I always wondered about those {seemingly} silly “baby on board” signs. Until I had a baby of my own.
I remember laughing about them with my friends “oh, we WERE going to drive like a crazy person, all over the road, but we’ll be careful since theres a BABY in that car”… and other similar jokes were always made.
It just didn’t make sense, why the big deal that a baby was in the car? Is procreation that exciting, that you suddenly feel compelled to tell every stranger on the highway that you’ve had a child? (this post has affiliate links)
Then I had a baby and somewhere along the line it started making sense.
I realize that, if I were to get in a car accident and be unresponsive, I’d want some one to pull over immediately and check the car seats for my baby. I realized that even when crashes are fatal for drivers oftentimes children survive them, because of their carseats.
Suddenly I got it. The baby on board sign wasn’t bragging about the driver’s ability to reproduce. It’s a helpful sign for emergency workers and even other drivers, for worst-case scenarios.
When I realized this I was totally embarrassed by how much I had mocked them as a kid, but they just didn’t make sense to me at the time!
Am I the only one who didn’t understand them, or have you been wondering about them too? Do you have one?
Katie says
I never knew the reason behind the signs, but this makes total sense!
Danielle says
You should take the baby on bard signs out of the car when you don’t have the baby child with you because emergency services will look for the child if there’s an accident if the signs still in the car ….. so please use the ones that are removable
Silvia says
Hi there! Sorry for my English, I’m writing from Italy. I think it’s also about the need of more space to let an infant car seat in and to secure the baby, when your car is parked.
If people parking aside would notice the sticker, it would be nice of them leaving more room to allow the child’s caretaker to do whatever it takes in a safe place.
Jenni says
That is a great idea, however unfortunately no one ever does that. At least in Australia anyway. They don’t care about anyone other than themselves!
Christina @ Virtuous Weddings says
Hmm. I never thought of that. I always thought they were weird too!
Michelle Cannon says
I never thought they were weird. Maybe because I was the mother of two when they came out. When I started hearing jokes made by comedians – THAT’s what I didn’t get.
A3mi says
Agree with you on that stupid jokes
Steve Prairie says
I have seven children and I never knew this. And I too thought the very same thing, why DO people put those signs in their cars? It makes perfect sense now…I will put a “Grand Baby On Board” in my truck, because now I have eight grand children.
Jan Sessions says
I knew what they were for, but how often do you see them in the car with the baby NOT on board. What use are they then? If you put one in the car, you need to take it out when baby isn’t there and save emergency workers precious time searching for a non-existent baby that MAY have been thrown from a car etc.
Tanya says
Completely agree with you! absolutely pointless as half the time the kids/baby isn’t in the car. Sending emergency workers on a wild goose chase.
Gail says
I always thought they were more of a reminder to other drivers to be careful…who wants to be in an accident with a car that has a baby on board? It also can help other drivers to think twice about getting annoyed that a driver is being overly cautious.
Shorti says
I agree. I always thought the purpose of these signs were to try and deter angry drivers who might normally come after you due to road rage.
Mother of 3 says
Oh we absolutely made fun of them! I didn’t understand the use of them at all… until I had kids.
Sarah says
Thank you!! I have told my husband a million times that I want to put one of those on our car but he always laughs at the idea. It really is for safety more than anything!
Tania says
I did know this but someone told me the signs were also for drivers to be aware of mothers that become distracted by kids whilst driving. Made more sense to me now I am a mother.
Fahm says
I as a mother had to get one because having another person in the car allowed me to carpool. It helps officers know that I’m in the carpool lane with a child. Every since I got pulled over once across four lanes in traffic for him to realize that I actually had another person in the car.
Sarah Matthews says
I researched the same topic a few years ago when I was pregnant with my first child and discovered the use. I personally, don’t and wouldn’t display one in my car because my children are not always in the car with me. I wouldn’t want the emergency services wasting time looking for a child that isn’t in the car when other people may be in genuine need of assistance. I see so many people driving around displaying the decal with no kids in the car. If you can remember to take it out when travelling without kids and use it when they are with you, then I think it’s a great idea unfortunately I think most of the signs are permanent fixtures regardless of whether children are travelling or not.
Tim says
Hi,
Read the article from snopes.com.
According to the article the EMT reason is not accurate.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/babysign.asp