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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:
Givemethesun · 12/02/2025 17:44

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

OP do what you feel is best. If you’re happy in the back stay. If you want to go to the front just tell your DC and do that. Dc will be fine either way, but it’s not a problem if you feel more comfortable in the back. My dc is 2 and I sometimes sit in the back sometimes don’t. Some of the negative comments on this chain are wild xxx

polinkhausive · 12/02/2025 17:46

I think the other thing going for me is that I am not generally particularly fussed whether I sit in the front or the back - some people seem to feel really strongly about it but honestly I don't care. So if it makes things easier with a small child, there's no reason not to

BeaAndBen · 12/02/2025 17:53

Hell, the car was the only place DC1 would reliably fall asleep! I was in the front seat from day one.

When I was too overtired, DH would put DC1 in the car and drive around for an hour or so because it would take no more than 5 minutes before zzzzzz

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xyz111 · 12/02/2025 17:54

I've never sat in the back

Moglet4 · 12/02/2025 17:56

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!

Er from day one!

Babyboomtastic · 12/02/2025 18:00

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

I think it's just personal choice.

I sat in the back until my second came along. For her I say in the front immediately as there wasn't any room for me and she had a big sister for company.

I don't think it's an unusual thing to do. It's just easier to keep an eye on them if they are bored/grumpy, especially with rear facing.

I don't see sitting in the back as any worse than the front. I find it more comfortable personally. It was also great to be able to give snacks or a bottle on the go, and I could keep an eye on them as we weren't strict about the 30 minute guidance.

Wonkyhouse · 12/02/2025 18:05

Mine's 2 years old and I still sit in the back 😂 I like it though and it's easier to pass him toys/books etc than if I was in the front. For very short journeys I'll sit in the front but usually I sit in the back.

Watwing · 12/02/2025 18:15

4.5 years until ds2 was born!

DS1 was backwards facing with noone to interact with - why wouldn't we? You can chat to the driver from the back or front.

letthemeatcakes · 12/02/2025 18:17

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!

I never sat in the back

MammaTo · 12/02/2025 18:18

I think it was about 4 months when I started getting in the front seat again.

Vitriolinsanity · 12/02/2025 18:21

24 hours ok the way home from hospital

Vitriolinsanity · 12/02/2025 18:24

Noooooogsh · 12/02/2025 15:54

This is classic mumsnet, everyone acting like this is odd, I have a 4 month old and one of us sits in the back with her if possible. Also everyone else I know with babies does the same!

No, we're simply answering the question.

OP can do as she likes. It seems that she's over it though.

Rockingroll · 12/02/2025 18:27

Absolutely never sat in the back. Wouldn’t have occurred to me to

Vitriolinsanity · 12/02/2025 18:28

BeaAndBen · 12/02/2025 17:53

Hell, the car was the only place DC1 would reliably fall asleep! I was in the front seat from day one.

When I was too overtired, DH would put DC1 in the car and drive around for an hour or so because it would take no more than 5 minutes before zzzzzz

Memory jog.

My dear friend doing laps of a hotel car park (very small) to get his twin girls to drop off.

We, including their mother, watched from a balcony whilst necking the champagne.

ZenNudist · 12/02/2025 18:28

Aw! Mate...

YelloDaff · 12/02/2025 18:35

My daughter is nearly 3 and one of us always sits in the back with her. Genuinely thought this was normal

greendaffodil · 12/02/2025 18:36

Straight away!

Motherofrascals · 12/02/2025 19:18

We would take turns sitting in the back if either baby was having a tough time for any reason. Both ours slept better with a hand on their chest and sometimes that was genuinely the only way to stop them screaming in the car. I kept a pair of nausea bands in the car for ages just in case I ended up in the back.

If it wasn't nap time/noone was upset though then both adults were in the front.

MajorCarolDanvers · 12/02/2025 19:20

From birth.

FoxBaseBeta · 12/02/2025 19:22

We sat in the back until DC1 was a toddler and DC2 came along, doesn't seem weird to me and yes DH sat in the back if I drove!

GRCP · 12/02/2025 19:27

I am the main driver but DH has never sat in the back with the kids, we've always both sat in the front.

GRCP · 12/02/2025 19:31

Wait - in 14 months you've never driven the car with just you and her in it?

Mightymoog · 12/02/2025 19:31

On the way back from the hospital

Hoppinggreen · 12/02/2025 19:32

I have never sat in the back with a baby while the front was empty.
SIL who is a neurotic mess did it for a year if that helps

Blueberry911 · 12/02/2025 19:52

I can't believe everyone saying it "never occurred" to them to sit in the back.

It never occurred to me to sit in the front since I've had my child. Why would I prefer the front seat over the back with my child? Genuine Q?

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