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.)

YANBU, I wouldn't be driving for 5 hours with a baby heatwave or no heatwave. But if you did want to, driving after baby's bedtime is a good solution.

I've only very recently replaced my car with one with okay but not great air-con...
Prior to that, no air con in the car.

About 2 years ago now, this time of year-ish, I was driving home an hour down the M6 on a boiling day, and I got heatstroke. It was horrible.

Even now, with air-con, I'd be wary of doing a long drive in very hot weather... YANBU. And with a baby, no chance.

I'd have looked at the train as an alternative, but would not do a five hour car journey.

If your car blows cold air (as in colder than the ambient air) then it has air conditioning. If it’s weak it may need re-gassing.

I do the same trip every month, with a baby and a toddler. I do it non-stop, setting off from London at 7pm, when even on a hot day it’s cool enough.

No, I wouldn't be doing that . Wouldn't want to even if it wasn't so hot

What's this car that simultaneosly has and doesn't have air conditioning an its windows don't go down?

I think the only thing you're being unreasonable about is thinking that a car has to be "swanky" to have A/C. It's pretty standard these days, isn't it?

But there's no way I would drive a long way in the warm weather without A/C. It would be miserable.

The reason why you don't want to go is not important to anyone but you.

If you don't want to do it then don't.

Equally if your husband considers a meeting of friends to be a bucket list event then he can go and have fun and you and baby do g need to be there.

Yeah, I wouldn't do it. Think you are wise, especially if your DH can still go.

Interesting mix of responses.

To those asking what the issue is - there isn't one really. Like I said, the decision has been made, people informed etc.

I just had a moment of - am I being a bit soft, or is this a clear cut sensible decision?!

Shall wait for the vote I guess! But feels 50/50 at the moment.

I think if this came up again though a bedtime drive is probably what I'd opt for!

We have an old banger with no AC. From experience, your poor baby will be twice as hot as you as they will be cocooned in a padded car seat. A couple of years ago, we did a four hour drive with our then 3 year old on the hottest day of the year...half an hour into the trip, he was only wearing his pants because he was so hot and the poor child ended up vomiting with the heat on the motorway. We then spent 3 hours in a shady pub garden until the evening when it was cooler before continuing. We'd definitely think twice before putting him through that again... we'd either not go at all or drive at night when it's cooler.

This. Or get DH to come home first if his car has air con. If its a big deal event I'd definitely make the effort.

In your situation, I wouldn’t go. Windows down on the motorway is just awful and so noisy.

Exactly! Take this as a sign to get a new car OP.

Yep, and I hated them all lol.

Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you should.

Did young children have to sit in car seats in the past, though? I remember lots of long, hot car journeys as a child, but I don't remember being encased in foam and polyester.

YANBU we travelled with my (then) one year old last year with my old 3 door, no aircon for an hour in this heat and I was panicking, windows down and window suckered sunscreens on the back bits of window. The carseat was soaked with sweat afterwards. That was one of the catalysts for getting a new car (plus hoiking the bloody baby carrier over the front carseat was doing my back in)

However as others have suggested could you do the journey at babies bed time? The weather will be cooler, less traffic and also baby can sleep the journey. I'd hate to take my 1 year old for a 5 hour journey during waking hours anyway regardless of weather, they would have screamed the car down after an hour from boredom and lack of close contact since they were (and still are) rear facing.

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

Have none of you seen the news reports about train strikes?

Is the bucket list event even suitable for a baby? I think you're best staying put & letting DH go alone. As you say you're not stopping him from enjoying himself.

YANBU. The main reason being if you break down, you'll be stuck by the side of a motorway or road for a very long time with a very hot baby, potentially with little or no shade. Not good at all.

Can you travel at night when it's cooler? If not, I wouldn't go either.

I would have just set off late at night or very early morning

What kind of 'bucket event' is suitable for a one year old anyway?

My car's got a temperature sensor going funny so I have to keep the heat on full or it overheats (I will fix it when I can be arsed) so I'm with you. I'd rather not drive tomorrow, especially with a baby.

Haha. I can see the confusion. It's a 3 door. The windows don't open in the back.

There's an A/C button but it's basically the heating system set to cold. It's not like A/C you get in cars abroad where it's 30 degrees outside but a couple of minutes into your journey you're putting a cardigan on.

Pic to demonstrate the type of car I mean.

I wouldn't have done that journey with a 1 year even in cool weather. When mine were that age 1 1/2 hours was about all they could manage before the endless screaming started. (Shudders at the memory)

Get the train