i lived 1 block from the hospital I had my first at in Philly. I didn't need a carseat to leave and used the bassinet for our uppababy. I had a C section but was left 4 days after and was totally fine blocking the *1 block* home. I think it would have been much more painful to get in and out of the car. My husband was back and forth from the hospital to our house during the stay, so we asked if we needed the carseat, etc. I'm not sure your OB would have this info and in covid days where you have to bring everything and can't come and go, I would just bring it and attach it to the stroller for the walk home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question, no snark, but do people without car seats really never need to drive their kid anywhere? I have a car but live in super walkable neighborhood in the city but not near a hospital. We walk to the pediatrician. But we still needed to drive him to a lactation consultant and an ENT for evaluations. Not to mention visiting family out of state, drives to beaches and parks not nearby. I guess if you're always taking public transit it's ok?

I have a few friends who don't drive so they just Uber occasionally if they have appointments they can't walk to. Family comes to them or they rent a car for a few days for vacation. It is a perfectly valid lifestyle if you live in the city.

I definitely agree that it's a perfectly valid lifestyle. I was just wondering about not having a car seat for any of those trips. Do they just borrow one?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is true. It’s a safety program. They don’t want people to say that they don’t need a car seat because they don’t have a car and then get in a friend’s car, or a taxi, or an Uber with an unrestrained baby. It’s the only moment that the authorities can try to ensure that each baby has access to a car seat. If you can’t afford a car seat, talk to the hospital about them giving you one. If you really don’t want to own a car seat to use even in the case of an emergency, borrow one from a friend to leave the hospital.

Do public buses or ambulances have car seats?

Ambulances do

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I for one wouldn’t want to walk 10 minutes after giving birth! And this is coming from someone who has had 4 kids and runs 30 miles/week. Just bring the car.

This was my first thought, and I also have four. I would have been to sore, drained, and flat out gross feeling to walk.

They probably dont want to pay for parking for the 2 days. Send DH home first to pick-up car and come get the mom and kid.

If its a dont want to lose our street parking spot issue, you will be up odd hours with a newborn and likely able to reclaim a "good" spot.

OP should bring a carseat that clicks into a stroller, and Uber home if needed.

+1. Those stroller frames also provide a lot of storage space. There will be crap the hospital gives you. You can put it in the stroller basket.