Sitting in the back with the children.

[LambethLil]

My mischevious side wants to post this in AIBU. I think it is really wet when the mother sits in the back with the DCs. Puts the DP in the position of chauffeur. Assuming that when the mother drives the children are unsupervised what can be the reasons and doesn't it undermine the partnership between parents.

Muffin, you too are an exception with the dogs, sickly babies, etc. Consider yourself not judged.

I only sit in the back with my 8 mo ds when I'm trying to feed him while dh is driving. We've had a run of weekends away recently and I've had to give him lunch in the car, not ideal but it means he'll spend most of the journey having lunch or sleeping. As soon as we can stop I'm back in the front, I do feel a bit odd in the back but perhaps the women you saw lambethlil had also been giving their dcs some food and were just waiting for the right time to stop and get back in the front.

molly don't do it! You can always move if its not working but assert your place! Tis your right.

LOL Lambeth

So should I sit in front and see how it goes?

Confession time - I did this up until DS was about 3 months old! I have absolutely no idea why other than it was probably a PFB'ish thing to do. I do cringe when I think about it as there was absolutely no reason why - fgs, DS slept pretty much everytime he was in the car!!

HF your on my unjudged list too now. BF definitely cannot be done from front to back either, just do-able side bt side!

ceebee as a reformed backsitter you have the right to be VERY judgey about this. You've seen the light!!

I am very judgey of my friend who sits in the back. To her face as well! She is a total martyr mummy though.

molly wait and see then send DP back!

on a related note - I used to snigger at notice occasionally two grandparents in teh school car park - he would drive in with granny in the passenger seat, and park. Granny would then get out, go into the boot, take out flask of tea/coffee, pour a cup, hnd it to grandad, then go and sit in the back of the car while he drank his tea/coffee. Then when he'd finished, she'd get out, collect his cup, put it back in the book, and get back into the front of the car. Never could work them out

hmmm I think it eminently sensible to sit in he back with a baby on a long car journey.

Far safer to be on hand if the baby starts screaming because it needs attention than to be trying to reach over from the front seat and far less distracting for the driver.

Happily for me those days are long past

I do know one family where non-driving parent has to sit in the back because if their DD is anywhere other than in the front she throws up

nicky that reminds me of a friend who didn't drive but was always asking me to drive her and her DD places. I had 2 DDs at the time and the first time we had a stand off as she wanted me to put DD2 in the front in her carseat so she could supervise the the 2 girls - she even rooted around in the glove compartment trying to disable the air bag! When that failed she knelt in the passenger sit facing the LOs -mine looking utterly shell shocked- bum in air and singing!

LL, she may be the same woman, lol!

I still sit in the back Realise that a 3 year old should be able to cope with longish car journeys without being entertained but why have a cross + bored pre-schooler when you don't need to. If ds falls asleep then I get into the front

lambethlil - can I just repeat my question about why it's only wet when the mother sits in the back please? Isn't it also a bit wet if the father always drives?

SS and you can bet their DD will still be pulling that one when a teenager and ALWAYS have to sit in pole position.

OI defo. My DH is very un macho and loves me to drive- we share it but I'd happily never drive at all. w&c, your DC will be very bored if used to having you next to them. The ability to entertain oneself is really useful and easily developed, tis a PITA if they get to school or preschool never having had any quiet unstimulated time. Into the front with you!

My sister and her DH do this and it always confuses me. Which ever one of them is not the driver sits in the back to "keep DS company" What he can't cope for 30 minutes on his own?
I think it is bonkers! DD has had to fend for herself from day one and a good job too as once DS came along there is no way on earth I would want to squeeze in between both carseats!

i HAVE to sit in the back with the children. I can't fit 3 car seats across the back and DS1 sits in the front with DP

I have never, never seen a man sitting in the back with the kids whilst a child is in the front seat, or the passenger side is unoccupied.

On the only antenatal class reunion I went to, some parents arrived who had driven for less than 10 minutes with mum and baby in the back.

cmot, me neither, which is way I think its a bit dodgey in terms of the parental relationship as well as overindulging the DCs.

Oh mine are well past pre-school age. And it won't be long before DS#1 is as tall as me so the long legs argument won't stand.

We take it in turns. But I suspect I get more front-seat time than any of the DCs. Especially as I drive the car all the time unless DH is there to claim his prerogative

I too find it very odd. TBH given the chance I would install a sound proof screen between the sets like in a limo

Our car is pretty long and if you turn the radio up it functions pretty well as a limo screen