Anonymous wrote:The irony of the Sibley carseat policy is that while they require you to have a carseat for your infant, the nurse who escorted us out told us that liability issues prevented her from helping us get the carseat into the car (or checking to make sure we had strapped it in correctly.)

It's not irony. It's them covering their asses. Although, when I left the hospital with my daughter and couldn't figure out how to get the car seat in properly I thought it was dumb too. They just stood there saying they wi.sh they could move around like me after giving birth. It was two old ladies though.

The irony of the Sibley carseat policy is that while they require you to have a carseat for your infant, the nurse who escorted us out told us that liability issues prevented her from helping us get the carseat into the car (or checking to make sure we had strapped it in correctly.)

Anonymous wrote:I had a cab driver from the fort lauderdale airport REFUSE to take me without a car seat for my daughter. Just my 2 cents.

I'm really surprised a cab driver would do that. Good for him though.

I haven't read all of the posts, but I delivered both kids at VHC and didn't use the carrier seat/car seats for either kid. I had convertible car seats for each so I carried them in my arms in the wheelchair out of the hospital. With both kids no one looked into our car to see that we had a car seat. The candy striper left us outside alone (gave birth on snowy winter weekends) and my DH returned the wheelchair inside. I was surprised, but they never asked or looked.

I had a cab driver from the fort lauderdale airport REFUSE to take me without a car seat for my daughter. Just my 2 cents.

Had baby in GW and you need a carseat in order for baby to be discharged. My parents picked us up. We do not have a car and still use the infant carseat (at 4 months). We got a stroller frame and attach the infant car seat to it because after much trial and error with work commute it was easier for us to do this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sof if you drop your baby from your arms it is the same as tripping with the baby in a car seat? Seems the baby in the car seat is safer.

Do you really use a carseat to carry your baby around all of the time or are you just being difficult? Seriously, you wouldn't cross the street with your baby in your arms? Do you carry baby around the house in a carseat? LOL. I think YOU must be the first time mom...

Just answer the question. Who said I carry a baby in a carseat? Not me, but I dis ask something that you avoided answering.

I already answered your question above when I said that I thought it was less safe to carry the baby in an unweildy carseat than it is to carry the baby in your arms or a sling. Others have said the same thing. I actually think it's crazy to carry a baby around for a walk in a carseat. And I'd go so far as to say that if I had to take metro or another form of public transportation (not a taxi, that would call for a carseat) where I could not strap my child in safely, the carseat would be less safe there. I want baby in my arms, not where someone can trip over him, reach into the carseat and touch him, etc.

I think it would be safer to walk with a baby in a stroller or even a sling. You are more likely to fall lugging a car seat than pushing stroller. How many moms have you seen taking a baby for a walk carrying a car seat? The travel systems are only used if you have a car and don't want to get the baby in and out of the seat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sof if you drop your baby from your arms it is the same as tripping with the baby in a car seat? Seems the baby in the car seat is safer.

Do you really use a carseat to carry your baby around all of the time or are you just being difficult? Seriously, you wouldn't cross the street with your baby in your arms? Do you carry baby around the house in a carseat? LOL. I think YOU must be the first time mom...

Just answer the question. Who said I carry a baby in a carseat? Not me, but I dis ask something that you avoided answering.

Heh. You'd have dropped it four pages ago if that were the case.

OP here again -- I cannot believe how long this thread has continued.

Anonymous wrote:Sof if you drop your baby from your arms it is the same as tripping with the baby in a car seat? Seems the baby in the car seat is safer.

Do you really use a carseat to carry your baby around all of the time or are you just being difficult? Seriously, you wouldn't cross the street with your baby in your arms? Do you carry baby around the house in a carseat? LOL. I think YOU must be the first time mom...

Anonymous wrote:No, a taxi driver does not care about a carseat for your child.

but the hospital does.

Sof if you drop your baby from your arms it is the same as tripping with the baby in a car seat? Seems the baby in the car seat is safer.

"I agree with the PPs. OP, we have given you tons of answers to your question, including the answer you are seeking, which is that we believe you need a carseat no matter which mode of transportation you choose including your own feet. If you don't like our answers, why don't you go do your own research instead of whining back "well my friends in New York say blah blah" and "Tennessee law states that ..." We are in neither New York or Tennessee, we're in DC, and you need a carseat to leave the hospital. Even if there is wiggle room in the law or hospital policy, and there always is, it's just good parenting practice. I have a funny feeling you have not been the parent to a newborn, because if you were, you wouldn't really be asking questions about carrying your newborn home in your arms in a germ-infested Metro car or walking home with your baby in your arms after you have just given birth. Even the poorest parents would prefer to carry their infant in a infant carrier/carseat in that situation. It's safer for all concerned. "

Oh come on take your meds. There is nothing particularly safer about having your baby in a carseat over a baby carrier/sling over a reclining stroller when you are walking. Hospital policies are not law and there is no DC law saying all mothers must transport babies in car seat carriers during any mode of transportation just cars.