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 )

[time2deal]

(I mean, a non-pregnant person will push through for you)

[BecauseIsaidS0]

Wear it as soon as you'd like. I always offer my seat when I see one.

I think what happens often is that everyone is so engrossed in their Metro/phone/book that they don't look up and so they miss the badge. But I tend to believe people are nice, and when they see it they are glad to give up their seat.

[squizita]

An acquaintance of mine fainted when pregnant on the northern line. She came round with a staff member looking out for her... And a badge pinned to her coat!

[morethanpotatoprints]

wtf are you talking about?
Is there seriously a badge saying that you're preggers.
How embarrassing,
Are you not scared you'll look like a bit of a twat.
I'm sorry I'd just laugh if I saw one.

[alita7]

I would have loved this to be a thing where I live as I'd be sat on the bus in the first trimester feeling like I'd be sick any second and one time this 50 ish year old women was giving me all kinds of daggers for being a young woman with a seat... I'd have chucked up all over the bus had I stood up!
So I think at 8 weeks you're justified as no one can see you're pregnant but you probably feel awful!
I wouldn't just wear it to get a seat but because people push and barge and all sorts on a tube and you need people to be a bit more careful.

[BecauseIsaidS0]

yes, there is a badge

[eurochick]

I'm guessing the people who think they are embarrassing are not London commuters. If you see something daily, it just becomes the norm.

If you laughed at me wearing it, I'd probably sit on you.

I think they are a great idea. Pre-pregnancy, I'd had the "is she fat or is she pregnant" moment a few times. It's difficult to tell face on or bundled up in winter, and like many people, I would offer my seat to a standing pregnant woman. I just like to be sure they are pregnant first as otherwise a fat women will go home and cry (cos why else would one youngish woman offer a seat to another?).

[mousmous]

ever been on the tube during rushhour morethan ?

www.google.co.uk/search?q=tfl+baby+on+board+badges&client=safari&hl=de&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=gL9nU_qrOYua7QbMkYDADQ&ved=0CEAQ7Ak&biw=1024&bih=672

[PenguinsLoveFishFingers]

Wear it whenever you want. But bear in mind you are tempting fate that you will be in a carriage with a colleague or forget to take it off .

I never had one myself, but I always gave up seats for those who did (when I wasn't pregnant myself).

[squizita]

Alita yes I've had someone pry as to why I was sitting down. They weren't old and were more mobile than me (aside from the morning sickness, I had a fricken walking stick) but I was young. With a knee bandage and stick and pregnant ... But young. She was only 50 or so, I know she was commuting and can walk fine, I see her daily.

[littleducks]

I ordered mine early on as my friend said it took ages to arrive. However it came within days. I think I wore it from about 5 months if I needed it. But I would put it on and of at the station as I did feel a bit of walking doen the road with it on and I didn't tell work for ages.

If worked on the tube. My mainline train in was always heaving but if I sat on the floor I felt like less of a nutter.

I have seen one woman wearing it ironically. In her naval of her very large and unmistakable bump. I have seen lots of ladies with them on in a normal way, it's quite useful if they have a winter coat or a floaty maxi dress on.

[PenguinsLoveFishFingers]

Just to say, I was a bit embarrassed by them myself, but I think they are a great idea if you want to wear one. Not just for 'bump or fat' but also for those people who feel utterly shitty at 12 weeks or whatever and have no visible bump yet.

[time2deal]

To be fair, there is an argument for a 'please offer me a seat' badge generally. I had cancer treatment last year, and there were days when I was recovering when I was so tired I could barely stand up, even through from the outside I looked like a normal 30 something woman. Thankfully I could normally avoid peak hour, but I did contemplate a baby on board badge just to make sure I'd always get a seat.

[squizita]

Euro just had one of those moments in boots.
"Would you be interested in b... B.." (Trails off into a fat or pregnant blush)
"Baby catalogue? Yes please! Here you go, 2 boxes of fybogel, bio oil and some panty liners..."
Totally pregnant. Shop assistant much relieved!

[Noodledoodledoo]

They will send to commuters outside Greater London - you have to be in the South East - I have just had one sent to me and I am definitely not in Greater London.

I tend to have it in my bag and pop it on when it is really manic - although it did help when there was a very vocal lady on the tube the other day when I had executed a swift manouvere into a seat - no pushing or shoving I am just swift, lady in question sat down opposite me and proceded to talk to her friend very loudly about others (glaring at me) not giving up a seat to a pregnant lady who was obviously not feeling well - lady being vocal was with the lady who was pregnant and not pregnant herself!!!

I just zipped up my hoodie which put the badge into view which stoppped the rant pretty promptly!!

[morethanpotatoprints]

I find it funny that southern jessies Londoners need them, but nobody else in the country does, even though they may have a long commute themselves, without a seat.
I'm sorry but have really never heard the likes and if I didn't know you were all serious would think you were having a laugh.

[squizita]

Time agreed! As someone with bad joints who is well under 40 and a bit "rock chick" I don't fit the stereotype so feel bad asking sometimes, like people will think I'm a chancer.
Pregnancy is slightly better as at least the bump proves it, and my age/style matches expectations.

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogroves]

Looks like this.

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Wow, lots of weird people on this thread. Yes, the badges are a thing, can't think why you'd be embarrassed wearing one and yes, it's mainly to combat the fat or pregnant issue. I've worn mine from about 20wks because I've needed to sit. People often offer their seat but if not I just ask the person in the priority seat if they'd mind if I sat. No one's ever said no once they clock the badge.

I'd rather not ask as I don't want to put anyone with a hidden disability in an awkward situation but unfortunately some people can stand and just lack manners. I've offered up my seat hundreds of times before I was pregnantand agree there should be a mor general 'I need a seat' badge to smooth the way.

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

"To be fair, there is an argument for a 'please offer me a seat' badge generally. I had cancer treatment last year, and there were days when I was recovering when I was so tired I could barely stand up, even through from the outside I looked like a normal 30 something woman. Thankfully I could normally avoid peak hour, but I did contemplate a baby on board badge just to make sure I'd always get a seat."

Yes i agree with this.

Initially reading the thread i felt it sounds a bit precious tbh as there are so many reasons a person could need a seat and they dont all wear badges, they just ask. However if there was a general "i'm in need of a seat" badge then i think that would be absolutely fine. One just for pregnancy does still seem a bit "i demand special treatment because i'm bringing forth new life".

[squizita]

Dorothea in my experience the type of self righteous idiot person who ignores the badge also "doesn't believe" in hidden disability. Sadly you get them on transport. Maybe I should dress at tiny Tim and doff my cap!

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

"I'd rather not ask as I don't want to put anyone with a hidden disability in an awkward situation but unfortunately some people can stand and just lack manners. I've offered up my seat hundreds of times before I was pregnantand agree there should be a mor general 'I need a seat' badge to smooth the way."

But you do ask

[PenguinsLoveFishFingers]

Yes, I agree with the need for a more general badge.

I think I felt embarrassed because, beyond crushing exhaustion, I felt fine until after I had a pretty obvious bump. On the way in, I was fine. By the time I was coming home, I normally got a seat (worked quite long hours). So I felt a bit of a fraud wearing one.

[usmama]

Am 30wks and v obviously pregnant.
Never been offered a seat thus far (two tube commute at rush hour every day).
Some Londoners are just feral I think. One suited& booted guy sat on priority seat on a Bank train tutted at me (standing) because my bump was restricting him opening his paper fully (tube strike, trains rammed)

[Thurlow]

I'm guessing people who think it.is ridiculous have never been at Bank Or Kings Cross at 8.30