Londoners- when do you start wearing baby on board badge

[j200]

Hi
I have a one hour 15 min commute on the central line (one end to the other) and often don't get a seat/am squished for at least half my journey. Just wondered when everyone started wearing their badges? Still v early days for me but already feeling v tired- do you think 8 weeks is too soon? ( will remove before work )

[user1471547428]

By the way, if it's not been said, there is now a general 'Please offer me a seat' badge. Which is great.

[user1471547428]

Wear it from when you feel you need a seat. I keep kine in my bag and use it if I'm not feeling great.
I also generally ask for a seat rather than hoping someone will notice.
It's also useful (to the doubters) even when sitting, because it stops awkwardness if someone on crutches or something gets on. It's clear why you aren't the one standing up for them.

[Sparklyuggs]

I've never seen the issue with wearing it, and wore it straight away as I started fainting from 5 weeks. I'd just ask the person in the priority seat and they, or the person next to them, always happily got up. In the winter it's not obvious that you are pregnant, and DH says he never knows if a woman is pregnant or not so the badge helps to clarify.

If you don't like them, don't wear them but they are invaluable to me and my friends commuting, and our friends outside of London often say that they wish they had similar.

That said, the new hidden disability badge tfl are introducing may be more useful than the baby on board badge.

[DirtyDancing]

I did.. from about 18 weeks. Very handy and worked a treat!

[Sauvignonblanket]

I wore mine pretty much straight away for both pregnancies. People would regularly offer me a seat when they saw it, but if they didn't I just asked those sitting in the seats with blue stickers above them - usually they were just caught up in their phones or reading to notice anyone standing there but were really nice as soon as I mentioned it. Only one person ever refused and when she did, lots of other people noticed and offered. Bear in mind that some people need it more but don't have badges, but just go for it as soon as you feel like it would help you, the early stages can be horrible too. And put your bag in front of you to stop people judging bump size.

[DearTeddyRobinson]

I wore mine as soon as I started to feel crap, so 7 weeks 😩. I was offered a seat many times and never had to ask. As I thanked one man, he said, 'you're welcome, I wish more people had offered my wife a seat!'

[RachelRagged]

Obviously those who DO get that morning sickness or have that hip issue etc , , I don;t mean you . That must be awful .

[RachelRagged]

To whomever said those who didn't have these badges are jealous .

Not me . I just see them as another "look what Ive done, Im having a baby" sort of entitlement with them . .You are pregnant not ill . It has nothing to do with jealousy , ,, we were just not so, you know, delicate back then !

[Chamonix1]

Think it's a good idea so people take a moment before ramming into you, pushing you against tube doors etc so they can squeeze in. And yes, to be able to sit down in case you stumble when the train stops. I'm fat and struggle I'm now fat and pregnant so would struggle even more. The tube in rush hour is hell, but I still think I'd feel a bit silly wearing one.
"Get out your seat can't you see I'm pregnant" badge

[TriJo]

Started wearing mine at 14 weeks - I had low blood pressure issues in my second trimester and the day I fainted at Angel on the Northern line only to come around to the morbidly obese woman in the priority seat laughing at me was the day I decided to start wearing it.

We're TTC #2 at the moment and would probably do the same thing next time.

[SeatOfMyPants]

They're really useful - I never wear to get a seat, but find people do watch your personal space more in very busy rush hour times.

I had to wear from 11 weeks as I was horrendously sick and the times I did make it onto the tube I carried thick plastic bags with me just in case. I figured people might be a little more sympathetic if I was sick into a bag on the platform if they knew I was pregnant and didn't assume I was an alcoholic or something!

Definitely a london thing. I accidentally left mine pinned to my coat when I drove to Dorset recently - got a hell of a lot of bemused looks at Fleet services.

You apply to TfL - doesn't look like you have to have a london addsrsss so just order if you'll think you will find it useful during a visit.

[Hotpinkangel19]

Are these badges available if you are visiting London for a few days and travelling by tube a lot?

[Faithless12]

Never. I ignore them. Seen too many women take them off and then doll themselves up and put their heels on etc.

[Sweetdee6]

I personally think the badge is the best thing ever. I cannot stand people who sit in the "less able to stand" seats and fall asleep or refuse to make sure there are no other people coming on the train who need to sit down.

The badge helps people see that a woman is pregnant and therefore will give her space, not squish or push her as people get on or off the trains. It can be brutal during rush hour, I've seen fights break out!

