Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you warm the car before taking the baby out?!

104 replies

SoStResseds · 22/11/2023 06:59

They can’t wear a coat in the car seat and obviously it can be very cold in the mornings. I take out with jumper on and hope it’s ok until car warms up when we drive… but apparently car should be warmed before? Do people have time for this?!

OP posts:
Ttcmumof · 22/11/2023 07:29

No but if you’re worried either keep the seat in the house or stick a hot water bottle in the seat before baby gets wet in it!

(obviously take the hot water bottle away before baby gets in, do not leave a hot water bottle with a baby)

Shade17 · 22/11/2023 07:50

No way. Idling your car is illegal.

Only on a road.

Sugarfree23 · 22/11/2023 07:50

Op do you have a fancy electric car that can be warmed from an app on your phone without the key, going outside or idling? Then I'd maybe consider it.

But for a standard petrol or diesel car no way would I faff warming it up.

Ittastesvile · 22/11/2023 08:02

Lol no! Blanket here. I also left my baby outside to sleep in all weathers.

Lifelessordinary1 · 22/11/2023 08:06

Of course the baby will be OK - unless you are in the artic - no one is harmed when getting cold for a couple of minutes - it takes quite a while.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 22/11/2023 08:10

No, and it's not necessary in the UK - different in Alaska or Colorado, but their vehicles are designed with preheat.

Peacheroo · 22/11/2023 08:14

Greebosmum · 22/11/2023 07:07

Good grief. How did we ever survive in the days before central heating and driving cars. If you are in the UK, unless it is ludicrously cold I think baby will be fine. How many more ways can they find to frighten Mothers.

Well before cars, we didn't have to take their coats off to put them in the cars so they were fine. Your comment is unnecessary. OP is just trying to do her best.

SoupDragon · 22/11/2023 08:16

SoStResseds · 22/11/2023 07:03

@Almondmum up to what age? I feel terrible I’ve never done this!

Has your baby ever made their displeasure known? They tend to be fairly vocal if cold (less so if too hot).

You're doing just fine. 🙂

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 22/11/2023 08:17

Electric cars are great in this case - you can get them nice and warm without idling the engine. Ours warms up every morning on a timer prior to departure, so you get in and it’s toasty.

WeeSleekitCowrinTimrousBeastie · 22/11/2023 08:19

Never did this but thank you for the thread as it's reminded to check to see if I need to defrost the car this morning and I do.

Goodornot · 22/11/2023 08:21

Greebosmum · 22/11/2023 07:07

Good grief. How did we ever survive in the days before central heating and driving cars. If you are in the UK, unless it is ludicrously cold I think baby will be fine. How many more ways can they find to frighten Mothers.

This pretty much. In countries such as Norway and Iceland they put their babies outside to nap even in winter. In a pram and blankets of course.

They'll survive the few minutes it takes a car to warm up.

User562377 · 22/11/2023 08:29

We had a fleecy blanket with holes for the car seat straps. Can't remember the name. So you strapped the baby in and wrapped the blanket round them. They were never cold.
Someone would steal our car within 2 minutes if we left it idling in the street.

HeidiWhole · 22/11/2023 08:35

Unless it's regularly sub-zero where you live I really don't think you need to worry about this, OP. A hat and blanket or two will do just fine.

I'm not sure it ever even occurred to me to warm up the car before I put a baby in it. I did have one of those fleece blankets with hoods and holes for the car seat straps. Wish I could remember what they were called.

Catza · 22/11/2023 08:54

My car doesn't even warm up unless I start driving it so no...

PinkRoses1245 · 22/11/2023 08:54

No because you’ll be pumping the car full of fumes running it stationary.

Mummymummy89 · 22/11/2023 08:58

Are you in the UK? It's been one of the mildest novembers on record hasn't it - we are still regularly going out with no coats on, and we still haven't had the first frost in London.

I promise your baby will be totally fine. Put a hat and thick socks on them

kneehightoacat · 22/11/2023 13:14

No, just wrap a blanket round them

The car will warm soon enough

outdooryone · 22/11/2023 13:20

No-one tell the original poster that babies and children are slept outside in sub-zero conditions all across Scandinavia....

Cas112 · 22/11/2023 13:21

No, just use a blanket

shivawn · 22/11/2023 13:26

No never even occured to me, your baby is going to have a blanket over them if its cold anyway.

Having said that, I do sometimes try to cool down the car a bit before putting him in if we're on holidays in a very hot country. I'll normally entertain him outside the car for a few minutes while my husband sits in and blasts the air conditioning. I'm talking about days when the car could be stiflingly hot.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 22/11/2023 13:28

Almondmum · 22/11/2023 07:04

Just to add, I wouldn't say where I live is rough but I also don't think it would be a good idea to have my car idling on the drive for 5 minutes or more unsupervised. Plus it's noisy and not great for the environment.

This. Fortunately we have these really useful things called blankets.

I know MNers like to come up with great excuses for leaving their engines running, but you've won the internet today OP.

PurBal · 22/11/2023 13:30

another vote for a blanket

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 22/11/2023 13:31

No I've never warmed the car. I just tuck their costs round them if it's cold.

kitsuneghost · 22/11/2023 13:34

How are you going to warm you car up?
It will warm up quick enough when you start driving

Mummymummy89 · 22/11/2023 13:38

Ps if you're really really worried (you needn't be esp as it's been so mild lately, if you're in the uk), you could get one of those hot lavender wheat bags that go in the microwave for 30sec. Put that in the car seat to warm it up while you faff with getting the pram in the boot etc. Then take it out before you put the baby in. The seat will be ready-warmed. We preheated dd's moses basket that way during her first winter.

Although, dd's first winter was one of those Eastern Beasts iirc. This winter has been a fire pit in comparison