To not want to drive 5hrs with baby in this heat?

[Tully42]

Fully prepared to be told IABU but my decision is my decision - so on that score it's final but I just wanted to test where I sat in relation to others.

So journey is from London to Newcastle to visit friends for the weekend for a special event. Plans made ages ago. DH referring to it as a bucket item type event.

I've pulled out because I don't want to do that drive on my own in this heat with a 1yr old. My car is fine but it's not got any real frills to it - I.e no fancy air con. It blows cold air but not exactly air con. If you're hot you put the windows down. If we got stuck in traffic or broke down I can imagine it being a world of pain with the baby.

DH is currently working in Birmingham - so we're in two seperate cars to travel. DH is still going to the special event it's just I won't be there.

Really I wanted to hear whether others wouldn't give that drive in this weather a second thought- = YABU

Or whether most would be with me on this and would also be pulling out too = YANBU

If you have a swanky car with great air con your views don't count (as much! Haha.)

In a fancy car with good air con it’s probably one of the nicest places to be - but not in your situation. So yanbu.

Definitely wouldn't be my idea of fun! Is there no way you could maybe get the train?

I drove for about 6/7 hours yesterday with a short break in the middle , windows down and it was lovely . I have air conditioning but rarely use it on motorway type driving as I prefer fresh air . I don’t think I’d let a bit of hot weather scupper my plans .

I mean fine if you don't want to. It wouldn't bother me tbh but I grew up driving everywhere in a non-air conditioned car.

You get the train to Birmingham and travel with DH

I wouldn't without air con either.

TBH I wouldn't want to be stuck on a train in this heat, either!

YABU and quite selfish. It’s temporary, but if you really can’t put up with it then you should take the train.

You by yourself, and id say YABU. however with a 1-yr old and not being able to easily put the window up/down, potential for traffic delays etx... i would understand why you dont want to do it and i would feel the same

I take it you would be going today, because the weather for the rest of the weekend is going to be crap!

It's going to be 34 where I am tomorrow, it's only Thursday today.

Train to Birmingham and then drive with DH?
I think I'd rather the car than the train personally, but I have aircon that can reach low 20s, so it's fine.

Just checked the weather for Newcastle and London for tomorrow. 32 degrees in London, 23 in Newcastle, I know where I would rather be. Unless you live in an air-conditioned house in London of course.

Train would be fine on my own but as I said I have a 1yr old. So pram, travel cot, overnight bags etc I'd be carrying on my own. Not doable I'm afraid.

Also back of my car has no windows that i can roll down, should have mentioned that - sorry! So 1yr old would only have the shitty fake air con.

Not sure how it's selfish? I'm not stopping anyone else going. DH is still going, he's still doing the bucket item - I just won't be there to do it myself.

@waveyourpompoms How's it selfish? Precious maybe, but selfish? Maybe selfish in the fact I don't want to deal with a screaming toddler in a traffic jam while melting I guess.

Who cares ? Just go with your decision not to go. I'm laughing at the train suggestion, last one I went on had no air con and was like a furnace 🙄

Can't you leave at bedtime tomorrow night when it's cooler and quieter on the roads.

Or early Saturday morning.

There's ways if you really want to

Could you not leave at 1yr old's bedtime eg: 7/8pm so will be a bit cooler ?

If it's a very special event I'd hire a small car with fancy air con for the weekend.

Intercity trains have aircon.
I wouldn't want to drive on the motorway with the window open.

Also baby seats are very warm as they cocoon the baby so YANBU.

I would take the train and not bother with a travel cot (pram and overnight bag is fine on the train) little one can sleep between you

I'm going to say YABU purely because the further north you get the shittier the weather becomes. I'm saying that whilst looking out my window to dark overcast clouds.

Sorry, I have tomorrow off work so have been thinking it's Friday today! I meant the weather is going to be crap AFTER tomorrow!

Yanbu. I had a vw beetle 3 door without air con. Got stuck on a motorway for 3 hrs in 30 degrees. Unbearable!

Forecast to be 17 degrees and raining on Saturday were I am (I live a couple of hours into your drive up), and itl more than likely be cooler further north. YANBU to not want to go but the drive probably wouldn’t require fancy air con for some of it.

YANBU, I'd also put my baby first and not subject them to what is a potentially dangerously hot long car ride!!!!