Some of the comments on this thread are really strange, wearing a badge ironically? how are people so baffled by this concept that a pregnant woman wears a badge especially in winter or when its cold and a jacket covers the bump. How else are people supposed to know she's carrying a baby!

Power to the badge!

[blueshoes]

To disbelieving non-Londoners, the clue is in the title.

This is London - ever been pregnant in London doing the daily commute on the Tube in rush hour? Guess not. Well, jog on.

[eurochick]

Tweasels, when your tube/train looks like this some barging and pushing is par for the course.

[kalidasa]

Definitely wear it. I had such a bad pregnancy that I was stuck in bed until the point at which I was very obviously pregnant AND on crutches. That got them leaping out of their seats I can tell you! So I didn't need one.

But also it helps other people help you. If I see a pregnant woman standing when I am standing myself I will always ask whoever's in the priority seat to stand up for her.

[Tweasels]

I'm a Northerner and this is all new to me. I think the bigger issue here is why people are behaving like twats on public transport in the first place.

So many of you have said you choose to wear the badge to stop people barging and pushing you. They shouldn't be doing that anyway.

It sounds hideous, pregnant or not.

[JassyRadlett]

I agree that as a commuter they're very useful and male colleagues and friends have in particular commented how brilliant they find them and the dilemma if someone's not wearing one. They are completely expected and normal.

I wore one from early on - bad morning sickness and my blood pressure was through the floor.

Quite amused by the responses of derision from non-Londoners. Are you the same people who say Londoners are rude and thoughtless?

[GwenStacy]

I wore mine from pretty early on as I felt like death in the first trimester and had a long journey on an always packed picc line tube. I think when the tube is busy they're more noticeable than small bumps.

I have to say though, I had a man refuse to give me his priority seat once when I asked. His reasoning was that if I wanted a seat I should live far enough out to make sure I got one, rather than ask someone for their seat. After that I didn't have the guys to ask for a seat for the rest of my pregnancy.

[eurochick]

fermin I decline a seat sometimes. My journey has more than one leg, e.g. I usually walk to the station but if I am carrying my laptop and files I will hop on a bus, but it is often more hassle than it is worth to get to a seat for a couple of stops if someone down the bus offers me one. But on the longer part of my journey, I would be grateful for one. And it stops me getting knocked on the crowded bus too. It's not about it being a smug announcement.

[JustGotMyBabyOnBoardBadge]

Works a treat!! I get offered a seat all the time and given more space if not. I have had the worst first trimester ever so started wearing it early...found it even got people smiling at me and making polite conversation too. It's never too early when you feel rubbish!! Congratulations on your pregnancy

[Fermin]

Another London commuter here although I travel in from the burbs on overground. Badges are definitely the norm on my journey and they are very helpful when having the internal are they/aren't they debate. Focusing on the glint of a white badge is much easier than having your gaze obviously rest on a possible baby bump or not... When I was pg with DS a few years ago, I was too embarrassed to wear the badge and/or ask for a seat. I had quite a large bump so generally I was offered one anyway but when I found myself standing on the train in the middle of a heatwave a woman standing next to me hollered at the carriage to take notice and offer me a seat. Cue lots of people jumping out of their seats and one man yelling “why aren’t you wearing your badge?” Mortifying. I’m 5 weeks pg now and debating whether I will use it this time, it’s currently in my knicker drawer . Nevertheless, it does irk when you offer a badge wearer a seat and they decline you offer – why bother wearing it then? It just makes it look like a smug announcement. I’ve also seen women wear theirs on their belt area so it catches the eye of the shoegazers in their seats. I think that's probably taking it a bit too far.

[SandwichBag]

LOL at some of the comments... they must be jealous they didn't get a special badge :) Standing for an hour on a packed train is hell when you are 100% let alone when you are tired, hot and uncomfortable.

I wore mine from 12 weeks (once I'd told work as I get the train with several colleagues) and i'm still wearing it now at 23 weeks as when I have my jacket on, you cannot tell I am pregnant.

Most of the time I do get a seat as my stop is very far out, but at least once it gets packed and someone deserving of a seat gets on board, others are happy giving up their seat rather than expecting me too.

[Hazchem]

I think I wore mine early on. Long commute. It didn't mean people offered me a seat but I felt more comfortable asking for one. I did have a strange moment once while maybe 71/2 month pregnant when no one else on the train notice an also quite pregnant women on crutches. I ended up giving her my seat.
I've kept my badge although no longer live in london and don't have a commute I might wear it when it gets to the stage when it look like I could be fat or pregnant.