Getting home from hospital without a car during COVID

[Anonymous]

How were you going to use an Uber even before COVID? I can’t imagine having to install a car seat in an Uber in that situation. Sounds awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How were you going to use an Uber even before COVID? I can’t imagine having to install a car seat in an Uber in that situation. Sounds awful.

We don’t have a car either but we’re looking to get a carseat that is safe to install without a base. There are several that are perfectly secure for this type of short trip.

[Anonymous]

Get a rental car for at least the first month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How were you going to use an Uber even before COVID? I can’t imagine having to install a car seat in an Uber in that situation. Sounds awful.

You can request Ubers that come pre-equipped with car seats. Takes a bit longer to get one, but they're around.

[Anonymous]

Last time in checked most hospitals check that you have a car seat and that your infant is safely secured in it before you can leave.’

[Anonymous]

My husband rented a car to get our son and I home from the hospital. Yours might want to disinfect surfaces before you get in.

[Anonymous]

In dc, it is legal for taxis (not ubers) to transport kids without car seats. Just in case you get to that point.

Any car seat with a European belt path is easy to install in taxis. like the nuna pipa. Just have your phone ready to re- watch the installation video if needed. Yes, installing with a base makes it safer but it is unrealistic for taxis etc because the bases weigh like 20 pounds.

I also like the cosco scenera because it is so light and easy to install, but you will need two people to use it (one to carry it, one to carry newborn) unless you have a stroller frame that you can click the seat into.

Signed, a fellow dc dweller with a baby and no car

P.S. For a diaper bag, just use a regular backpack. Way easier when navigating metro, Lyft, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How were you going to use an Uber even before COVID? I can’t imagine having to install a car seat in an Uber in that situation. Sounds awful.

You can request Ubers that come pre-equipped with car seats. Takes a bit longer to get one, but they're around.

I wouldn’t rely on this, as there’s no guarantee you’ll get a rear facing car seat with newborn padding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How were you going to use an Uber even before COVID? I can’t imagine having to install a car seat in an Uber in that situation. Sounds awful.

We don’t have a car either but we’re looking to get a carseat that is safe to install without a base. There are several that are perfectly secure for this type of short trip.

All bucket (infant) car seats are safe to install without a base.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How were you going to use an Uber even before COVID? I can’t imagine having to install a car seat in an Uber in that situation. Sounds awful.

You can request Ubers that come pre-equipped with car seats. Takes a bit longer to get one, but they're around.

I wouldn’t rely on this, as there’s no guarantee you’ll get a rear facing car seat with newborn padding.

+1 those seats are typically for older FF children and would not be safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How were you going to use an Uber even before COVID? I can’t imagine having to install a car seat in an Uber in that situation. Sounds awful.

We don’t have a car either but we’re looking to get a carseat that is safe to install without a base. There are several that are perfectly secure for this type of short trip.

OP here - we got the Mountain Buggy Protect car seat for this purpose. Since it has the European belt path, it seems pretty easy (ish) to install quickly without the base, but still not looking forward to trying it leaving the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My husband rented a car to get our son and I home from the hospital. Yours might want to disinfect surfaces before you get in.

How did you work the timing? Did you rent from starting before delivery, or did he somehow manage to go get one while you were still in the hospital? We like the idea of renting, but seems like trying to time it would be difficult. Maybe starting from a week prior to the due date would work?

[Anonymous]

How are you going to get to the pediatrician's office? You will need to go a few times in the first 2 weeks. Usually they want to see the baby the day after discharge, again at 1 week, and then again at 2 weeks at a minimum. My kids had jaundice so the first week I was actually going to the pediatrician every day plus swinging by the hospital for a few bilirubin tests because the ones in office would take too long to get answers. It was a lot on top of becoming a parent and the physical recovery, and I had no idea what I was getting into with my first kid.

Anyway, that's why I would recommend just renting a car for the first week or two and then start doing the whole Uber thing when the appointments start to space out and your body is better healed.

[Anonymous]

I work with an organization that helps a lot of lower-income/needy/immigrant families who deliver at Holy Cross Hospital. HCH will call the family a cab at no expense to the family. They are the cabs that are always there at HCH. HCH also gives the family a free car seat. It is pretty much a daily thing and they have the techs and drivers who know how to quickly install the seat. You will not be part of that service program but you could probably arrange for installation help with the tech, I guess, to help you install your own car seat.

[Anonymous]

^^
meant to say that I would call whichever hospital you are delivering at and see if they have discharge personnel who can help you get your car seat safely installed if you are going the cab or Uber route.