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Original poster

Your experiences of 'Baby on Board' badges

119 replies

Cherryblossom200 · 26/09/2014 16:34

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in hearing your experiences of wearing a baby on board badge? I've got a badge but haven't worn it yet, I'm just over 20 weeks now and have a rather large bump now so I don't feel comfortable being squished on the tube at rush hour. I've resisted wearing the badge up until now because I don't like drawing attention to myself Blush but I think it's time I put my badge on now!

I'm finding that when people see my bump who are sitting in the designated seats for pregnant/elderly people they tend to ignore me but other people always offer their seat Hmm

Cherry x

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Lozmatoz · 26/09/2014 17:19

Why do on Londoners use these? Why can't people just speak to each? Hello, do you mind if I have your seat? I'm pregnant and am struggling to stand for the whole journey.

munchkin2902 · 26/09/2014 17:58

I think they help just for people to spot and give you a bit more room when getting on and off the train or queuing - not necessarily just for seat purposes. I've stopped wearing mine now as my bump is huge - also get seats offered a bit more! I would say I have to ask about 30% of the time (if I can get near enough to the seats which isn't always the case on overground and jubilee line.) I usually say something like 'excuse me, are you in need of the priority seat and if not do you mind if I sit down' and only had one bad experience where someone refused (middle age suited man!) But then someone else got up for me anyway. I do think when you're very pregnant it's not very safe to stand up on a very busy train, especially if there's no decent place to hang on - and if I get a knock I have to go for bloody anti d so being super careful!

WorrisomeHeart · 26/09/2014 18:03

After nearly blacking out on a packed Jubilee train this week, I am now wearing mine for all commutes!! People do take notice of it, whereas they ignore the bump (18 weeks so possibly just too many pies Grin )
I do know what you mean about feeling slightly awkward about wearing it though - I think drawing attention to myself goes against my years of learning to be Tube invisible!

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 26/09/2014 18:10

It's to overcome the embarrassment of asking someone if they'd like a seat for them not to be pg. For instance in OP's case at 20 weeks her bump does seem big to her compared to her normal body. But to someone who doesn't know her I think you'd be brave to offer a seat on the basis of a 20 week bump. I started getting offered seats without asking from about 25/26 weeks.

I do tended to say "I'm pregnant do you mind if I sit down" but not everyone feels comfortable doing this.

DocMcStuffinsBigBookOfOuches · 26/09/2014 18:11

Cherryblossom200 don't forget that not all disabilities are visible to the naked eye. Just because the young guys in suits don't have obvious physical difficulties, you can never claim to know for absolute certainty that somebody does not meet the requirements for the disability priority seating.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, and hope the badge wearing embarrassment wasn't too bad! Smile

Original poster
Cherryblossom200 · 26/09/2014 18:14

Well I wore my today for the first time and my experience was good :) I'm glad I wore it as the tube was ridiculously busy. At first a group of tourists ignored me as they didn't get the badge, but 2 minutes in a few people offered their seat. I think I'll judge if I need to wear it based on what I'm wearing, like I said my baggy jumper swamped me a bit today and I think winter coats may do the same.

Londoners don't talk to one another because by the end of a busy day everyone is exhausted and battling with the rush hour craziness that no one really feels like chatting! I don't blame then tbh :) x

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Cherryblossom200 · 26/09/2014 18:16

I started getting offered seats without asking at 19 weeks! I didn't know if I was offended or happy Shock but I'm petite, size 8 and 5'3 so I show my bump really easily and probably look larger then normal!

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JennyBlueWren · 26/09/2014 18:55

I live in the north of Scotland but am tempted to get one as I often have to stand on the bus home. Today I saw the bus was v. full and knew I couldn't do it so waited the 20 mins for another bus. Got my favourite seat :)

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 26/09/2014 19:06

I had one for trips to London when pregnant at about 30 and 34 weeks pregnant. I felt a bit self conscious but was pleased to be offered seats and one man at Guilford station ran down the steps to stop my train.

