Hey, everyone!

Hopefully someone could help me out.

I am currently 34 weeks pregnant and will be giving birth to twins at the UniSpital in Zurich within the next month.

We are one of the millions of couples in the city of ZH who don’t own a car and have always thought about bringing the babies home with us in their pram by public transport. It would be a simple tram ride, since the one that goes to the hospital (tram 9), stops in front of our house.

However, I have been told that I needed to get car seats for the babies and that they wouldn’t be discharged any other way. I find this a little bit hard to believe. Is it true?? Do you know anyone who “walked home” with their babies in the bassinet of the pram without much fuss or do they need to be strapped to a car seat obligatorily? I just don’t want to buy a car seat that I won’t ever use again... even less two!!

Please if anyone knows, has any experience or has heard any stories, please share them with me!! If not, I’ll surely ask next time I’m at the hospital.

Thanks!!!

We went home from Unispital in Zürich by tram with our baby last year, no questions / problems.
We still don't have a car seat more than a year on, as we have never needed one!
I've heard of them checking about car seats in the UK but not here.

We have a car but with a baby seat without a carry handle so it stayed in the car.

Twice we've just stuck the baby under an arm (more or less) and walked out of the hospital, no questions asked.


I think in the U.K, they're worried that you'll just hold the baby which is dangerous if you have an accident and I suppose some particularly chavy people might stick it in the car boot.

Good luck!

I got out of the hospital without any problem. I did have a baby seat (I had the car parked in the hospital's garage) but no one asked me.

Seems like a old wive's tale. Specially considering that there is no point in getting a car seat if you don't actually have a car...

What they going to do, detain you if you don't have a car seat....


There is absolutely no way they can force you to have a car seat, especially if you don't have a car, tell them to go whistle

There's a lot of that about when you are pregnant. Best thing (I found anyway) is to go straight to people that actually know for sure.

Funniest thing "I have been told" was that we were supposed to inform the neighbours and landlord as soon as I found out I was pregnant.

Good luck with the birth!

Yes! Or, if you're too tired (understandably) to do that, ask the person who told you to supply you with the source of their info.

Carseats for babies in the tram....

Absolutely no need for (and definitely no rule). A pram is more than sufficient and how all other parents do it.

I had a car seat. I wouldn't take a baby only a few days old on a public transport, though. I think you could always get a cab (they have car seats here of you ask them). Good on you holding up 34wks with twins!

Actually that is wrong as in too late. You are supposed to inform neighbours and landlord 30 minutes before trying for a baby! Each time.

Funny thing was when we left UniSpital with ours they checked to see if she was secured correctly, but nobody checked to see if our daughter was ours

She must have looked like you.

Thank you, everyone!!!

I now feel silly for even thinking I could be stopped from leaving the hospital with my children.

I guess being so close to the due date and having been under so much stress from carrying twins, I second doubt everything and feel like everything could potentially turn into a huge problem.

Thank you again for the support and good wishes!

Hang in there, marimelmcc!

I can't even imagine how's like with twins, if it was one I would recommend a car seat indeed. Can you ask friends to lend you or help you with the hospital that day? We've been babysitting older kids of friends who were giving birth, or gave friends stuff we didn't need, just ask around, don't be shy. I know for some people it's difficult to ask for help, but it shouldn't be. You don't "disturb", people are glad to help.

Which numpty said you needed a car seat? A heavily pregnant MrsNickAtBasel and I got to the maternity ward at Basel Frauenspital on foot from our then home in Kleinbasel. Our only regret was it was too early to get a Rhyfähri to Schiffläände. We took NickAtBaselJnr home in a pram on the 34 bus a few days later.

If they insist, bring a borrowed car seat which you keep on display long enough to get you, baby and pram to the number 9 tram.

Ever heard of a Taxi?

That will pass once your inner lioness comes out.

Why go to all that hassle when you just hop on a tram or bus which - in our case - dripped us off outside the door of our home?

We did exactly that, and today we have a perfectly healthy 11 year old with whom we have running battles about homework and guitar practice.

Ever heard of basic online social skills?

I doubt if cabs have seats for new-born babies, car seats certainly but these are different than those needed for babies