To ponder the logic of "Baby on board" signs in cars?

[undercoverelephant]

Genuinely don't know what they are for...they didn't cover it in parenting class!

Anyone?

They, not The. Sorry

The princess/cheeky monkey/prince on board ones annoy me far more than baby on board,though they do irritate me too, but the cutesy versions are by far the worst.

Thunderduck, I know, I totally appreciate that. Everybody is obviously entitled to be pissed off/annoyed by whatever they wish! (as is the theme on AIBU) but some people are just getting offensive....

they are NOT UTTERLY POINTLESS (think I've said this 4 times now) but it made a difference when I put one in my car. I put one in the back of my car (carefully placed so as not to hinder my view in any way) because I was constantly tailgated when we moved. I noticed a difference immediately.

I know I'm not going to convince anybody on here, but hopefully I'll get across the point that I have one because I think it makes a difference, not because I'm smug about having a child.

seriously.... if you drove the roads I do to work, you'd do everything you could to minimise chances of an accident, child in the car or not!!

Oh, I hate the 'pole-dancer on board ones'

I do understand why people hate them, i really do.. I just don't want to be judged as fucking smug just because I choose to have one in my car (baby on board, but princess/monkey/little man)

You're using capitals now. No need to shout. That's my other big pet peeve.

Thunderduck, have you got kids?

I going to join the "I have one" gang.

I have a pink princess and a blue prince one and I love them.

I don't have them for a safety point of view or so that people drive safely around me, nor do I have them to ram my fertility down people's throats. I just like them. Some people like fluffy dice, some people have mickey mouse aerials and I have them.

Sue me.

Not yet no. TTC.

I'll let you off though as you find that yours does serve a purpose, which is rare,as I've heard few people say that it makes people act differently, including a friend who has one. At least it isn't just there for show.

I've told dp to give me a good shake if I ever manage to conceive and feel the need to purchase one.

I will. Expect a letter from my lawyer soon.

They really are naff.Disclaimer.Unless the parent has found that they do make a difference, as in EE's case.

I can just about understand the urge to acquire one.

I did have a PFB moment with a cousin's baby when they came to visit not long after he was born, and they told me that the taxi driver had driven like a maniac. I did do a gasp and said 'Didn't he know that there's a baby in the car?'
I soon came to my sense though, after my outrage dissipated and I realised that he shouldn't be driving like a maniac regardless of who he has in the car.

mine really does ~weeps~

Sorry, didn't know you are TTC. I do appreciate that they can come across as gloating to people who are TTC. Sorry for that.

If I'd put it in the car and it made bugger all difference, then I would have taken it out. I can tell though when it's fallen off the back window (people don't assume that there will be a small child and a careful driver inside a black Golf GTI)

Sorry - scrummy, I have to agree that prince and princess are just crap. I have mine for a reason. It makes driving safer for me. But I wouldn't be offended by Prince and Princess, I'd just laugh

[disengages bitch mode]

I hated them long before I even considered having children, so I've no objection to them because I'm TTC.

I am pleased that yours makes a difference to other driver's behaviour though. No sarcasm intended. I really am, because I loathe tailgaters and also because your sticker is actually serving a purpose,and isn't just sitting there being naff.

Thunderduck, I totally agree, people should drive carefully regardless of who is in the car. the fact it, people react differently when there are kids in the car, and may be prompted to drive more carefully.

In some cases, there are always arseholes who will try and push you off the road regardless of who is in the car. these people deserve a special place in hell.

My reasoning is that little kids often don't survive a strong rear-on impact, their necks just aren't as strong, doesn't matter how good the car seat is. The idea (in my view) of these signs is that it might just make someone think twice about driving like an arseole and intimidating you into driving faster.

the fact is not it. again, sorry. (damn vino)

I have a feeling that I'm going to be one of the most PFB mothers ever when I do conceive. Not that I'm implying that you're being/have been PFBish.

You'll probably get to remind me of this thread when I do conceive and find that I've plastered the car in BOB stickers.

I appreciate that everyone on the road has to drive carefully and expect others to drive nicely too but I really do expect anyone getting right up my arse because I'm driving really carefully to read the damn sign and think 'ok, if I overtake like a loon, cause an accident and hit that lady's car, there are occupants in said car who might be a little more delicate than your average passenger'.

There's no harm in alerting some of the fuckwits on our roads to the fact that you have a baby in your car whose little neck could snap like a twig if you hit the car hard enough.

What I really want is a sign that says 'if you hit my car with my babies on board I will kill you', or some such polite warning, but until I find it the baby on board sign will do. And it's just a small basic sign, no pink involved.

DP made a bet with me that I will buy one when we have a baby.

You will buy one, because when you first get in the car with that teeny tiny scrap in the seat behind you, you would gladly plaster the entire car with a big neon BOB sign if you thought it would keep them safe. And, as I said, whether it works or not, it made me feel just a little bit safer.

I will try to resist the urge as not everyone buys them. I don't want dp to win the bet.

LOVE Dawnybabe's idea.

Much more apt

Not good and I don't think they make a difference AT ALL. Arseholes drive like arseholes precisely because they don't give a toss about people in other cars... Babies, babes, dogs etc.

I do agree with a few others in the fact that they are smug by having these silly signs up on their car. I have a toddler but don't feel the need to broadcast it to everyone. No one really gives a toss.

Nothing wrong with getting angry about a topic that really gets on your goat, well done Thunderduck, just let it allll out. That's what this forum is all about.

Dawnybabe - fantastic idea!

We have one in our car, DP wanted it because he belives it will deter people from getting up our arse when driving sensibly, as he know's it would to him when he's feeling impatient driving home from work in his white van! (He is a good driver though!)I think it reminds people that there are actually people inside of cars, and sometimes little, more vunerable, people.

I wanted it because it's a cute bear from M&P

ive seen 'bump on board' signs, maybe the emergency services are ment to search for your bump if it magicaly disapears? grr
most of the time you can only see them wilst driving ive your stopped in a traffic jam or decide to smash into the back of them

When ds was a baby we had a talk from the traffic police at our post natal group. He said that the signs are meaningless and recommended strongly against them as they could actually make you a target.

Some of the worst drivers I've seen have these signs. The only time I would have found use for one was when ds was small and was in the first stage car seat. I'd take him out of the car in that to go shopping leaving my very child unlikely two seater car in the parent and child space. Did get notes on the windscreen stating that I had parked incorrectly, which annoyed me.