Baby on board sticker

basedinaustria · May 2016

I have a bit of an ambivalent feeling towards this sticker. I mean, I kind of get that it's important for paramedics in case of an accident. But otherwise I think that it doesn't make other drivers more cautious.
What do you guys think?

kbrands7 · May 2016

It's important in case of an accident so that the back seat is tended to quickly or they know to look for a thrown seat. I know that it doesn't necessarily make people drive more cautiously. I have a magnet version that can be taken off if my boys aren't in the car with me.

lionstigersbears · May 2016

I chose not to have them. It's hard because I know the reason for it and it's a good one! At the same time we live in an urban area and unfortunately have been advised through the fire department (when checking car seats) that moms are being targeted more and more in parking lots because of them. Criminals know we will choose our kids over anything else.

Edited for clarity and and typos!

AdorkablePixie · May 2016

My DH and I both got one for our cars that we will obviously only have hanging if LO is actually in the car with us. I know people don't drive more carefully, but it's not meant for that.. it's meant so that emergency personnel know to look for a child. My DH is also getting one because he drives a really fast, really nice Ford Focus ST and people tend to like to race him so he wants it so people know that he can't race because his son is in the car. (I don't like that he "races" but I can't stop him so... at least he's being smart about it!)

Dasha420 · May 2016

@lionstigersbears I didn't think about that. The area we live in is pretty safe but still has its moments. I wanted to get a cute one just for myself but now I'll be thinking twice.

What at about those family stickers people have on their back windows?

lalala2004 · May 2016

lionstigersbears said:

I chose not to have them. It's hard because I know the reason for it and it's a good one! At the same time we live in an urban area and unfortunately have been advised through the fire department (when checking car seats) that moms are being targeted more and more in parking lots because of them. Criminals know we will choose our kids over anything else.

Edited for clarity and and typos!

Couldn't criminals just as easily see a car seat/car seat base, stroller, and other paraphernalia that makes it obvious you have a child? Maybe not quite as easily, but it wouldn't be hard, either... I'm just not buying it as being a reason not to have one.

Personally I was indifferent, but for some reason, DH really wanted one,
so we have it. I also hope it will help serve the purpose of not leaving the baby in the car on accident by taking it up and down whether or not he is in the car.

AdorkablePixie · May 2016

Dasha420 said:

@lionstigersbears I didn't think about that. The area we live in is pretty safe but still has its moments. I wanted to get a cute one just for myself but now I'll be thinking twice.

What at about those family stickers people have on their back windows?

@Dasha420 Those family stickers are terrible. I automatically hate anyone who has them! We had a big discussion on UO Thursday a couple months back on this. lol Emergency personnel (police, mainly) actually advise against these because it tells people not only how many people are in your family but also sometimes what they do so a criminal can find out who may or may not be home and when (for example, just a mom with three kids, or a mom with a military husband and a small baby, etc). It's just not wise in my opinion, plus it's super tacky. No offense to anyone who has one! To each their own!

Edited because words are hard..

gorgeousariel · May 2016

We have this one.

Image: https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NWwYQtsiL._AC_UL320_SR282,320_.jpg

VS2016 · May 2016

I was actually just talking with DH about the fact that we were given one with our first and still have yet to put it in the car. Lol

emma+karen · May 2016

Dasha420 said:

@lionstigersbears I didn't think about that. The area we live in is pretty safe but still has its moments. I wanted to get a cute one just for myself but now I'll be thinking twice.

What at about those family stickers people have on their back windows?

Yeah...I was thinking car seats would also be a big clue. The world is a scary place!

PYLWhammy · May 2016

Dasha420 said:

What at about those family stickers people have on their back windows?

mrstmoose · May 2016

We decided not to get them based on the safety factor of people knowing we have a baby in the car. We live in a safe area but aren't taking chances.

avidkeo · May 2016

You all know baby on board signs are just a marketing thing right? I worked as an ambulance volunteer for several years and was never trained to look for one, and honestly if I had seen one at the site of an accident, I don't think I would look for a "lost" child. I feel they are pretty much a gimmick.

https://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/babysign.asp

NinnyJean · May 2016

I personally don't care for them because it doesn't change how people drive. DH though found one that said daddy's girl on board and had to get it. So he has one in his car but more because he's just excited to have a little girl haha

huskypuppy14 · May 2016

June lurker here.
At my infant care class, the nurse teaching said that "baby on board" stickers were not safe to have, because people are crazy and could follow you or target you. Like a pp said above. Sure, someone could see the carseat in the car, but those stickers are more obvious then trying to peep into people's car windows to see what's in the back seat.

bkjade · May 2016

Huh, I always just thought people were bragging they had a baby. I never knew that people thought those stickers have an actual purpose.

Living in NYC, we don't have a car because parking SUCKS SO HARD. Not that uber or riding the train with kids is a bunch of fun either. Rethinking that though, so there might be a car in the near future since we end up renting cars so often. Won't be stickering our car with any baby on board stickers if we do get one.

Bltbear82 · May 2016

@bkjade I think you're in Williamsburg right? Our friends live on Kent and there is (was?) a zipcar garage in their building.

It's not terribly convenient for you, but Pier 40 has reasonable parking. Parking does suck but we bit the bullet and park in our neighborhood because with two kids and dog. I'm not schlepping out of town on summer weekends carrying everything. Even though our rates just increased it is totally worth it to be able to pick up and go. My neighbor actually drives her kids to school, which is a little insane.

bkjade · May 2016

@Bltbear82 - Totally have used zip cars from that garage! Yeah, we probably wouldn't use the car much around the city but it would be nice to be able to get out of town with the dog for the weekend without coordinating a rental car.

That1didntcount · May 2016

Saw this on Facebook. Kills me!!!!

Dasha420 · May 2016

@That1didntcount Omg!! Hahaha at that point I would just use tallies.

sma9 · May 2016

Criminals can just look in the car and see I'd you have a car seat or base for one. We all like to think we live in a safe area. But it doesn't mean it'll be safe forever. It could not be safe tomorrow