Car seat rant.
Yesterday an expectant mother asked this question, “Do I need a car seat to take my baby home from the hospital in?” She had ordered a stroller-car seat system and there was a delivery delay, so she was thinking of just taking the baby home in her arms, since she would birth before the system arrived.
I don’t understand how some people can say that a car seat is not crucial when transporting a baby. Think of it this way: You’ve spent 40 weeks cradling the child in your womb, protecting it from any injury from falls and knocks, spent hours in hospital labouring to deliver the baby, and then you take it home from the hospital - in all its fragility - in your arms, in a vehicle travelling at at least 60 kilometres per hour. And you think it’s safe. It boggles the mind, doesn’t it?
A child that small and young thrown on impact in an accident at that speed will almost certainly be killed. No matter if you try to hold on for dear life. There’s simply no way to prevent serious injury and the force with which a collision occurs will throw the baby out of your arms, even if yours are as thick and strong as the Hulk’s. The only way to keep the baby safe is to put him in a car seat, installed safely, in the proper position inside your car. Thinking that it’s a short drive is foolhardy. Statistics show that most accidents happen very close to an intended destination, so the length of the drive has no bearing on what could happen in the, say, 15 to 20 minutes it takes to get you home from the hospital.
Don’t do a Britney. Put the baby in a car seat, properly. Because it’s better to be safe than stupid.
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4 opinions for Car seat rant.
Kate
Jun 3, 2006 at 1:18 am
True, but most infant car seats aren’t designed for tiny newborns, especially those who are under 5 lbs, Since it is ridiculous to spend more money for an additional product you’ll only use for about 4 weeks, most hospitals rent preemie/newborn car beds or newborn inserts to get babies home safely.
Deb L
Jun 3, 2006 at 6:58 am
Heh, Kate beat me to it. I was going to suggest the woman speak to the hospital about a short-term rental until her carseat arrives. I know our hospitals will -refuse- to discharge your baby and let you take him/her home unless you have a properly installed carseat in your vehicle.
There are a lot of things we take risks on in life, and as parents, but not using a carseat is just stupid.
Jean Angus
Jun 5, 2006 at 9:15 pm
While I’m not sure if hospitals here in Singapore rent out car seats, newborn car seat inserts are cheap and easily available here, so there is no excuse not to use a car seat to take the baby home in.
Joan
Jun 8, 2006 at 11:26 pm
I was equally as horrified when I read that post and even more so when I realised that she was just a couple of weeks away from term. I thought I was bad in keeping up in what’s good and not for my baby, but neglecting such basic knowledge is certainly appalling.
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