Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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:
MagnoliaGirlie · 13/02/2025 06:52

BlondiePortz · 13/02/2025 06:17

Immediately why on earth wouldn't I have?

Some children have a really hard time in cars, and no matter what, they will be screaming blue murder the whole time, which is horrible! My first did that and it was just impossible to carry on, my partner couldn't even focus on the road as the screams were so intense. With me sitting at the back, I could breastfeed and sooth my child and we'd all have a calm journey. It's only when she started being a bit more regular with naps (we could schedule the drive during those then) and have a few words that it started to get easier and I went back to sit at the front.
Good for you you never had to, because it was not fun! I'm so so so relieved my 2nd is chill in the car and very rarely screams.

Lemonade2011 · 13/02/2025 06:57

Never did, once perhaps on a long journey with my youngest 2. Otherwise I had other kids in the back (have 4) so no room for me and mostly I was driving my ex was a police officer so back to work fairly quickly so was back on school runs etc straight away, each to their own though don’t think there is anything wrong with it if you’re happy doing it

Huskytrot · 13/02/2025 06:57

I never sat in the back.

The only people I know who've done this have a PFB and even now at 4.5 YEARS old, the dad is too anxious to drive far with her in the car alone in case she kicks off.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
howsthehair · 13/02/2025 07:03

DangerMouseAndPenfoldx · 12/02/2025 21:10

A (genuine) those who have sat in the back all along and whose kids are older … I think some have said 3, 5, even 9 … when do you envisage stopping?

I assume you don’t picture you and your 18 or 19 year old still sat in the back seat, with your OH driving you both around like a chauffeur service. But what is the catalyst for the change, and at what age?

Edited

On a long journey I'd still sit in the back with my 65 year old mum so we can chat properly. It's not an age thing, it just feels more practical.

olympicsrock · 13/02/2025 07:13

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!

Perhaps that’s because humans are like sheep . Peers are very influential. In my circle of NCT friends we nearly all sat in the front . Baby had toys and a mirror which I could see when driving or in the passenger seat.

TuesdayRubies · 13/02/2025 07:22

My baby struggled with the car until she could see out of the window. Used to sit in the back with her for longer journeys until around 15 months or so when she was happier in the big upright Axkid seat so didn't need distraction etc.

TwoShades1 · 13/02/2025 07:31

Literally from the moment she was born and we left the hospital? It didn’t occur to me to sit in the back. I’ve occasionally sat in the back if we have other people travelling with us as it a bit squashy next to the car seat and I would rather tall FIL have the front seat.

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 09:54

MagnoliaGirlie · 13/02/2025 06:52

Some children have a really hard time in cars, and no matter what, they will be screaming blue murder the whole time, which is horrible! My first did that and it was just impossible to carry on, my partner couldn't even focus on the road as the screams were so intense. With me sitting at the back, I could breastfeed and sooth my child and we'd all have a calm journey. It's only when she started being a bit more regular with naps (we could schedule the drive during those then) and have a few words that it started to get easier and I went back to sit at the front.
Good for you you never had to, because it was not fun! I'm so so so relieved my 2nd is chill in the car and very rarely screams.

Show quote history

Surely it’s incredibly dangerous (and illegal) to breastfeed in a moving car?

JimHalpertsWife · 13/02/2025 09:59

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 09:54

Surely it’s incredibly dangerous (and illegal) to breastfeed in a moving car?

Show quote history

Not if baby stays safely buckled into its seat and mum leans over it to nurse.

SchrodingersTwat2 · 13/02/2025 10:01

Eh?

I'd find it difficult to drive from the back seat.

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 10:04

JimHalpertsWife · 13/02/2025 09:59

Not if baby stays safely buckled into its seat and mum leans over it to nurse.

Show quote history

with her seatbelt on? Yeah, right.

JimHalpertsWife · 13/02/2025 10:09

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 10:04

with her seatbelt on? Yeah, right.

Show quote history

Round her waist.

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 10:13

You are talking absolute nonsense.

TickingAlongNicely · 13/02/2025 10:22

Breastfeeding in a moving car us crazy. In an accident you would be thrown onto your baby!

MagnoliaGirlie · 13/02/2025 12:14

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 10:04

with her seatbelt on? Yeah, right.

Show quote history

Yep. Seat belt are adjustable. Also, i don't breatfeed for hours on end? Often, a few minutes from time to time helps them calm down. Usually, just your presence helps too. Sorry my kid isn't like yours and needed more support in the car than yours. Well done you for having a perfectly settled child in the car 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

MagnoliaGirlie · 13/02/2025 12:15

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 10:13

You are talking absolute nonsense.

Right, just because you can't imagine how somebody does sth you don't means it's nonsense. Jeez fucking louise!

NameChangedOfc · 13/02/2025 12:17

Bythewayimgoingouttonight · 12/02/2025 15:48

I never stopped.

Same

MagnoliaGirlie · 13/02/2025 12:19

TickingAlongNicely · 13/02/2025 10:22

Breastfeeding in a moving car us crazy. In an accident you would be thrown onto your baby!

I don't see how I'd be thrown onto my baby. Our bodies would move together in the same directions. What could be thrown around the car though are toys, luggage, bags... but most people still take those risks too.

TickingAlongNicely · 13/02/2025 12:24

MagnoliaGirlie · 13/02/2025 12:19

I don't see how I'd be thrown onto my baby. Our bodies would move together in the same directions. What could be thrown around the car though are toys, luggage, bags... but most people still take those risks too.

Show quote history

The car seat will stop the baby moving. You however will continue moving forward(yourseat belt useless) into your baby before being stopped by them and their car seat.

Not a risk I would take... giving something else to soothe them yes (dummy, bottle, finger).

There used to be an advert that got demonstrated what happened when an unsecured person was in a car accident and how they caused injury to others in the car. You are a lot heavier than a toy!

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 12:25

PMSL at the image of a woman straining at a seatbelt, dangling her breasts in the face of a baby strapped securely into a car seat while the car is driven down the motorway by her husband trying to look in the rear view mirror. And thinking this is completely safe. Absolute insanity.

MagnoliaGirlie · 13/02/2025 12:26

If you drive past me when I do, I'll wave 😘😘

user1496146479 · 13/02/2025 12:28

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!

Not classic mumsnet! It's not odd, but it's definitely not the norm, going by my own experience & the comments.

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 12:34

I’d love to see the crash test dummy footage of that scenario. But no manufacturer has ever considered it probable enough to bother testing. Until now…

Twaddlepip · 13/02/2025 13:28

I never sat in the back. Why would I?!

Twaddlepip · 13/02/2025 13:31

MagnoliaGirlie · 13/02/2025 06:52

Some children have a really hard time in cars, and no matter what, they will be screaming blue murder the whole time, which is horrible! My first did that and it was just impossible to carry on, my partner couldn't even focus on the road as the screams were so intense. With me sitting at the back, I could breastfeed and sooth my child and we'd all have a calm journey. It's only when she started being a bit more regular with naps (we could schedule the drive during those then) and have a few words that it started to get easier and I went back to sit at the front.
Good for you you never had to, because it was not fun! I'm so so so relieved my 2nd is chill in the car and very rarely screams.

Show quote history

Total fucking madness.

Swipe left for the next trending thread