When did you start wearing your baby on board badge?

[sophied1983]

Sx

I really can't believe people take any notice of them. I'm 31 weeks and look really heavily pregnant with a really large bump and 4/5 times a week (on crowded bus home) no one offers me a seat!

Ahh this thread is interesting, I’ve been wondering the same.

I’m only 11.5 weeks so it feels very silly / OTT to me to get one, but at the same time my train home is so crowded sometimes I can barely squeeze on, and a couple of weeks ago I fainted on the train which was embarrassing and painful from where I hit the floor! I’m now either leaving work early or after 7pm to avoid the busiest trains but sometimes it’s just not possible.

I was in London last week, only 17 weeks, but quite obviously pregnant. Was happy standing up as no issues with dizziness etc and short journeys.

A woman on one train (she was also standing) said to me "are you alright? I'll make someone give you a seat of you need it?"which I though was really kind. I thanked her but said I was only going 2 stops so was fine.

I think most people sitting down tends to be reading or on phones so don't notice who is around them really

I think these badges are a good idea for those who want to wear them. It saves having to ask people to give up a seat if you need it. I ordered one but I don't live in London so it never came, I guess they prioritise London postcodes.

I'm still regularly standing up on a packed country bus, which is no fun but I'm too awkward to get people to move. The only way I get a seat is to open my coat and clutch my bump.

Haven't read the whole thread, although was surprised at how vitriolic it got even on the first page...! I have one (two actually, TfL messed up) and I find it really helpful. Started wearing it around... 15-16 weeks from memory? I don't wear it all the time but during rush hour it can be helpful as the Jubilee line is too packed for people to spot any bumps (or disabilities), and the only time I've thrown up during this pregnancy was from getting too hot on the tube! I find people are always willing to offer a seat when they spot it, much more so when I'm wearing it than not. I can always (and often do) turn down the offer if I'm feeling fine or only going a couple of stops. I'd recommend having one on you if you commute by tube; it can't hurt :)

Does anyone know if you can pick these up from somewhere? I live in the Midlands and need to commute to London in the coming months, the website says you can only order them to postcodes in greater London and the South East. Am i going to have to order it to a friend's house?

I can post you my spare, if you want!

(And unfortunately I think you can only order them to London and SE addresses. If no one knows for sure, I can ask in the evening and report back)

I started wearing mine at 20 weeks. Mainly because my commute can take an hour and 45 mins and I also don't want to be barged about during rush hour. My experience has been mixed.

In rush hour on the Jubilee line I've had people clock me and the badge but not offer their seats. On a rammed rush hour tube one guy offered me the space where he was leaning against the cushioning against the side (not sure what this bit is called). Other times I've had to directly ask for a seat (and I only ask people who are sitting in the priority seats and who are not elderly).

On balance I'd have to say that the majority of the time I've had to ask for a seat rather than be offered one, and that is with people clocking me because there's been eye contact.

On a bus after work I was standing next to the priority seats and there was another woman with a baby on board badge too and all four of the priority seats were occupied. I remarked to her that it was a shame we both had to stand, so I asked the people if they would offer their seat, one woman commented she had a bad leg, no one else offered until a man I guess felt embarrassed and offered his seat up.

I think if you get offered a seat, then you should take it, as if you don't then this kind of defeats the point of the badge and then people will start to think that a lot of pregnant women politely decline the seats so won't offer them in the first place.

People sell them on eBay for less than £2 it might be easier to get one like that.

Ive worn mine a couple of times so far but only when I've had to travel on the tube while feeling particularly nauseous/dizzy. No one offered me a seat anyway but I was fine!

I'm only 11 weeks so have taken it off after as I don't want people I know seeing it.

I don't understand people's problem with them??

Never. I don't like them.
I stood on the train when I was past my due date. Didn't bother me.

I love these sort of responses 'I stood on the train when I was past my due date. Didn't bother me.'

It's so passive aggressively judgemental!

I used to stand on public transport with my first and I was one of those women who wondered why other pregnant women moaned so much, until I was pregnant with my second and SPD radiated through me. Standing for that long would have near ended me probably.
I think the badges are a bit cringe but honestly if it’s the only way some women will get seats when struggling then it is what it is, I support them

About two months in. I had low blood pressure and if I stood still for too long I felt really faint!! I took the badge off before going into work each day and was paranoid I'd forget one day but it needed to be done.

Randomly I DID bump into someone I knew on the tube before I'd outed myself, and when I told her I wasn't yet past the 12 week mark so was still keeping it on the down low, she said she understood....turns out she was pregnant too!! Funny how these things work out sometimes....

5 months in. Now I have a big bump that is VERY much visible even with a coat on, a badge an NO ONE ever gives up a seat. I can still stand fine and feeling alright on most days, but it really annoys me as I know my partner always stands up for pregnant and elderly, whether he sits at the 'priority seating' (or whatever they are called) or not, but everyone I ever meet on the bus just stares at me and then stares away, or stars and then pretend to look very busy with their shoelaces.

I wore one for the first time yesterday at 16 weeks. I was travelling at rush hour on the victoria line and then on a very crowded train and I had a suitcase and a laptop back. Two kind young men immediately gave me their seats on the train and tube and another man carried my case up the steps, although I think it was just because he saw me struggling with it...I don't think he saw the badge. I don't like the exclamation mark at the end of 'Baby on board!' as it seems a impolite, but very glad I had it on this occasion.

Mine arrived Tuesday so wore it for the first time yesterday. Definitely helped when facing rush hour Central Line after work last night!

This is becoming quite a social experiment.

So far, it is exclusively women who have offered me a seat.

I wear mine, from about 13 or 14 weeks. Always get a offered a seat. My commute is 2hrs from Kent to London Bridge and I'm so tired, I would struggle to stand. I take the tube often for work and even if people don't offer a seat, I feel less 'jostled' by people who notice it.

Really surprised about how angry people get about these badges

I only wear mine on the tube or bus when it’s busy. Have done from 12 weeks. When I move out of London in a couple of months I won’t bother wearing it any more.

Also surprised how angry people are on this thread, surely it is down to the individual if they wish to wear it or not.

I have a 90 minute commute each way on a very busy tube, and have worn mine since 12 weeks. More to stop people shoving me than anything.

I have found it seems to depend on what line and what area of London I am in, on whether people take any notice of the badge or not.

On the Jubilee line, it tends to be ignored. If I get on the District Line in West and Central London, I will always get offered a seat, yet if I get on the District line in East London I will never be offered a seat and still be quite aggressively shoved out the way by men and women.

I have also found that men are a lot more likely to offer me a seat than women, who seems to just glare at me and make me feel ultra uncomfortable.

I changed my hours slightly to try and avoid rush hour, but with all the Christmas shoppers this month, it hasn't really helped.

I'm planning to at 13/14 weeks. Though TBH I could have done with it earlier, I've been getting really bad motion sickness, I've had to ask for a seat 3 times.

@Paperchains @Clairebear

The anger is really, really weird! Such intense levels of judgement and crankiness!

Let's put it down to hormones... ;)

I love mine. I just feel so proud of it! it's so childish, but I like telling the world I'm pregnant! Been an aim for ten years, so I'm just so happy it's here!