Car seat for infant - international parents / U.S. delivery

[amandav]

I am a surrogate mother, I am 33 weeks preggers with F & L's (from Switzerland) baby boy.
I am due Sept 4th, and I was wondering about car seats and strollers. mainly about the car seats. they will need one of course to leave the hospital, and to travel in a car.
do they have to buy a seat from here with the laws etc? and if they do, what would you suggest? I am guessing they will bring the seat back with them to Switzerland, so a good travel seat would probably be good?

 

[ketchupqueen]

How long will they be staying before they travel back to Switzerland? That will probably impact the answers you get as to what they will need.

 

[MustangMama]

No answers here but I wanted to commend you for being a surrogate mother. God bless you!

 

[InternationalMama]

Also, if they want to use the seat for the baby on the plane what airline they are flying will impact whether they should have a European (TÜV-approved) baby seat or a US (FAA-approved) one (or won't be allowed to use one at all no matter which kind they have for some airlines).

 

[crunchierthanthou]

They can bring one from Switzerland that will be legal to use when they return home. International visitors may use their own seats while in the US.

 

[snowbird25ca]

You may wish to check with the hospital to see what their policy is about releasing babies and whether they must be in a carseat - I'm not sure if a US hospital would release a baby in a Swedish carseat - or if they'd even care...

 

[swtgi1982]

The hospital would most likely be there really issue, as they may be the ones that require the US seat in order to release the baby. But for travel one they bring with them, should be ok as previously stated.

 

[InternationalMama]

If they bring one from Europe let them know that some airlines will allow them to gate check it (reducing the risk of damage somewhat) and won't count it towards their baggage allowance if they can prove that they are flying back with the baby who will need the seat (ie has a ticket) on the return flight. They should check with their airline about its policy.

Otherwise if they don't have a seat for the baby, they will most likely have to check the car seat as luggage on the way to the US if they bring a European seat and may be charged excess luggage fees depending on the size of the box they put it in. (And for a checked car seat I highly recommend a box!) These days excess luggage fees could be as much as the seat itself.

So I would encourage them to check the airline's policy regarding this as well as which car seats will be allowed to be used for the return journey (if any).

 

[amandav]

alot of things I didn't think about. they probably havent either. its their first baby.
I think they have to stay in the states at least a few weeks, there is some paperwork that has to be done and a court hearing with a judge, (I'm not too savy on that side of surrogacy, but thats what the lawyers tell the parents)
I carried last year a baby girl for a couple from Ireland, they bought a car seat and stroller while here, but thats all I know. the contact from them is very short and far inbetween, so I cant ask them, plus they prob wouldnt know certain laws, I dunno.
but they had 3 boys already, so I figured they knew what they needed.
I think we will be able to tour the hospital when they come for a 2 day visit at the end of this week, and I will hopefuly remember to ask them about their car seat policy, and the parents will be there so they will hear the info first hand which will be helpful

 

[amandav]

I asked them what they had thought about. and they told me they had a seat that L's sister had given them, and wanted to send it to me to hold and use when they got here.
I know that L's sisiter's kids are older around 10 I think, and I told him I thought that seat was probably expired.
He wanted to send it anyway, then if its not suffecient then buy something here.
I have a feeling we will be doing some shopping then, and then what do you suggest since we will be buying probably from Babies R us retail store.