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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find Baby on board car signs pointless and rather irritating.

255 replies

VickyLouT · 27/02/2022 11:57

I just don't get it. What purpose do these signs serve? I totally understand why you might wear a baby on board badge on the tube, that has a purpose. But why a car sign? Are other drivers supposed to be behave differently around you "more safely" or perhaps just be forewarned that you may have poor driving or parking as you may be sleep deprived. Aibu to find this pointless signalling irritating? Maybe someone with one of these signs share why?

OP posts:
CantStartaFireWithoutaSpark · 27/02/2022 22:34

I’ve thought about this. But actually, there are so many aggressive assholes on the road, driving behind you flashing to drive faster or get out of their way even if you’re driving the speed limit, or offended do you don’t let them out, when they don’t deserve to be…
I think it would hopefully put people off being aggressive to someone with a baby on board sign.
Like I’ve had people drive up my ass on the motorway cause I’m in their way driving the speed limit. If I had a baby on board sign maybe they wouldn’t.

CantStartaFireWithoutaSpark · 27/02/2022 22:37

The “little princess on board” type signs make me cringe for the child mind you. Just get a normal sign

SnowFlo · 27/02/2022 22:46

Maybe your partner shouldn't tell you things about another families tragedy for you to plaster it all over the internet

There are no names so I don't see the issue.

saw some firefighters girlfriend gossiping about the death of my husband

But there are no names or even details about where it took place so privacy is still being maintained

Sunsetzs · 27/02/2022 22:52

If they're driving, are you honestly suggesting there is a substantial likelihood of someone intent on hitting your car who will back off when they see the sign?

Honestly, yes, for some people. You really can't say that nobody would, and I can't say that everybody would, but I do believe these signs can be deterrents for some bad behaviour by drivers.

DockOTheBay · 27/02/2022 22:57

@KindlyKanga

So if you crash they know to look for a small person
I don't buy it. If you don't have a sign, do they just rescue the driver and assume there are no other passengers. Surely they will look in the whole car as a matter of course.

What if you have that sign but the child isn't with you, do they spend longer looking because they think a child is there? They should look thoroughly in every case anyway.

WetLookKnitwear · 27/02/2022 23:11

I assume it’s to guilt trip road rage people into not driving up your backside. The thought of a baby probably brings some people back down to earth.

I don’t know why you find them irritating though. There are enough things to get into a tizzy fit about, this is just a bit of plastic.

poweredbyplants · 27/02/2022 23:11

They are to alert emergency services to the presence of a child in the event of an accident HOWEVER my ex's dad was a fatal road traffic investigator and said that they're more trouble when they're worth because if they're left in the car when said child is not in there then emergency services waste time looking for a child who was never in the car in the first place.

XenoBitch · 27/02/2022 23:14

@CantStartaFireWithoutaSpark

The “little princess on board” type signs make me cringe for the child mind you. Just get a normal sign
Came here to say similar. Or ones like "Nana's Little Princess".
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 27/02/2022 23:20

@poweredbyplants

They are to alert emergency services to the presence of a child in the event of an accident HOWEVER my ex's dad was a fatal road traffic investigator and said that they're more trouble when they're worth because if they're left in the car when said child is not in there then emergency services waste time looking for a child who was never in the car in the first place.
This is utter bollocks. Emergency services check all vehicles for occupants with reference to stupid signs in the window. Which is as it should be if anyone gave it a moment’s thought.
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 27/02/2022 23:21

Without reference of course.

Girlmumdogmumboymum · 27/02/2022 23:25

@VickyLouT

I just don't get it. What purpose do these signs serve? I totally understand why you might wear a baby on board badge on the tube, that has a purpose. But why a car sign? Are other drivers supposed to be behave differently around you "more safely" or perhaps just be forewarned that you may have poor driving or parking as you may be sleep deprived. Aibu to find this pointless signalling irritating? Maybe someone with one of these signs share why?
I have to say, I often think about this because it's usually when I'm behind someone who's driving like an absolute TWAT and I'm thinking.... If you were that worried about the baby in the back of your car you wouldn't have just done x/y/z.
Luckyelephant1 · 27/02/2022 23:52

