby, i always preferred the infant carriers and then switched to the convertible seat. the carrier was just easily removed when the baby was sleeping or something or it was cold or what not

Answer 4

here in canada they ask  you to bring the carseat into the hospital so the nurse can make sure you are putting the child in correctly and snug. I'm sure that if you have one that is too awkward to carry into the hospital then the nurse would go to your car with you to help. Just call prior and ask!

Answer 5

I think that's the way it is in most hospitals.  I've never seen the carrier you're talking about, but if you can't carry your baby in it than what do you do when you have somewhere to go, unbuckle & take the baby out every time?  What if it's winter & snowing, wouldn't your baby be safer & warmer carried covered up in her carrier?  Wouldn't it be less of a hassle to carry baby in the carrier if you just had to run in a few places fast?  Just wondering.  Our hospital also walks out to the car with you to make sure the baby is secured in right, must be something with liability.

Answer 6

interesting.

We needed to show that we had a carseat.  We did use the infant carrier, so it was in our room.

However, when my SIL had her 2nd, they went right into the convertible seat, the nurse followed them out to the car to make sure that there was a carseat.

Answer 7

I don't know cause at our hospital the baby has to go in mom's arms in the wheelchair. All patients have to be discharged in wheelchairs and even newborns are patients. We have no part in the car seat use/installation except to verify it's in the car before you drive away.

I'm sure if you told them you had a convertible seat and it was in the car they could just look at it as they wheeled you out. They aren't going to be impractical and I'm sure they've had it happen before.

PS- the Britax are so big, Did you get a newborn head support insert?

Answer 8

lol...well you have to carry it!!  Here in Canada that is MANDITORY accross the entire country.  You dont leave the hospital until baby is secured in the seat and they check the carseat and make any adjustments that need to be done.  thank God too...my son's straps were too tight, so they fixed them for us!!  Make sure hubby carries it out and maybe he could make 2 trips 1st to carry your bag and other stuff out and bring the sweat in, and then for you all to leave.  Would it fit in a wheelchair that you could wheel out?

Answer 9

borrow a friends carrier to get the baby outta the hospital