Does Your Hospital ... ?

[ChetMC]

Does your hospital check your child restraint before you can be discharged? Are the people who do the checks knowledgeable?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Neither the hospital nor the birth center checked the seat. The only thing they did was make sure one was in there. Other than that it wasnt mentioned.

[34me]

none of ours have

[EviesMom]

They checked that we had a seat, but the nurse was completely clueless, wrapped DD up such that she couldn't be buckled into the seat and told me "oh, it's more important for her to be warm than buckled. You'll drive safe."

Then she was pissed that DH and I sat there and undid all her dumb swaddle nonsense to buckle the baby into the seat!

[DahliaRW]

I birthed my first at the hospital and the nurse checked the straps on him to make sure they were snug and below his shoulder, and then she checked the base in the car to make sure it moved less than 1" and she also checked the angle.

[an_aurora]

Yes. That's my job

[Honey693]

Ours did. We had the seat in way too loose so she fixed it and showed us how to do it. We didn't even have the seat until the day DD was born when I made DH leave the hospital to go get it so there was no chance to get a tech to do it. I'm incredibly glad the nurse knew how to get it in right.

[Madders]

They make sure the baby is leaving in a seat, but do not check to make sure they safely installed.

[yarngoddess]

For my first 3 babies it was checked and looked over- but no one really looked at the base in the car to see if it was right. Then with my 4th my HUBBY put the seat in (roll eyes here lol) and the base was buckled, but no clip or mighty tight on it or anything! AND- this kills me- the nurse said Oh, that's ok it will be fine. I heard what was going on and got out of my car, back into my wheel chair (i wasn't walking) and had to fix the seat because I was NOT leaving until the baby was in right. DH and the nurse got a lesson in propper car seat safety

[mjol]

Yes, with all 4 kids. The checked that we had it snug against baby where it needed to be, they even informed us how the 'extra' padding was not necessary and to use rolled up receiving blankets. They also had a class on how to install it with our local police and car insurance companies. Very helpful, thorough and useful.
Although I always wondered what happened if you choose not to drive therefore bypassing a car seat????

[victoriaaustin]

Not the seat installation or the way we had her strapped in. We needed to have one to leave, but they said during the hospital tour that they could not check the seat b/c that would open them up to liability.

However, DD was a slight preemie (36w) and they did a "carseat test" in the ICU to check that she could breathe properly while strapped in. I think they do this for preemies or those under 6 lbs. Luckily, she passed. (If you don't pass, I think they try again or you rent a car bed.)

[Twinklefae]

The nurses here are trained as CRST's (there were some in my course) and they only check how the baby fits, not the install in the car.

[ProtoLawyer]

I've always wondered: Do hospitals require babies to leave in a safety seat if they're going home via bus, subway, or stroller/carrier?

[elmh23]

When we had dd almost 5 years ago, they checked that we had one and that it was installed RFing. Apparently they had had a couple parents who knew they should have a car seat, but installed it FFing or just set it on the seat FFing.

[ashleyhaugh]

our hospital made sure that we had a seat, but that was it. they made it perfectly clear at the l&d tour that the nurses couldnt install or check the install of seats for liability reasons. the hospital did host regular seat checks though, and we were encouraged to go to one to get the seat installed before baby was born

[moaningminny]

Yes, they do check. Before we left we had to go to the front desk and show a RN our baby strapped in her bucket.

I haved no idea how knowledgeable they are.

[inkedmamajama]

Originally Posted by ChetMC

Does your hospital check your child restraint before you can be discharged? Are the people who do the checks knowledgeable?

with my two hospital births the nurse escorted us to the car, and made sure the carseat was installed properly.

with my homebirth, the local fire dept came by to make sure our carseat was installed properly.

[Mandynee22]

Not mine. They actually can't because they would be held liable if they missed something. They do make sure there is one and that the straps are tight enough but they cannot check the installation.
I have heard of some with CPSTs though

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by ProtoLawyer

I've always wondered: Do hospitals require babies to leave in a safety seat if they're going home via bus, subway, or stroller/carrier?

They do here, and it's absolutely ridiculous. I knew a couple who lived ACROSS THE STREET from the hospital and they STILL weren't allowed to leave unless the baby was in a carseat.

[MacKinnon]

Ours just checks off that you physically have a seat. There is no inspection, no help, no correction. I've had parents come in that didn't understand how to use the seat, and said the nurses said they couldn't help. I've also had parents that said, "Well, the hospital said it was OK! Why are you saying it's wrong?" To which I have to explain that the hospital only checks to see if you HAVE a seat, not how it's used!