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What do hospitals do when...
- Thread starter Cilia
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Shaunam
New member
I think not all hospitals have the same transport rules. Some don't require you to transport them in anything at all (you would just hold them). The ones that say the baby needs to be in the bucket on your lap (while you are in a wheelchair) would probably be just as fine with transporting the baby in the bassinet, like they do around the maternity floor for tests and such.
I would refuse to uninstall a convertible personally. They don't NEED to be taken down in a seat. They just need to be safe according to hospital standards, which include transporting in a bassinet. Some hospitals seem to be unfamiliar with the idea of using a convertible for a newborn. I know some people have had issues before. They can't force you to use a bucket though.
I would refuse to uninstall a convertible personally. They don't NEED to be taken down in a seat. They just need to be safe according to hospital standards, which include transporting in a bassinet. Some hospitals seem to be unfamiliar with the idea of using a convertible for a newborn. I know some people have had issues before. They can't force you to use a bucket though.
Nor can they refuse to discharge a baby because you have a convertible instead of a bucket. Tell them you're walking with your baby in your arms. Then maybe a wheelchair with you holding the baby won't seem as extreme.
I was carried out by my mother when I was born. She refused the wheelchair.
Wendy
I was carried out by my mother when I was born. She refused the wheelchair.
Wendy
crunchierthanthou
New member
Our local Safe Kids coalition doesn't give buckets unless it's a special situation (premie, low birth weight...). They mostly give out convertibles, so I expect that the hospitals know that the babies can leave in them.
skitle1802
New member
DD2 came home in a convertible. I held her while the nurse pushed the wheelchair. They just try to tell you how to hold the baby and are extra cautious about door threshold bumps. No problems. Different hospital but DS2, we had a bucket but didn't bring it into the hospital, carried him out and then buckled him in. DH didn't want to make the third trip to the car to bring it inside, lol.
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Meg
Well-known member
Well, according to an employee at my local BRU, hospitals forbid you from leaving without an infant seat. 
When I called up my hospital (this was 4 years ago) to verify, they also said it had to be an infant seat, not a convertible.
Whatever. When I was discharged, I just held my son in my lap while they pushed me out in a wheelchair. No one said a word.. and good luck to them if they did try to say something to me about proper carseat usage. Lol.
When I called up my hospital (this was 4 years ago) to verify, they also said it had to be an infant seat, not a convertible. Whatever. When I was discharged, I just held my son in my lap while they pushed me out in a wheelchair. No one said a word.. and good luck to them if they did try to say something to me about proper carseat usage. Lol.
soccer_widow
New member
My hospital didn't say a word about car seats, and we never brought ours into the hospital. They just gave us a really bad handout about car safety in the big stack of papers.
BabyKaykes
New member
I had a bucket for DS, but I was NOT having it brought upstairs. I held him in my arms as the volunteer pushed us out to the car. The bucket was installed.
I had my girls in two different hospitals, but both were petty much the same. They escorted us out while I held them. Dh pulled the car around to the front door and they saw that we put them in the seat. Both had buckets, but if it had been a convertible it wouldn't have been an issue. The health dept. and local OB both give sceneras to moms to be. I had the scenera for E, but still did the bucket. She was a winter time baby and I wanted to be able to do the shower cap style cover over the seat to keep her warm.
vonfirmath
New member
I walked out of the hospital -- I think my husband carried the baby. A nurse (or someone) came with us to make sure the baby was buckled into the car. (She "checked" the car seat installation as well, quickly)
urchin_grey
New member
My nephew went home in a Radian and they made them haul it in to their room.
RainbowMama
New member
When we came home from the hossy with my DS we had a convertible. The nurse that walked us out just looked in the car to make sure there was a seat in there and went on her way.
I brought my Radian up, they checked that it was not expired or recalled, was a US seat, and the baby fit by weight and height. (Hospital's policy.)
Then my husband took it down in the wagon they have for new parents' stuff to be hauled down in, while I carried the baby down (I refused to ride in the wheelchair. )
Then my husband took it down in the wagon they have for new parents' stuff to be hauled down in, while I carried the baby down (I refused to ride in the wheelchair.
)
jeminijad
New member
I would really like to find out the nitty gritty of them not "letting" you leave without a particular style of car seat being brought up into the hospital room. I would be delighted to hear a story of a patient bringing their lawyer because they did not want to uninstall a convertible and hall it into a germ infested hospital.
For some reason this REALLY irritates me.
For some reason this REALLY irritates me.
Once you're discharged, they can't hold you. That would be unlawful imprisonment.
In my state hospitals are required to check that you have a car seat before discharge, but any appropriate seat will do. And nothing in the law says they have to see it IN THE ROOM. They could go down to the car and check it (and if I had had trouble with an install, I'd make them do that rather than re-installing the seat in the parking lot. I am pretty confident in my ability to install a seat right, so I just make things easy by bringing it up.) If they said my seat was "not appropriate" and refused to discharge me, I'd probably first show them the weight and fit limits. If they persisted, I'd call the non-emergency police number and request assistance from the police. I'd call a lawyer at the same time. I'm pretty sure before the police showed up they'd be discharging me.
In my state hospitals are required to check that you have a car seat before discharge, but any appropriate seat will do. And nothing in the law says they have to see it IN THE ROOM. They could go down to the car and check it (and if I had had trouble with an install, I'd make them do that rather than re-installing the seat in the parking lot. I am pretty confident in my ability to install a seat right, so I just make things easy by bringing it up.) If they said my seat was "not appropriate" and refused to discharge me, I'd probably first show them the weight and fit limits. If they persisted, I'd call the non-emergency police number and request assistance from the police. I'd call a lawyer at the same time. I'm pretty sure before the police showed up they'd be discharging me.
JOII
Active member
My hospital that had a policy that FORBID people to bring the car seat into the hospital.... my hubby brought our bucket up and they made him take it back down Which is terrible IMO because any parent, even myself, being car seat savvy, needs to figure the whole thing out, which strap height, how tight ect. I cant imagine what a first time parent does trying to put the new baby in for the first time outside, possibly in the rain or cold, without having the opportunity to try indoors first where they have the time to perfect things. All these 'policies' are quite ridiculous.
Which is terrible IMO because any parent, even myself, being car seat savvy, needs to figure the whole thing out, which strap height, how tight ect. I cant imagine what a first time parent does trying to put the new baby in for the first time outside, possibly in the rain or cold, without having the opportunity to try indoors first where they have the time to perfect things. All these 'policies' are quite ridiculous.You must read your carseat and vehicle owner’s manual and understand any relevant state laws. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. All opinions at Car-Seat.Org are those of the individual author for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of Carseat Media LLC. Car-Seat.Org makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. If you are unsure about information provided to you, please visit a local certified technician. Before posting or using our website you must read and agree to our TERMS.
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