LightTripper · 26/09/2014 19:17

I never used one. In later pregnancy I had no problem getting offered seats, so I was more tempted early on when I was feeling totally crap but not showing yet: but was never really convinced if it would work that early (and shifted my hours around the nausea which meant I could generally get a seat on the bus anyway).

Cullercoats88 · 26/09/2014 19:32

I love my badge!! May seem princessy to those who don't live/commute into London but when you have a 45minute journey in rush hour if I can get a seat because of bump then I will!!! They do work, mostly with men, I think women are quite hard on each other hahah

lisaloulou84 · 26/09/2014 19:39

I think they're great because sometimes at certain points mid pregnancy when it's not as obvious people don't want to offend you. I never really liked to ask personally and I commuted Forest hill out to Chelmsford so after canary wharf it was dead and always had a seat so rarely stood for long (thank god as it was 2 hrs each way) Our tube culture is to read the free paper or have our kindle/phone/iPad so often people don't look up. And some people see you and deliberately look away as if they haven't noticed, in my experienced middle aged men that get off at canary wharf in their suits! It's hit and miss, but then you can say that about any common courtesy on London public transport.

My favourite experience was when I had a seat because one was free when I got on, offered it to a slightly more pregnant lady who got on when nobody else did who refused. Then a ready to drop lady got on and I gave her my seat, and a few stops later she gave it up for an elderly man with a walking stick. So the three of us stood up all wearing badges and the old man got on and nobody else in the carriage batted an eyelid!

JustMarriedBecca · 26/09/2014 19:42

I had one from 12 weeks. If people didn't move, I'd just say 'excuse me....could I please sit down' to the entire carriage. Often, teens and young men would say to those sitting down 'excuse me, would you mind standing' and pointing out my badge without me having to ask. I've found everyone in London keen to stop and talk to me since I've been pregnant. At first I thought I was going to get mugged when they said 'excuse me' but they just want to talk about when it's due/sex/how I'm feeling. A very pleasant surprise!!

Now.....at 41 weeks....people cannot get up quick enough. And usually leave the seat vacant next to me too. I really must look about to pop!

petitverdot · 26/09/2014 19:44

Wish we had them where I live! Now on maternity leave, but my personal highlight was a lady and her teenage daughter sitting in the priority seats shamelessly gawping at my eight month bump...

rallytog1 · 26/09/2014 19:46

You don't have to live in London to get one - if you look at the tfl website, it says you can get one in case you need to travel to London.

I found that people were very quick indeed to give up seats on the London tubes. However, at 37 weeks and massive, I stood for 90 mins on a packed commuter train in the NW of England. People saw my badge (and giant bump) but no one offered a seat. I was too shy to ask anyone but was a bit shocked that in the whole journey no one offered.

Littleturkish · 26/09/2014 19:55

Didn't wear one with my first, but now with my second I had no hesitation! I did get offered seats without it, but I've been so unwell with this one I've worn it to avoid any awkwardness. Fortunately, all ok so far and always had a seat.

It really isn't princessesy, it's just safer for you and the baby.

Kewrious · 26/09/2014 20:03

I didn't wear one mainly because I have an ok commute and had an easy pregnancy. One time I did feel v v ill (I think my blood pressure crashed) and I was going to be sick or faint and I grabbed the shoulder of some bloke and blurted out, 'please may I sit down? I am not well.' He looked at my bump, my green face and hurtled out of the way. A lady sitting next to me offered me water and kept an eye on me the whole way through. Londoners I have found are much kinder than people make them out to be. Btw, the bump is now 2.8 and talks non stop. We were on the a District Line the other day and DS was chattering away endlessly. A gentleman got off at Hammersmith,patted DS on the head and said, 'you are a very good and clever boy, but sometimes your Mummy needs a break too!' I laughed and laughed.

Annbag · 26/09/2014 20:17

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the poster's request.

