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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To drive with 6 week old on her own in back?

90 replies

Melaniaspilatesinstructor · 05/02/2017 21:52

I'm confused about the rules?
Up until now, DH has sat on back seat with Dd in her car seat next to him but he's at work tomorrow and I need to go to Drs.
Is it okay to drive her whilst she's on her own in the back?

OP posts:
CaurnieBred · 05/02/2017 21:53

Yes

KP86 · 05/02/2017 21:53

Yes. She will be fine. I promise. Nobody has ever been in the back with DS unless both front seats were already full.

This question is cute.

HarryDresdensLeatherDuster · 05/02/2017 21:53

Yes of course it is!

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 05/02/2017 21:54

Oh bless you. Absolutely fine.

Coffeeisnecessary · 05/02/2017 21:54

Of course it's ok! I never sat in the back with mine. As long as she is strapped in it's fine.

HandbagFan · 05/02/2017 21:54

Absolutely fine, and exactly how every parent drives every day! Flowers

fleur34 · 05/02/2017 21:54

Yes of course!

Mrsglitterfairy · 05/02/2017 21:54

Course it is. We drove DS home from the hospital and he was on his own in the back. DH did drive at a snails pace though. Honestly, don't worry about her, she'll be absolutely fine

DontTouchTheMoustache · 05/02/2017 21:55

As a single mother I'd have been funked if you couldn't...Grin

Blinkyblink · 05/02/2017 21:55

Made me smile.

Yes. It would have been fine on the day she was born!

meltownmary · 05/02/2017 21:56

Lovely and reassuring replies to OP. You are wonderful out there.

MirandaWest · 05/02/2017 21:56

There aren't any rules about babies having someone next to them in the car. She'll be fine Smile

Ewock · 05/02/2017 21:57

Yes it is fine to do that. It is so hard when babies are young to know what is best to do. When we went on long journeys one of us always sat in the back with ds. But now with have dd as well so only them in the back.

BillyButtfuck · 05/02/2017 21:57

Aww that's a lovely post.
We have twins so they were alone (together - but no adult iyswim) from day one as I couldn't fit my big bum between the two isofix bases)

Jenniferb21 · 05/02/2017 21:57

Get one of those car mirrors (eBay is best they attach to the headrest) so you can see your darling in your mirror.

But yes she'll be absolutely fine. X

missscarlettinthefutilityroom · 05/02/2017 21:58

It's legal.

However, car seats aren't a good position for young babies for long periods. You know you can put a rear facing seat in the front with the airbag off, so you can see immediately if she has any breathing trouble?

With my first, I put him in the back, but I was constantly looking in the mirrors, and anxious, pulling over to check him, and it was very stressful.

With my second, after the recent research about apnoea in car seats, I put the baby in the front seat, and am a much safer driver as a result.

missscarlettinthefutilityroom · 05/02/2017 22:03

Unless you have a lie flat car seat? In which case the back is safer, and fine.

www.nhs.uk/news/2016/10October/Pages/Warning-over-babies-sleeping-in-car-seats.aspx

I think it's hard to keep a 'watchful eye' on babies in the back.

Obviously, if you can't deactivate the airbag, then the back is the safest way to travel in that car. But when I risk assessed it for us, I feel the front with airbag off is safest.

Bluebellevergreen · 05/02/2017 22:11

Oh! Can I ask here if OP doesnt mind?
We have to buy a new car as the one we have it will be a bit of a pain to get baby in and out as only 3 doors.
When we drive home from hospital (if this baby ever decides to come) I am worried I wont be able to sit at the back (tricky if sore, I have PGP and or if I have an EMCS for example.
We have one of those mirrors.
Can we drive with the new born on his own at the back and us at the front?
25 minutes drive, quite long.
Thank you

missscarlettinthefutilityroom · 05/02/2017 22:13

You can. And in all likelihood, all will be fine.

But unless it was a lie flat seat, I wouldn't, if I had another option. If you don't have an option, then it will likely be fine.

GoesDownLikeACupOfColdSick · 05/02/2017 22:14

You can get a mirror that straps on to the back seat so you can see the baby in your rear view mirror - I got mine from amazon.

You need to make sure the baby's head doesn't flop forwards when they fall asleep, so it's a good idea to be able to see him/her. Otherwise totally fine!

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 05/02/2017 22:14

Bluebell that's almost identical to our journey home with DD. It was fine.

GoesDownLikeACupOfColdSick · 05/02/2017 22:14

Something like this:

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/munchkin-baby-insight-mega-mirror-d3230.html?gclid=CImDn7X9-dECFWEo0wod69EOQg

FearTheLiving · 05/02/2017 22:15

This is the strangest thread Grin

LittleBearPad · 05/02/2017 22:16

Of course, it's completely fine.

DustyCropHopper · 05/02/2017 22:19

I never sat in the back with mine. They were always strapped in the back from day 1. That said, I never had a travel system so they were only ever in a car seat while in the car, then were carried or in a lie flat pram to move around and if we were going on longer journeys we stopped regularly.

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