Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

When did you start sitting in the front passenger seat again post baby?

254 replies

user11290 · 12/02/2025 15:41

Hi,

Just curious as to when you started sitting in the front passenger seat when you go out as a family, after having a baby?

Obviously it's different if you're actually driving. But for those that don't drive/allow someone else to drive - when did you start sitting in the front passenger seat again?

DD is 14 months and I sit in the back together but I do sometimes miss sitting in the front with my partner as I feel as though the 'room mate' phase has extended to car journeys too.

Not sure if I'm being selfish but just curious!

OP posts:
Findmeaplant343 · 12/02/2025 16:40

I sit in the back with my 8 week old if my partner is driving. Obviously if I'm on my own then she is alone in the back. There are a few times when I've been driving and it would have been useful to have someone in the back like when she has been sick or once when her hat slipped down over her face. It's definitely not essential but also not a weird thing to do either!

MarcieLane · 12/02/2025 16:44

I must have missed the memo…😆

I sat in the front, even on the drive from hospital with my newborns!

Sayshesheshe · 12/02/2025 16:44

Im really fascinated by everyone saying it’s PFB behaviour, because it makes total sense to me. But our baby has been hysterically upset at some point during every journey we’ve taken so far so why wouldn’t I sit with the them?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
SemperIdem · 12/02/2025 16:47

I can see how you got into the habit, unmanaged CMPA is hard going!

But you’re fine to change things now it is under control.

BeachRide · 12/02/2025 16:48

littleluncheon · 12/02/2025 15:46

First baby 3 months, 3rd baby probably 3 days!

Fourth baby about 3 minutes 🤣

Floralnomad · 12/02/2025 16:52

Straight away . I was out in the car alone everyday anyway so I couldn’t see it made any difference when I was a passenger .

jolota · 12/02/2025 17:06

I've always sat in the front, even on the way home from the hospital. We had a mirror to see her.
I attached a toy or gave her a book once she was old enough for entertainment.
If she got really upset on longer car journeys but we couldn't stop then I'd climb into the back to help settle her.
But tbh there's so many times that I was driving alone so not possible to sit with her that it never occurred to me to do that on a normal journey when I'm a passenger, she needs to get used to being in the car and our next kid won't have that option either because it'd be extremely tight for me to sit in the middle seat between them!

summer3219 · 12/02/2025 17:11

I have never sat in the back with either of my DC

Sinkintotheswamp · 12/02/2025 17:18

I never sat in the back. I get car sick.

RedOnyx · 12/02/2025 17:18

I still sit in the back with my three year old! But we don't actually own a car and any time we hire one it's for at least a two hour drive so I'm in the back to hand her books/toys/snacks. Until she was about 18 months she cried hysterically within 10 minutes of being in the car every single time. Next time we're in a car (not until the end of May) maybe I'll try sitting in the front and see how she gets on.

ERthree · 12/02/2025 17:18

Why would you sit in the back? I had 3 children, which one should i have stuck in the front ?

howsthehair · 12/02/2025 17:23

Still sit in the back and he's 9, I just like his company and it's easier to chat and share activities when I'm in the back.

hobbledyhoy · 12/02/2025 17:23

Only once or twice when they've been ill, didn't even occur to me that it could be a thing to be honest. Fourteen months seems like rather a long time to be sat in the back, mine mostly sleep in the car.

KindLemur · 12/02/2025 17:24

Erm on the drive home lol

Chuchoter · 12/02/2025 17:24

Straight away.

ReignOfError · 12/02/2025 17:27

The only time was if mine were puking (often), or upset (rarely).

ThePoshUns · 12/02/2025 17:36

You what?!

sanityisamyth · 12/02/2025 17:37

I've never sat in the front passenger seat since I learned to drive as ExH didn't drive for years after we were together, then he was bloody lethal after he passed (crashed 3 cars and wrote off a further 3 in 2 years) so I insisted on driving everywhere. Certainly didn't even consider sitting in the back!

BooomShakeTheRoom · 12/02/2025 17:38

Within weeks of their birth. Unless a long trip, then after around 12 months.

Theres no need to sit in the back with a toddler in my opinion.

Givemethesun · 12/02/2025 17:39

The multiple comments from people saying it never occurred to them to sit in the back I don’t get. If your baby is screaming in the car surely your maternal instinct is to sit close to them if you can (ie in the back). Or maybe you had a nice easy newborn who didnt cry in the car ever. OP there is no right or wrong answer. I sit in the back with my toddler still sometimes, not all the time, as it’s fun! And shock, I like being with my toddler sometimes.

IHateBakedBeans · 12/02/2025 17:39

You've sat in the back of a car for 14 months?!?!

BooomShakeTheRoom · 12/02/2025 17:41

user11290 · 12/02/2025 15:44

Oh dear perhaps there's something wrong with me then 😂.

Now that I've sat in the back for fourteen months would DD feel neglected/lonely if I sat in the front?

Sorry stupid I know :/ my brain is riddled with anxiety when it comes to things like this

Do you sleep with her too?

Independence is a very important skill to teach young children and they need practice.

polinkhausive · 12/02/2025 17:41

On here this is often mocked but we did find it just easier for longer journeys especially - someone was then able to give the baby a bottle or later a snack or to comfort them

Honestly - we did it until we had our second!

But we don't own a car so this wasn't a super frequent thing for us - just when we rented one for trips and holidays

Givemethesun · 12/02/2025 17:41

Sayshesheshe · 12/02/2025 16:44

Im really fascinated by everyone saying it’s PFB behaviour, because it makes total sense to me. But our baby has been hysterically upset at some point during every journey we’ve taken so far so why wouldn’t I sit with the them?

Agree with you. I don’t get half the comments on this thread. 🤣My newborn was the same - screamed in every car journey - so why wouldn’t u sit close to her

Octavia64 · 12/02/2025 17:43

I never sat in the back with mine.

I did have twins do it would have been a hell of a squeeze.

Swipe left for the next trending thread