We live in London and do not own or need a car. I ride a bike and walk and use public transport, and am very fit and healthy as a result!

I and my partner will use a taxi at the end of March after baby is born. No car seat required surely?? What are hospitable rules for taxi's??

Hi H, welcome to TB!

As far as I'm aware no hospital will let you get in a vehicle of any kind without the baby being put in a car seat or suitable carry cot, and yes, they do like to see you into the car or see you leave the hospital with the baby strapped into its seat.

I thought it was illegal to travel in a car without the proper baby restraint, but I could be wrong there and I'm sure someone else will help me out if I am!

If you're getting a travel system or are interested in a carry cot anyway then I think that should be no problem as long as it's one that can be secured with a seatbelt in a car seat - think most can be.

You might not need a car seat day-to-day, but if you do ever make trips by car, want baby to occasionally travel in other people's cars for convenience sake (like when visiting grandparents etc.) then it might be worth thinking about getting a car seat anyway.

If it really is just for gettting back from hospital then maybe you can borrow one from a friend.

Hope that helps
Anna

Thanks Anna, really useful. I will have a micralite newborn buggy, i'll see if the carry cot is ok. And I suppose i'd better check out car seats ..........

Hannah

Hi h,

I'm afraid Anna's right, you'll need a car seat or suitable carry cot whether bought or borrowed. The law does apply to children under 3 Anna, you're spot-on. It might seem crazy, especially for a short trip, but there you go.

h, if you really don't think that you'll use a car seat in future then as Anna says, borrowing one is a good idea, you might even be able to borrow one at the hospital if you tell them you're getting a taxi - I'm sure it's reasonably common in London. If you borrow one from a friend then you just need to make sure it's suitable for a newborn (and for the taxi!)

don't bank on borrowing on from the hospital as they normally have a few and people don't always return them when they should, ive just seen some very upset people who were banking on using a hospital one but there wernt any.

I know you are not suppose to use secondhand car seats, but if you are only making a one off trip it might be worth picking up a cheap one as this would be better than no car seat at all. Is there no friends that you could get a lift off instead.

Do you intend to get a baby car seat on the back of your bike? I would be very weary of this myself, though maybe this is beacuse I live in London and regually see people being knocked off their bikes!

Hi H
There are exceptions for taxis but you are very exposed in the back of one. Your child being in the buggy would be safer than simply in your arms in the back of the cab and yes, many hospitals will have spares but Luke is absolutely right about not banking on one.
If you can just ask around them someone may well have one you could borrow. Many authorities like the Baby Products Association are understandably wary of people having second-hand goods because, even if the car seat hasn't been in a crash before, you may well get it without the instructions attached, and all car seats are slightly different in how they fix to a seat belt.
I would ask at your hospital or midwife appt - is your part of London really awkward to get back to from the hospital?
I presume you are going to use a sling or your buggy for walking about? It will be some time before the bike is appropriate but I'm sure you know that. And good on you for not having a car in London!

Thanks All

I have borrowed my sisters car seat, I know its history, and have the use of it until further notice! I am on maternity leave now, and just sittin' here awaitin'.... well most of the time. Watch this space!

Hannah

Good luck with it all!

Hi Hannah
Wondered how you're doing - has that car seat been used yet?!

No... I am still waiting patiently... mostly.... I'll let y'all know when the car seat is occupied! Bye for now.

Well, waiting ended! Baby Noah arrived last Friday, 7lb 3oz, after a slow labour. Home now, care of my sisters child seat and hospital car service from Elizabeth Garett Anderson Hospital. Feeding seems to be going well so far! Thanks for support y'all!

Hannah, Phil and Noah

Congrfatulations Hannah + Phil,

That is a beautiful name, I'm so jealous...I love that name but my husband won't let me have it. So is labour really as bad as they say?

Wow! Congratulations Hannah!

I nearly missed this quiet birth announcement.

Love the name Noah, hope you're both doing well and adjusting to life back home. Also hope that slow labour means only slow and not terrible! Would love to hear how it went.

congratulations hannah,
i get all excited when i hear of another birth,lol. hope all is well with you and baby noah!
take care
x x x

hi all,im 33wks pregnant now,or in my 34th week!and have just finished work,i am not feeling bored,just more?........Lost is the word i think!junior is very lively these days and even a sharp boot in the ribs or lower parts brings a smile to my face!went to a parent class last night,i was the smallest lady there,i have small bump?does this mean boy or girl??i am 5ft 11 and im not a waif bulid!so i have been told its the way im carrying?this is my first baby so i am just going with the flow!im feeling sorry for myself today hence why i thought id write on here!hubby at work,and ive got water infection AND a chest infection,so feel really poohy!....jeremy kyle isnt all its cracked up to be either!!daytime telly who watches it??!!anyway wont bore you guys any longer,thanks for listening!take care all.xx marie

Hi Marie I am also 34 weeks and when I compare my bump to the lady I work with I am small, have been told that little one will be small. I had to stop working at the end of April, complications and more complications, I am certainly not bored yet, I honestly thought I would be. I am booked for the Active birth classes for next week, and I have no idea on what I should expect. What happens at these classes.

Dee

Speaking as an ex-taxi driver, it is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure all passengers under 14 years are secured in the car using the appropriate restraint for their age/weight, regardless of whether the parents are in the vehicle or not.

I was driving a taxi at nights until I was 7 months pregnant, then had to give up because they wouldn't reduce my hours.

i not got a car myself but my hospital wont let me leave the hospital without having the baby in the carseat alot of hospitals are the same so would check/talk to your midwife about this but i would say u will still need a carseat no matter what its for safety reason not just to be difficult

I used to live in London but partly because of this, I still can't drive. However, I use taxis both black cabs and minicabs. Officially, you don't need a car seat, but with a small baby I prefer to use one. There are plenty of systems which you can clip a carseat onto if you want to eg maxi cosi seats fit on most systems. I just feel happier when it's a baby plus they can't sit up on their own. You can take a buggy on a bus too which I sometimes do.