@CantStartaFireWithoutaSpark

I’ve thought about this. But actually, there are so many aggressive assholes on the road, driving behind you flashing to drive faster or get out of their way even if you’re driving the speed limit, or offended do you don’t let them out, when they don’t deserve to be… I think it would hopefully put people off being aggressive to someone with a baby on board sign. Like I’ve had people drive up my ass on the motorway cause I’m in their way driving the speed limit. If I had a baby on board sign maybe they wouldn’t.
Yes basically this. It's similar to how, ever since I've become a mum and walk with a pram, cars stop so much more often for me to cross the road. I'd imagine a baby on board sign stops or at least reduces other drivers from being dickheads.
XenoBitch · 27/02/2022 23:56

I think it is just a sign to say "we had sex, conceived, and now have a child".... said child may/may not be in the car.

Caneloalvarez · 28/02/2022 07:21

I don't think people who read/comment on mumsnet are generally the target audience for these signs, which I think is why so many on here are interpreting them as showing off in some way. If there is a small chance a sign makes a very aggressive/impatient driver back off a little, what's the problem?

Yes some signs are self indulgent e.g. little princess etc but it's really not worth all the bitterness being displayed on here.

Those that have seen people WITH the stickers driving dangerously.. well that's a shame, I haven't seen that myself. I'd say those people are in the minority.

ManicPixie · 28/02/2022 07:28

I don’t have one but I don’t think they’re ridiculous. Where I live if you drive at the speed limit that’s considered ‘slow’, but the sign gives would-be tailgaters another reason why you’re doing it.

HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 28/02/2022 07:28

They are to let the emergency services know if you are in a crash & unconscious when they find you to look in the back for a baby. Not really pointless. Or anything to waste your energy in getting cross about IMO

HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 28/02/2022 07:31

@YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp

They make me think ‘So what? Around here they tend to indicate that the car is driven by someone who ignores road signs, parks wherever they want and drives a car completely frosted up on a cold morning. I avoid them as much as I can.
Why? That's weird.
hugr · 28/02/2022 07:38

@TrickyD

Why not ‘No baby on board, feel free to ram’ ?
Never heard that one before
hugr · 28/02/2022 07:39

@XenoBitch

I think it is just a sign to say "we had sex, conceived, and now have a child".... said child may/may not be in the car.
And the rest. I'm very proud of my baby. Its not why I bought the sign but it pleases me to know that's what others think.
DisorganisedAlways · 28/02/2022 07:45

Aren't those signs supposed to be so that if you crash your car, people are aware there could be a baby in the car?

KristinaYang · 28/02/2022 07:47

I have one that is in the window of the car seat and it says please leave enough space for me to fully open the door. (So that I can get baby in/out, rather than leaving her on the ground in a car park and then move the car so I can open the door) Angry Since I’ve had it I think it’s helped.
I think leggings are tacky but I wouldn’t post an AIBU about it! Not.my.business!

SoupDragon · 28/02/2022 07:53

Why are people still going on about the signs being there to alert emergency services? It's been debunked SO many times!

If your securely fastened child in a securely fastened car seat has been thrown from the car, why will your little plastic sign still be securely attached to the miraculously unbroken window? And virtually no one takes them out when there is no baby on the car.

Narutocrazyfox · 28/02/2022 07:57

When my children were little, I stuck one in the rear window in the desperate hope it would stop the endless, dangerous tailgating.

I also like to think it helped whoever was behind me when I fell asleep at the wheel, utterly sleep deprived, and drove into a hedge.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 07:59

@SoupDragon

Why are people still going on about the signs being there to alert emergency services? It's been debunked SO many times!

If your securely fastened child in a securely fastened car seat has been thrown from the car, why will your little plastic sign still be securely attached to the miraculously unbroken window? And virtually no one takes them out when there is no baby on the car.

Because nobody at this point is RTFT, just dropping in their gem of top rate information. Grin
OnlyAFleshWound · 28/02/2022 08:01

@DisorganisedAlways

Aren't those signs supposed to be so that if you crash your car, people are aware there could be a baby in the car?
Did you notice the thread was hundreds of messages long when you posted that?