Does anyone know how I deal with the car seat issue if I am in London and getting a black cab home? If I put my baby in a sling (as I think it is called) and he is attached to me, does the car seat law apply? This may sound daft but I do not want to buy a car seat just to get home form the hospital when I will not be using one after that!

hi. are you taking baby home from hospital? if so the maternity ward should have one for you to borrow but you may have to use the hospital taxis , so they know that they will get it back. when we discharge babies home they have to go into a car seat to get home. hope this helps. clare;\)

I don't think the maternity ward will allow you to go home without baby in a proper car seat. The new laws say that car seats are exempt in taxis (unless taxi has one, or you take one), but you wouldn't want to take a new baby home without one would you? You should definitely ask the maternity ward if you can borrow one, but are you sure you're not going to need a car seat at any time for your baby over the next nine months? It might be worth investing in a cheaper one to use occasionally, or perhaps share one with another non-car friend?

Hi, i asked a cab driver about the car seat law but he said that the law hasn't changed for cabs and you can still hold your baby on your lap up until they are 3 years old then obviously they sit on there own with aseat belt on. Its just up to you whether or not you would want to hold the baby in the car. This is what i was told by a cab driver so i'm sure that this information is right.

Thank you all so much for your advise - my life is all pretty much in walking distance. Am a single mum, a bit strapped for cash so was hoping to leave one of the major expenses to a bit later on if possible! I'm really keen to have the baby in a sling, close to me and walk as much as possible - maybe it will help shift the weight too!

you have to have your baby in a car seat to leave the hospital.
why would you not buy a car seat, even for taxis your baby is way safer in a car seat than on your lap, and the law is the same for any car including taxis if you can use a car seat use it, if the child is old enough to sit on a booster seat the black cabs have one fitted, its the pull down bit in the middle of the seats. i think you should get a cheap car seat for car journeys if you go on long journeys like longer than the shops.

you can borrow one from hospital or a friend just to bring the baby home. talk to the hospital about it though.
good luck and congrats

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I have the same problem, I NEVER go anywhere by car, so I won't by buying a car seat. I'll borrow one to get baby home from hospital though, as they won't let you leave without it..

hi
as far as i know the hospital wont let you leave without a car seat, they watch you putting the baby in it!

maybe just borrow one for the journey home, and then just use your sling. i dont drive and am hardly ina car but i do have a car seat for the odd occasion im in my friends car and we sit him in it as a seat in the house becasue he doesnt like his bouncy chair.