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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU or is this the ultimate in pmtb (precious mummy to be)

169 replies

BimboNo5 · 12/09/2011 09:09

Mum-to-be car stickers?
I mean- why??? Do you see one and think 'oh okay, I really really must not crash into that car'

OP posts:

OhdearNigel · 12/09/2011 14:05

Surely "mother in law IS boot" would be more appropriate for most ?

FrozenNorthPole · 12/09/2011 14:08

YANBU. Particularly after my third miscarriage in a row, all that those 'mummy to be' stickers every achieved was to give me an extra, unexpected kick in the guts as I sat in a traffic jam. A friend who had a stillbirth feels very similar about the baby on board stickers. Although I have now got two living children, I would never use one of those stickers because I know there's a chance I could perpetuate that pain.

Original poster

BimboNo5 · 12/09/2011 14:22

Sorry but im proper laughing at some of the suggestions on here! Im considering getting one saying 'blonde in disguise' or 'dipshit on board' as I always seem to end up going in the totally wrong direction grrr

OP posts:

Sleepyspaniel · 12/09/2011 14:34

I think the Baby on Board ones are an appeal to have patience if the driver appears to be over-cautious. They are meant to help prevent road rage if the impatient driver behind is aware of the reason for cautious driving up front.

I don't mind those but they are everywhere now and regardless of babies in the car or not so doubt anyone takes much notice of them.

tiddleypompom · 12/09/2011 15:20

Whilst using the tube in London I've seen a couple of 'baby on board' badges pinned to updiffed ladies lapels. I had a bloody great bump at the time, and that still didn't prompt any sod to give up their seat for me, but I'm guessing that's why they wore them (rather than asking for congratulations that is)?

Anyway, it irritated me, but then I am quite irritable, especially when commuting.

Andrewofgg · 12/09/2011 15:25

Equal opps, please. If Trying to conceive is acceptable how about Anxious to beget?

LikeACandleButNotQuite · 12/09/2011 15:32

I seen one on a documentary on 4 which said "Future Millionaire on Board"....pushy parenting anyone?

Love the made up ones on here, very funny

LoveInAColdClimate · 12/09/2011 15:37

The tube badges are given out by TFL for just that reason, tiddleypompom. Saves embarrasment when commuters offer their seat to someone who turns out to have just eaten all the pies. Without badges, I have spent ages subtly eyeing up (smaller) bumps trying to decide if it's a heavy lunch or a baby and whether I'm going to be punched for offering .

LoveInAColdClimate · 12/09/2011 15:38

Oh, and in winter, if people keep their coat on, it's very hard to tell if someone is pregnant or wearing a very big coat.

takethisonehereforastart · 12/09/2011 15:39

During my third pregnancy I had Mother-To-Be On Board stickers on my car.

This is because in my second pregnancy our car was stopped at a red traffic light when we were rammed by a massive lorry carrying a masonry crane on the back of it.

We were forced through the light and into oncoming traffic.

I went into premature labour because of my injuries and our daughter died two hours after her birth.

The man driving the lorry admitted that he had been resting on his clutch and not bothered to use the handbrake. He had just come from a muddy builders yard and said his boots were wet and dirty, causing his foot to slip and the lorry to shoot forward.

Apparently they do that rather than stall in the same way a car would.

I don't know if my having the signs in the car at that time would have done anything to change his lazy, bad driving habits, but I hope so. At times during my third pregnancy they were the only thing that gave me the confidence to get in a car and go anywhere.

So YABU.

tiddleypompom · 12/09/2011 15:40

Ahhh, I see, thanks for clearing that up loveinacoldclimate. Well, fair enough, I hope that they do the trick and can understand the possible entertainment embarrassment of getting the judgement wrong...

I had to threaten one commuter with sitting on their lap in the end - perhaps the lack of badge suggested mine was a pie-bump!

Pootles2010 · 12/09/2011 15:42

I'm so sorry to hear about that take. Unfortunately I don't think it would have - people like that just don't think/ care.

WidowWadman · 12/09/2011 15:48

I'm very sorry about what has happened to you, but I doubt that anyone is driving more carefully around people who announce their pregnancy or offspring to the world by the medium of sticker.

Maybe people drive differently more safety conscious if they have someone pregnant on the passenger seat (but not neccessarily so if my former boss is anything to go by), but I seriously doubt that someone thinks - oh she's pregnant, I'd rather not have an accident involving her. Nobody in their right mind would want to have an accident with anyone of any age, pregnant or not.

Angel786 · 12/09/2011 15:51

Not my kind of thing but If it gives people peace of mind so be it, although the little princess / future millionaire etc signs are just wrong. Keep it simple.

takethisonehereforastart · 12/09/2011 15:52

Thank you pootles, and you are probably right but I hope he is more thoughtful now.

The signs still did the job for me though, they helped me feel confident enough to get back in the car and for that reason alone I think they are worth having if it makes someone feel better and safer.

doublestandard · 12/09/2011 15:54

I think just a very simple:

Attention-seeker on board

It would cover all those stickers and be much cheaper to produce.

If I saw a sticker like that in the OP I would just think "what a tit" but I know some people would think "bloody women drivers".

doublestandard · 12/09/2011 15:57

X-posted with take

Sorry for your loss and you don't sound like an attention-seeker.

Feminine · 12/09/2011 16:00

Well ,if it is an urban myth that they were originally meant to help emergency crews...let it be that from now on I think?

I have never used one, but it seems they would be useful in an emergency situation right?

takethisonehereforastart · 12/09/2011 16:01

Thanks double

I will confess, I briefly considered printing off a big "Passenger in Labour!" sign for our drive to the hospital and decided it would make us look like attention seeking tits, so I didn't do it. But I think I could make a small fortune selling them if I made a few up

MangoMonster · 12/09/2011 16:06

Only found out recently that baby on board stickers were originally to help police know that there was a baby in the car if there is an accident. Before that thought it was all a load of rubbish.

madamarcati · 12/09/2011 16:09

i hate them because they seem to be suggesting that a baby's life is somehow more valuable than anyone else's!

wrt the pregnancy one, i wonder if it would prompt people to leave more room when parking.I had a bad experience when pg with one of mine.Someone parked too close for me to open the door wide enough to get back in !

Empjusa · 12/09/2011 16:20

DH's suggestion for a TTC sticker

"Car may contain traces of sperm"

Filofax · 12/09/2011 16:20

Frozennorthpole - you and me both. Those thoughts crop up enough without any signs in cars gving you a reminder. Not so painful for me now just find those signs overly precious and cringeworthy.

buterflies · 12/09/2011 16:25

My fella needs one, powered by farts

Original poster

BimboNo5 · 12/09/2011 16:33

As I said earlier, not true, look on snopes.com.

What happened to you was hideous take, but drivers who are careless are going to be careless no matter who is in other vehicles. It may give you the confidence to go in the car but is highly unlikely to make a jot of difference in terms of accidents.

OP posts:

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