Baby on Board Badge

[charliefarli]

So Im 6+6 and having all the usual first trimester symptoms, including tiredness and lightheadedness. I also have a job that requires a lot of traveling particularly on the underground. I'm finding standing on the underground a lot more tiring than I used to.

Given that I am only 6+6 Im obviously not showing. Therefore I wonder is it too early to get a "baby on board" badge? If it is how long did everyone wait?

Perfectly acceptable in my view. I wear mine when I’m feeling rough (8 weeks) and don’t wear it if I’m feeling ok. Most times I’ve been offered a seat.

Totally acceptable in my view too. Those first few weeks you feel so lousy and tired. I wore mine from about 8 weeks onwards in my first trimester (mainly because that's when I got it through the post). Definitely apply and I do find almost always someone will offer you a seat.

I needed my baby on board badge in my first trimester more than I needed it in my second! Go for it.

Get a baby on board badge, keep it with you at all times and wear it when necessary.

I have had people walk into me because I wasn't wearing one and I tend to wear loose clothing. Incidentally men have been more polite than women over it.

Definitely get it and wear it. I needed a seat much more in the first trimester than the second.

I wore mine well before I was showing. It was in the first trimester I needed it most, when I had god awful sickness. Just remember to take it off before you get to work, if you're keeping it to yourself for now.

Go for it! Once you’re showing, you don’t necessarily even need one- it’s more obvious. I loved mine :)

of course you can wear it! I fortunately didnt need to for the first few months but had I felt at the beginning how I felt at 5months, hell yes! And if no one notices, tap someone in the priority seats and have them move.

Yes of course get one and wear it! That's what they're meant for - letting people know you need a seat before it's obvious. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Yes I would get one and wear it if you feel you need a seat. But also be prepared to ask for a seat and many people don't notice the badge.

I'm 36 weeks and have carried one in my bag from very early on. I just used it a couple of times i the first trimester when I felt sick/faint. I felt ok after about 10-11 weeks, so haven't worn it since then. After about 20 my bump is much more obvious than the little badge so I often usually offers of a seat without the badge! Since about 32 weeks, although not uncomfortable enough to ask, I always accept a seat when offered.

thank you all for the reassurance. I have now ordered one and shall wear it!

I needed mine all the way through, but nobody noticed it even when I was 41+6! I bought a "Does my bump look big in this?" t-shirt from Mothercare, which was also ignored. Good luck! 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

Isn't it part of the point of baby on board badges that they let people know you're pregnant when you're not showing?

Definitely - and agree with PP, as a long term tube user, do ask for a seat if you need one rather than hope people will notice and being put out if they don't. Most people are just doing their own thing and aren't looking around them much, but are more than happy to offer a seat as soon as they're made aware.

It doesn't matter if you are wearing a badge or not. if you need a seat, ask for one

masters at the ‘pretending not to notice’ manoeuvre!

or maybe they don't notice???

really, why should they? I certain don't pay any attention or even notice is fellow commuters are wearing a badge of any description, or a coat, or hat, or trousers or anything t all that they are wearing

I think its a bit silly to put something on your clothing and expect people to notice it.

wear one, and point it out to people if you need to, but don't get all uppity if people don't notice it. I bet you won't have noticed exactly what they are wearing either.

@PhilomenaButterfly to avoid going mad, lots of people in London tune out of their environment when on public transport. So if someone doesn't get up to offer you a seat ask for one.

Eh, depends. If I’m sat in a priority seat and not pregnant (I’m not disabled or older), I glance up at every stop to make sure I don’t need to give it up. But yes, just ask- people will move and it’s not a problem.

Thanks so much for asking this question. I felt awful in the first trimester and could have kissed any man that was near an empty seat but offered it to me. I didn't want to get the badge in case someone i knew saw me, as we hadn't told ppl.

I am now in week 14 and feeling slightly better, but I think i will order mine now too. I get really angry when a woman hits me near the stomach with her handbag!

Just to add a note of caution - if you've not gone public about your pregnancy at work, don't forget to take the badge off on your way into the office! It'd be a bit awkward if you bump into a colleague on the tube while you're wearing the badge if you've not mentioned it yet!

BlueBug no longer a problem, I had my last baby 7 years ago! 😂 Thanks for the advice though. People did say I only looked pregnant in profile though!

Older middle aged City men tend to be the worst, but that’s just my experience.

Its a skill they learn young, if the teenage twins I saw (clad in the uniform of a very expensive public school) are anything to go by. Point blank refused to give up a priority seat when asked.

Must be that public school confidence we hear so much about

I hate them and think they're attention seeking personally. But if you want one get one whenever.
I lived in London from when I was 7 months pregnant until shortly before my baby turned 1. I happily stood on the tube when I was PAST my due date. People asked when I was due, I replied it WAS LAST Sunday, so they knew it had past. Still not one person offered me a seat. What did I do? Nothing, I remained standing because I would never ever ask for a seat. I was pregnant not an entitled person.