Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not want child to travel in boot

209 replies

Mugglebuggle · 28/08/2021 20:01

Arranging to go for lunch/ dinner tomorrow, DH wants youngest DC to travel in the boot so we only need one car. Other option would be he, or another guest, drives a second car but would mean they cannot drink. We are going to country pub on B roads, approximately 15 - 20 minute drive. AIBU to be annoyed?

For further info, we both worked all through pandemic, booked 2 weeks annual leave and I caught covid at start, it's been pretty miserable & this would be first 'nice' social outing since and before we return to work next week bit I still don't think it's worth compromising safety.

OP posts:
rc22 · 28/08/2021 20:34

Some of my happiest childhood memories are of occasions where my dad had to put the seats down to fit lots in the car and my brother and I travelled in the boot. However that was in the 1980s and things have changed considerably since then and your child needs to travel in a seat with a seat belt!!

Candyapple49 · 28/08/2021 20:35

No way . We were witness to a bad car crash today and were the first there to call an ambulance . Luckily there were no life threatening injuries . 2 passengers in one of the cars were children . If they had not been safely strapped in it would have been fatal . Either a taxi or no drinking for the drivers , that’s just the way it has to be .

AngelPrint · 28/08/2021 20:36

WTAF have I just read?!

If your DH was serious about this he’s a fucking dickhead of the highest order and should never be allowed to make decisions about child safety. Possibly never be allowed responsibility for any child (or pet even) without another adult supervising him ffs!!!

Please god tell me this is a wind up? Just strap the kid to the roof rack ffs and have done with it. Fresh air up there at least Shock

JaffaRaf · 28/08/2021 20:37

‘For further info’ is totally irrelevant, who cares if you’ve worked all through the pandemic, doesn’t mean the child would be less likely to die in a crash in the boot. Your DH is being crazy.

TartanJumper · 28/08/2021 20:37

Of course you don't do this.
It's incredibly dangerous if you get hit from behind, stupid and illegal.
If DH wants to drink that badly you can get a taxi.

EL8888 · 28/08/2021 20:38

He’s a twat. The mitigating information you cited is irrelevant

Hellocatshome · 28/08/2021 20:39

I spent the 80s travelling in the boot,. On someone's knee or behind the seats of a 2 seater car. Its only by luck im not dead. I know Police officers who have been to RTC's of overcrowded cars or people not having seat belts on, they will never forget what they have seen. Completely bat shit crazy to even consider this for a second.

EduardoStobarto · 28/08/2021 20:41

This pisses me off, I'm very petite and it's often been assumed that I'll 'just sit on someone's lap rather than take two cars. It's not them who will get instantly killed if the car crashes, its me, they'll have seat belts on and will be far safer. But it's me that is made to feel guilty and unreasonable and spoiling their fun for suggesting that I'd like to have my own seat too.

TakeMe2Insanity · 28/08/2021 20:41

The 1980s are over!

cricketmum84 · 28/08/2021 20:42

And the most batshit post of the gear goes to.....

elfycat · 28/08/2021 20:42

I call the police every time I see an un-tethered child passenger.

Let's hope I don't pass you.

And I'm old enough to have done this in the past but we (and the law) have changed, and in this case for the better.

NO. It is illegal.

Equalpayquery · 28/08/2021 20:43

Ohhh man that was my absolute favourite way too travel as a kid, especially if the dogs were also there. But since it is not the 80s and parenting and safety have moved on quite a bit YA definitely NBU

234Pepperplant · 28/08/2021 20:44

Over my dead body would my children travel in a vehicle except restrained in a proper car seat in accordance with the law. It’s dangerous and illegal and tantamount to child neglect to put a child in the boot. I shudder when I think of the nonsense my parents allowed in the 1990s (kids in the boot, kids sharing belts, kids sat on laps) but I’d assumed most people had moved on in their thinking in three decades, even my parents now obsess about extended rear facing car seats! I’d be reconsidering being married to someone so irresponsible and bloody stupid.

polkadotpixie · 28/08/2021 20:44

We used to do this as kids, along with having 5 kids across the back seat...it was great fun 😁 However it was also the late 80's/early 90's and I wouldn't dream of doing it with my own DC now, your DH is definitely BU!

Immunetypegoblin · 28/08/2021 20:45

How old is the kid?!

I did that once, as a 14yo. It was sort of restful, in a fucking weird way. I would not do it to my own kids!

Cuddlyrottweiler · 28/08/2021 20:45

God when I was a kid you had two in the boot, four along the back seat and three in the footwell, and dad had had about 3 pints! ...can you imagine what those accidents looked like for first responders?!

I actually remember watching an accident on TV on one of those cops with cameras things where there were loads of injuries and then someone started asking where the baby was. Baby had been sat on mums lap, obviously none of the first responders knew to look for a baby without a car seat. Awful.

Anyway. Obviously no one can travel in the boot of a car. Everyone needs a seat belt each and children that fit in a car seat should be in one.

Comedycook · 28/08/2021 20:45

Obviously it's a ridiculous idea but on a separate note why do people say this...

we both worked all through pandemic

What do you want? A medal

Cuddlyrottweiler · 28/08/2021 20:46

Oh and we use to argue about who "got" to ride In the boot

pinkflask · 28/08/2021 20:46

@WhatsAppening - ha, my literal first thought was “it isn’t 1986!” so clearly a peak year for children being allowed to travel in the boot (of course we fought over who would get the privilege of the boot…different times!)

Esspee · 28/08/2021 20:47

I think husband should go in the boot. If there’s an accident you would be well rid of him.

HungryHippo11 · 28/08/2021 20:47

For further info, we both worked all through pandemic
Oh well in that case its totally legal and will never result in injury or police investigation. Crack on.

Dollywilde · 28/08/2021 20:48

I’m exceptionally chilled but I am Shock at this. Your DH is insane. Just get a taxi like normal people do if they want a glass of wine.

Do you drive? Is this him trying to make a point about how you need to learn or something?

warmeduppizza · 28/08/2021 20:50

No. Back in the 80s I was put in the boot once - we had an accident, and as there were tools lying around in the boot I nearly lost an eye. Still have a scar on my face. It’s not safe.

Helenluvsrob · 28/08/2021 20:53

Uber. Simples

Milkbottlelegs · 28/08/2021 20:54

YABU for thinking this has anything to do with covid.

Swipe left for the next trending thread