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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:
Sugarfree23 · 22/11/2023 13:39

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....

Aye they put them out in cold prams that have been outside all night and not coats either.
Do you take your coat off when you get in the car? You know its safer for you too?

DappledThings · 22/11/2023 13:43

Sugarfree23 · 22/11/2023 13:39

Aye they put them out in cold prams that have been outside all night and not coats either.
Do you take your coat off when you get in the car? You know its safer for you too?

Show quote history

I do. I don't find it comfortable wearing a coat in the car. Especially if I'm driving. I feel far too restricted in a coat to feel safe driving in one.

NoKnit · 22/11/2023 19:53

This thread has made me laugh no end.

What do the people that don't drive do? Never go out?? The logic behind it baffles me beyond belief. What do you do if you aren't going out in the car? It really isn't even cold at the minute

Caffeineneedednow · 22/11/2023 19:57

No

JanewaysBun · 22/11/2023 19:57

Never did although DS complains he's cold when he gets in his seat. I just ignore him!

AngeloMysterioso · 22/11/2023 19:59

Never- waste of petrol, bad for the environment and I don’t have a drive and wouldn’t much want to leave it running with the keys in the ignition in the street. It warms up pretty quickly though and the DC and put a blanket over themselves or their coat on backwards over the car seat straps if it’s really chilly.

BecauseTheWorld · 22/11/2023 20:02

I can set my car to pre-warm but I can’t be bothered, a blanket over the car seat if it’s freezing does the job.

Münchner · 22/11/2023 20:05

Geez, we drove across Europe on a road trip when our daughter was 6 weeks old. There was no blankets or idling of the car, we just....er.. turned the heating on. Kids, even newborn babies are very resilient

MargaretThursday · 22/11/2023 20:07

I'm now thinking I should have phoned the bus company and told them to make sure the bus was warmed before I got on when mine were little.

Actually I'm seriously wondering to try that on my friend who drives a bus for April 1st. I wonder if I can persuade one of her colleagues to pass a message on. 🤣

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 22/11/2023 20:14

I can’t help that point out the benefit of an electric car being pre heating, given how mumsnet hates an EV……

I pre heat the car for me, not the kids!!

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 22/11/2023 20:15

MargaretThursday · 22/11/2023 20:07

I'm now thinking I should have phoned the bus company and told them to make sure the bus was warmed before I got on when mine were little.

Actually I'm seriously wondering to try that on my friend who drives a bus for April 1st. I wonder if I can persuade one of her colleagues to pass a message on. 🤣

Presumably your children wore coats on the bus?

I don’t think it’s necessary to pre heat cars, but that argument you are using isn’t really working….

Simonjt · 22/11/2023 20:18

No, and we live in Sweden where its a bit colder than the UK.

Runkle · 22/11/2023 20:19

Where would baby by while you’re in the car warming it up?

I jest but seriously, don’t give this another thought. They’re fine with a hat and blanket on. You could put a hot water bottle in the seat for a few mins before putting them in (obvs remove it before baby goes in)? I used to do this with the Moses basket.

Scorchio84 · 22/11/2023 20:20

Jesus it was all I could do to get out the door with both of us dressed on time! As many, many pp's have said a blanket is enough & if it's a longer journey remove it as the car heats? Please don't stress over this

theduchessofspork · 22/11/2023 20:23

No, I think that’s a bit cracked, we aren’t in Siberia.

Just wrap them up (unless asthmatic or ill obvs)

AlltheFs · 22/11/2023 20:31

I did, but only because my car is electric and has fancy preheat and defrost functions you can activate on a timer or via the app.

But I preheated it for me not just DD!

TravellingT · 22/11/2023 20:36

I have in freezing cold temps, especially with snow and frost outside as the car needs it anyway. Usually they're in enough layers that they're alright without their coat with just a blanket over them. Hat and socks keep babies toasty!

MrsAvocet · 22/11/2023 20:45

I never did when I had babies - just put them in their car seats with a blanket over until the car was warm, but now I am getting on a bit and I have Raynaud's Syndrome I do. It's my number 1 favourite thing about driving an EV, I love getting into a warm, defrosted car on a Winter's day.

fuckssaaaaake · 22/11/2023 20:59

Had no idea idling was illegal. I did it a few times last year when I was out of de icer and had to thaw the car out. Ooops. Guess I won't do that this year, if it ever gets to winter down here

fuckssaaaaake · 22/11/2023 21:02

Couple of mean replies on here tho, no need.

OhNoForever · 22/11/2023 21:05

Ha no. A blanket, or their coat on backwards over the straps.

Jewelspun · 22/11/2023 21:06

Crochet a poncho. Very easy to do and perfect to put on in the car.

MammaTo · 22/11/2023 21:15

If it’s just me taking the baby out then I tend to leave a blanket on the radiator so it’s warm for him when we get in the car, but our cars freezing of a morning and takes ages to warm up so I might have to stick a hat and gloves on him too 😂.

OnAir · 22/11/2023 21:18

PinkRoses1245 · 22/11/2023 08:54

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

So what happens in traffic ? Mumsnet blows my mind.

PestilencialCrisis · 22/11/2023 21:22

Bloomin'eck, it's ok if a baby gets cold for 5 minutes! The car will warm up soon enough won't it?!