Here in Canada - there are VERY strict rules for car seats. Actually to the point of ridiculous. Although that's more with booster seats, but you'd be fined up your arse if you didn't have your child in a car seat in a vehicle here in Canada. I'm not sure about how they view the bus or subway, because well - unfortunately that's not really an option to have them strapped in.

The hospital I'm delivering at expects you to bring your carseat upstairs to the maternity ward, put baby in it, they then check everything to make sure baby is strapped in properly. Your ride is to pick you up at the front doors, and the mat nurse will come down with you to make sure the seat is in the vehicle correctly. I know not all hospitals here in Ontario have those exact policies, but they do it for the safety of the baby.

And yes - I won't be allowed to take the baby home in a bunting bag for the same reason, that it's too bulky and doesn't lay snug enough against the babies chest. It's layering as their policy.

I believe they do that to cover their own butts. Whatever you choose to do on car rides there after is your own bloody problem in their eyes.

When we had our son we were escorted to the car by the midwife. Hubby bought the car round to the hosp entrance for us but because he was early(Dan not hubby!!!) I hadn't read the instructions....hubby insisted he had...took ages to fit the car seat...when we got home and I read the instructions we realised it was a "rear facing" car seat!! Dan had taken his first car journey facing FORWARDS!!! Oops!!!

Hmmmm.... a lot of very valid points on this thread.. and it's taken me a while to think of how best to write my response because I do not wish to upset anyone! So I've chosen my words carefully and apologise if I do upset anyone... it's not intended!

I think it's quite clear that there seems to be different boundaries to the 'duty of care' at different hospitals within different countries.

Some extend to ensuring the Mum and baby are healthy before leaving, others extend to ensuring they have adequate safety measures for travel, others want to witness the baby securely fastened into the car... etc

I can understand that depending on those levels of duty of care, that some midwives will refuse to let you leave without a car seat - I'm NOT saying that's the way it should be (as not all cases are the same), but if they're told under no circumstances should a patient leave without baby in a car seat, then theoretically they're liable if something happens on that first journey home.

The correct procedure I feel should be for the patient to sign something that says they are aware if hospital policies but due to 'X' reasons they will be leaving without a car seat, thus taking the responsibility away from the hospital. To me... that would make sense... then those that are travelling by car are not affected as the hospital's duty of care remains the same and those that live near by or are catching the bus can leave with baby in pram or suitable and SAFE method of transport.

I'm only pregnant with our first child... so don't claim to know how it goes... but I've heard that most hospitals get you to sign forms if you need to have a c-section... well if they can make you sign forms for that, surely it's not that difficult to get you to sign a form if you wish to relieve them of their duty of care to you upon your departure... thereby they are legally safe from possible law suits!

Maybe i'll suggest it at my hospital tour tomorrow and see how it goes down????

Personally... we have a car and are 15 min drive from the hospital and as such have decided to use an ISOFIX base with our rear facing car seat! That is what we feel will work best for us and our current car/travel/financial situation.