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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:
polinkhausive · 12/02/2025 19:58

I think there is clearly a bit of a divide between people whose babies/toddlers were happily snoozing in the car and people whose babies/toddlers were miserable buggers. My older one was in the latter camp and it was just much much nicer for the driver if the passenger sat with the baby

ahdlfj · 12/02/2025 20:07

Surely there are times you are driving on your own...?!

WhatWasPromised · 12/02/2025 20:28

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?

Because the leg room is better in the front? Because my DC were fine in the back even rear facing.
Because you get car sick in the back.

Ive never done it, I don’t understand those that did it with one, what happens when you have a second? A lot of cars don’t fit an adult between two car seats in the back.

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Families
Shelby2010 · 12/02/2025 20:32

Until their sibling was born….. so over 2y… anything for a quiet life.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 12/02/2025 20:36

On the way home from hospital.

All my friends have had babies and I don't know any of them who routinely sat in the back with baby.

Blueberry911 · 12/02/2025 20:39

WhatWasPromised · 12/02/2025 20:28

Because the leg room is better in the front? Because my DC were fine in the back even rear facing.
Because you get car sick in the back.

Ive never done it, I don’t understand those that did it with one, what happens when you have a second? A lot of cars don’t fit an adult between two car seats in the back.

Show quote history

I don't get car sick or have long legs so I guess that's cleared it up.

polinkhausive · 12/02/2025 20:41

Blueberry911 · 12/02/2025 20:39

I don't get car sick or have long legs so I guess that's cleared it up.

Show quote history

I also don't think the leg room is better in the back? If you sit behind the passenger seat and set that forward, isn't it exactly the same? There is fundamentally only so much space

polinkhausive · 12/02/2025 20:45

ahdlfj · 12/02/2025 20:07

Surely there are times you are driving on your own...?!

I don't really get this point

Just because you can't do something all of the time doesn't mean you can't do it when you can?

It's a bit like saying -

Surely you don't need to chat to the driver because surely sometimes they have to drive alone without any chat?!

Surely you don't need to pick your child up from school today because surely there are times when you can't and they do to after school club?!

Don't those sound a bit silly? If you have a baby or child who is difficult in the car, you might choose to sit with them when it is possible even if you can't every time. Of course if your child is very happy/asleep in the car, it's different

ahdlfj · 12/02/2025 20:51

@polinkhausive because OP said this Now that I've sat in the back for fourteen months would DD feel neglected/lonely if I sat in the front?

Which sounded like the baby had no experience of being in the back on her own.

polinkhausive · 12/02/2025 20:56

ahdlfj · 12/02/2025 20:51

@polinkhausive because OP said this Now that I've sat in the back for fourteen months would DD feel neglected/lonely if I sat in the front?

Which sounded like the baby had no experience of being in the back on her own.

They might not, though, it depends on your lifestyle. They might not regularly need to drive on their own with the baby. I think I have only driven the kids on my own once or twice and my older one is 8!

Just not a big feature of our lives because we are in central London

greenorangeo · 12/02/2025 20:56

HotCrossBunplease · 12/02/2025 15:47

Oh goodness me, this post is the very definition of PFB. You’ll look back on this one day and laugh OP.

No need for the sneering post. If your DC is a screamer who hates being in the car seat then of course you’ll sit in the back with them for however long it takes.

Mrsmch123 · 12/02/2025 20:56

I'm still in the back and he's nearly

  1. 🙈
I sat in the back initially as he was a baby and I wanted to keep an eye on him. But now it's just habit and he likes to hold my hand/ chat while he can see me. As he's rear facing he can't do this if I'm in the front .
wingsspan · 12/02/2025 20:57

I'm pregnant with my first so don't have any experience yet, but we regularly do long car journeys due to long distance family.

It hasn't occurred to me that whoever wasn't driving WOULDN'T sit in the back when they are tiny.

Surely a very small baby could become distressed at a time when you can't stop the car (e.g. on the motorway), and if there's another adult, them being in the back just makes sense so they can comfort the baby.

Why wouldn't you do this? Im sure we will until at least around 6 months.

Allthebrokenplaces · 12/02/2025 20:58

How does it work for those of you with two children?
Do you sit between them?

Achyarms · 12/02/2025 20:59

Only sat in the back a few times to stop baby or toddler doing a danger nap

onwardsup4 · 12/02/2025 21:00

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!

You think? I think people are just being honest it never occurred to me to sit in the back with any of mine unless upset or unwell even from new born. Each to there own

TattedBarley · 12/02/2025 21:00

My DD is 2.5 and I still sit next to her…judging by other posters reactions, I am obviously bonkers 🤣

Trainr · 12/02/2025 21:01

Oh gosh, I feel like the worst mother! I sat in the front for our 10min journey from the hospital to home after giving birth! I’ve never sat in the back ever! Neither did my husband if I was driving!

BananaNirvana · 12/02/2025 21:01

polinkhausive · 12/02/2025 19:58

I think there is clearly a bit of a divide between people whose babies/toddlers were happily snoozing in the car and people whose babies/toddlers were miserable buggers. My older one was in the latter camp and it was just much much nicer for the driver if the passenger sat with the baby

But what if your miserable crying baby is your second? I spent many a long journey coping with a crying second child and definitely no room in the back!

BananaNirvana · 12/02/2025 21:01

TattedBarley · 12/02/2025 21:00

My DD is 2.5 and I still sit next to her…judging by other posters reactions, I am obviously bonkers 🤣

You are totally bonkers!

Trainr · 12/02/2025 21:02

onwardsup4 · 12/02/2025 21:00

You think? I think people are just being honest it never occurred to me to sit in the back with any of mine unless upset or unwell even from new born. Each to there own

Show quote history

I’m being honest and none of my friends have sat in the back either!! Maybe we’ve all just been lucky with our babies!!

Gettingabigger · 12/02/2025 21:03

For the first 6 weeks because after that I could drive again and knew he had to sit alone in the back

JollyHostess101 · 12/02/2025 21:04

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

She's 18 months and I'm still in the back most times! We had a lot of longer journeys than you'd want with a new born as my dad was at end of life care from 36 weeks and felt better sitting in the back with her and now it's just habit I sit in the back!

I am trying to make a conscious effort to sit in the front and she's really fine! Absolutely fine when DH drives her on his own too most of the time!!

Lilactimes · 12/02/2025 21:04

Trainr · 12/02/2025 21:02

I’m being honest and none of my friends have sat in the back either!! Maybe we’ve all just been lucky with our babies!!

Show quote history

I have never sat in the back with my baby, my mum never sat in the back with me and I don’t know anyone who has done this…

jolies1 · 12/02/2025 21:06

One of us sits in the back for longer journeys to keep my 1 year old entertained and stop him kicking off. Local journeys we both sit in the front.

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