using baby carrier in the car

[aceyb]

I was wondering what the legal or general opinion of driving whilst wearing baby in a front hug-a-bub type baby carrier.
Already two kids to get out of the car, thought it might be an idea to keep new baby in carrier instead of car seat - is it legal, how safe do you all think it is? gut reaction is not safe what do you think?

Drive with a baby in a sling?

You are crazy.

gut reaction is no way - wouldn't have thought is was legal either

if you had an accident, your baby would cushion you against the steering wheel - not a good idea

Oh good grief NO. This is a terrible idea and I'm 99% sure it's illegal. With the g-force applied in a 30mph accident trying to hold on to your child is the same as trying to hold on to something the size of a racehorse. I know they'd be strapped to you but....oh it doesn't even bear thinking about.

baby squashed between you and the airbag. you aren't serious???

Illegal because it is insanely dangerous.

Don't be a daft mare.

This is the type of thought that flashes through your mind and you snort and slap yourself.

well that confirms my reaction - pregnancy brain in gear again!!!
thanks for bringing me back to the real world!!!!!!

I use a coorie pouch sling with DS on the school run - so much easier than faffing with lugging the car seat around. (Quick too)

I had a graco car seat with in car base that I used for the nursery run at lunch time for just this reason, the rest of the time I walked because it was less stressful than the in and out of car hassle for 3 young children

no, if you do an emergency stop baby gets the full force of the bump on dashboard/seat with your weight behind. Legally he/she must be in an infant seat with possible exception of taxi or public transport.

Second vote for the Graco system, or any infant carrier that just clicks onto a base instead of faffing with a seatbelt every time.

Much much quicker, and even better if you can just click it onto a buggy too.

I had the mirage pushchair (v light) and could fold it up and put it in my boot with a buggyboard still attached - so had 4 week old in car seat (when we were driving not walking), just 2 year old on the buggyboard and 3.3 year old walking!!!!!

This is illegal, as others have stated.

you can't legally drive with the baby in a sling for the reasons others have said.

but

you can fasten the sling and drive with it on so that on the other end you can pop the baby into it. a stretchy sling like a hugabub makes your baby 'poppable' without dismantling the whole thing.

even if it weren't illegal it is highly impractical to see over them, change gear and stear around them. could see someone asking as a passenger maybe but not the driver, afterall, what do you do in taxis? or buses? it isn't any different, just illegal now in your own private car.

I wouldn't take my baby in a taxi like that. Aceyb - were you serious?
If so - here's another suggestion - everyone gets out (and in) to the car in the same order every day. On getting out everyone remains very still until the convoy is ready to roll and because human nature is what it is the whole shebang is underpinned by a reward system We have always had vey fiercely enforced 'car park' rules and its worked well.