Bringing Baby Home

[rani]

Unlike the US, HK does not have any restrictions on how you should carry your baby home from the hospital.

So, tell us what worked well for you.

Rani

 

[armstroe]

We brought up a car seat from Oz that uses a bolt connected harness to anchor the seat. Australia does have the most stringent car seat regulations in the world, but given the amount of cars on the road, the distance we cover and the speed some drivers do this at, these measures are necessary in Sydney etc.

 

[Seb's Dad]

We took a taxi from Matilda to The Peak, then walked down to Pokfulam along the trails on a gorgeous, warm and sunny December day. It was a surreal Buddha-gap walk, and one of the top moments of my life.

But now he bombs around in a Cosco car seat, which about two years ago had one of the top safety ratings in North America.

 

[Peng]

We took a cab home from Canossa Hospital. The cab driver was most careful and drove very slowly. Since we don't have a car and travel by cab whenever we bring Nicole out (she's 6 months old next week), I carry Nic in the Baby Bjorn carrier and wear a seat belt, tho' I have to hold on the upper strap so that it doesn't strangle Nicole.

 

[aldougie]

Apologies for stating the obvious but when taking your baby in a cab in the Baby Bjorn the safety belt must be between you and the baby. This will prevent your baby being strangled by the seat belt and prevent your baby being crushed by the seat belt if you are in an accident or the driver brakes very sharply.

 

[Rosewood]

We had a car seat, and thought we had sussed out how to use it, however on the day, we couldnt work out how to belt baby in, so I ended up carrying her in the car which is dangerous. So my advice, make sure you know how to do up the belt securely, perhaps even practice with a doll.

 

[benjy]

car seat are unfortunately not adapted for new born babies..
personnally I have a pram which can be separated and can be carried by hand and which also fits in the car (fixed with a seatbell) ..
so that's how I did for my first child, by car..in the 'pram bed'

 

[Valencia]

When I was born, my grandma carried me in her arms and called a cab home. When my daughter was born, my sister in-law carried her in her arms and we called a cab home.

 

[hkgirl]

I definitely think a rear-facing carseat is safest and that's what we used, but I know it's a very expensive investment if you don't have a car. I now put my daughter in a sling or baby carrier with the lap seat belt around me (making sure my daughter's legs aren't trapped under it) and then I put the shoulder belt behind my back. This is probably the safest alternative if you don't have a carseat. The large buses and the train are the safest modes of transportation if you don't have a proper infant safety seat, so I think those should be chosen over more accident prone modes of transportation such as taxis and mini-buses.
Growing up in Canada, I am very uncomfortable not having my daughter in a carseat, but it would be impossible to carry it around with us the whole time we were out as we don't have a car.
Safe travels!

 

[HappyV]

It's nice to see people taking this issue seriously - I get so angry when I see HK parents in cars/taxis with their kids not in a seat belt, and often not even in their parents' laps - just climbing all over the car. These people are just ignorant - not just of the law but of common sense which tells us that this is dangerous!
There is a group of children who get off the DB ferry every morning on their way to kindergarten. I always see three adults with five children get into one taxi, with no seat belts for anyone. If there was an accident, I am sure these children would be badly injured.
I honestly wish the HK Police would have an officer there one morning, just to make these stupid women aware that they are being careless with these kids' lives.
Sorry to be so dramatic, but it really scares me.