Baby On Board
Encyclopedia
Baby on Board is the message of a small (usually five-inch) sign intended to be placed in the back window of an automobile
to encourage safe driving. First marketed in September 1984 by Safety 1st Corporation
, the sign became a ubiquitous fad
, flourishing in 1985. Its use in the US
rapidly declined as parody imitations with lines like "Baby I'm Bored", "Pit Bull on Board", and "Mother-In-Law in Trunk" became popular, although its popularity continues in the United Kingdom
(along with other versions such as "Princess on Board" and "Little Person on Board"), in Italy
and in Japan
(usually saying "Baby in Car", with the sign written in either English or Japanese script) well into the 21st century. The original parent company diversified into infant and child care products.
Despite waning in popularity, the signs have entered the American lexicon. In 1993, The Simpsons
episode "Homer's Barbershop Quartet
" featured a barbershop quartet tune called "Baby On Board". The song was written by Homer Simpson
in a flashback to 1985 when Marge
bought a sign, hoping it would stop people "intentionally ramming our car."
An urban legend
claims that the death of a baby led to the creation of the signs. According to snopes.com, there is no truth to this claim. The founder of Safety 1st, Michael Lerner, claimed to have heard about similar signs in Europe
, when in fact, he entered into a partnership with Patricia and Helen Bradley of Medford, Massachusetts
, to market the signs. The Bradleys had been trying to market the signs since Patricia brought them back from Germany
, where her husband was stationed. Lerner eventually bought PHOB, the company set up by the Bradleys, (for approximately US$150,000) and changed the name to Safety 1st.
Comedian George Carlin
considered "Baby on Board" to be "the three most puke-inducing words that man has yet come up with".
Americas and Americas created a warning decal similar to the "Baby on Board" sign. The purpose of the sticker is to let people know that there is a child with Autism present who may not respond to emergency personnel.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
to encourage safe driving. First marketed in September 1984 by Safety 1st Corporation
Dorel Industries
Dorel Industries Inc. is a Canadian company, based in Montreal, Quebec, which designs and manufactures for three areas: juvenile, home furnishings and recreational/leisure. It was formed in 1987 as a result of a merger between Dorel Co. Ltd., founded in 1962 by Leo Schwartz and Ridgewood...
, the sign became a ubiquitous fad
FAD
In biochemistry, flavin adenine dinucleotide is a redox cofactor involved in several important reactions in metabolism. FAD can exist in two different redox states, which it converts between by accepting or donating electrons. The molecule consists of a riboflavin moiety bound to the phosphate...
, flourishing in 1985. Its use in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapidly declined as parody imitations with lines like "Baby I'm Bored", "Pit Bull on Board", and "Mother-In-Law in Trunk" became popular, although its popularity continues in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(along with other versions such as "Princess on Board" and "Little Person on Board"), in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(usually saying "Baby in Car", with the sign written in either English or Japanese script) well into the 21st century. The original parent company diversified into infant and child care products.
Despite waning in popularity, the signs have entered the American lexicon. In 1993, The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "Homer's Barbershop Quartet
Homer's Barbershop Quartet
"Homer's Barbershop Quartet" is the first episode of The Simpsons fifth season. The episode was written by Jeff Martin and directed by Mark Kirkland. It features The Be Sharps, a barbershop quartet founded by Homer Simpson. The band's story roughly parallels that of The Beatles...
" featured a barbershop quartet tune called "Baby On Board". The song was written by Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
in a flashback to 1985 when Marge
Marge Simpson
Marjorie "Marge" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is voiced by actress Julie Kavner and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
bought a sign, hoping it would stop people "intentionally ramming our car."
An urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
claims that the death of a baby led to the creation of the signs. According to snopes.com, there is no truth to this claim. The founder of Safety 1st, Michael Lerner, claimed to have heard about similar signs in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, when in fact, he entered into a partnership with Patricia and Helen Bradley of Medford, Massachusetts
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
, to market the signs. The Bradleys had been trying to market the signs since Patricia brought them back from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where her husband was stationed. Lerner eventually bought PHOB, the company set up by the Bradleys, (for approximately US$150,000) and changed the name to Safety 1st.
Comedian George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
considered "Baby on Board" to be "the three most puke-inducing words that man has yet come up with".
Americas and Americas created a warning decal similar to the "Baby on Board" sign. The purpose of the sticker is to let people know that there is a child with Autism present who may not respond to emergency personnel.
See also
- Baby on Board (film)Baby on Board (film)Baby on Board is a 2009 comedy film starring Heather Graham, John Corbett, Jerry O'Connell, and Lara Flynn Boyle.- Plot :The film centers around Angela, an ambitious, image-conscious businesswoman working for over-demanding boss Mary. When Angela becomes unexpectedly pregnant at the peak of her...
, 2009 film starring Heather Graham - Baby on Board (The Simpsons), a song played by the Be Sharps, in Homer's Barbershop Quartet