Andcake · 26/09/2014 20:28

I wore one and frequently was offered a seat or if I felt awful and had to ask it seemed like proof.
Hmm princessy not to use public transport in my opinion rather than wearing a badge to deal with crowded tubes in rush hour! Also helpful on buses where they can break quickly and send people flying.

Rustyzilla · 27/09/2014 00:18

Loving the thought of people on public transport in London speaking to one another! That is a very rare occurrence!

As a seasoned commuter just at the 12 week mark I'll be wearing mine, I don't get the tube, just overground but it is more so that people watch out a little more when shoving me to get themselves a seat, or like a week ago when there's a problem on a line and the station is jam packed, it can get pretty rough.

You see them all the time. Totally normal! And I'm pretty sure that for overground journeys with Greater Anglia after a certain number of weeks you can travel in first class without paying extra (think it is last 8 weeks before start of mat leave). That is irrespective of wearing the badge Grin

TinyMonkey · 27/09/2014 07:01

I've had one since early on when I was shattered, hate wearing it though so stuck it on my satchel instead so it wasn't quite as obvious. I'm 30 weeks and have never had a problem getting a seat.

General Vicky line observations are that young men in their teens/early twenties and older women are really polite, whereas young women and middle aged men are experts at pretending to be asleep! Quite often someone getting up to give me their seat triggers a chain reaction and a lot more seat offering goes on.

If no one notices I just ask.

LulusMiniEgg · 27/09/2014 07:32

I have found this topic fascinating through my pregnancy!
I have a badge although I don't like wearing it really. Makes me feel like I'm bragging saying 'look at me, I am pregnant' but think they are essential for the mid pregnancy is she/isn't she debate that goes on in people's heads.
I'm quite petite and have always had a big bump (according to every Tom, Dick and Harry that think they have the right to comment on everything now I am pregnant and touch if they want...ggrrrr...!) so have generally found that I have been offered seats. Usually by people half way down the carriage rather than the edge which makes it awkward for the swap over!
People are loath to give up their seats. I can't tell you the number of times that youngish women usually have looked up and quickly looked down again. I actually find it quite funny!
But had a lovely experience yesterday when another pregnant lady made someone else move so we could both sit down and chat about our babies!

AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 27/09/2014 07:49

Oh my gosh definitely wear it. It's so awkward staring at other women's midriffs wondering if they need to sit down or have just had a big lunch.

I wore mine for the whole of my pregnancy with DD and it was a lifesaver. People weren't really confident about offering seats until I was 30 wks +.

IMO people are much slower to offer on the bus than the tube. When I was heavily pregnant last time the driver refused to pull away until someone offered me a seat! I said I was fine as felt great by then, but he said it wasn't worth the trouble if he had to brake suddenly. Shock

FreiasBathtub · 27/09/2014 08:06

Oh yes to the PP's who commented on people looking up, clocking the (34 week) bump and carefully looking away again. Drives me potty! The best one I've had yet was a woman who looked me up and down as we were both standing on the platform and then, when the train pulled in, dove for the one free seat in the carriage, bashing into my bump as she did so. Most annoying part was that if I hadn't been pregnant and slow I totally would've beaten her to it!

On the whole people have been pretty nice about offering up seats and the baby on board badge definitely helped in those few weeks where I felt grotty but wasn't obviously pregnant. But I've stopped wearing it now and started getting on, making straight for the priority seats, smiling and asking if I might sit down. I hated the standing around, sticking out the bump, hoping someone would notice. Much easier just to ask politely.

MsFrazzles · 27/09/2014 08:56

I've been wearing mine since around 12 weeks and find that lots of people are really quick to offer me a seat, although in rush hour on the Tube I find myself stuck near the doors where no-one sitting down can even see me (or even if they can see me it would be too awkward for them to yell over to me).

By the way, London Midland trains have a Mum2Be scheme which isn't very well publicised but if you email them they will send you a letter authorising you to sit in 1st class if there are no seats in Standard. I emailed them a copy of my NHS exemption card so this was fairly early on and it lasts all the way through. Maybe other train operators do the same.