Baby on Board
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Baby On Board refers to a five-inch sign intended to be placed in the back window of an automobile to deter tailgating. 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 by 1986 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) well into the 21st century, with the sign written in either English or Japanese script. The parent company diversified into infant and child care products. The sign refers to when a woman is pregnant, and does not want people to be reckless around them.
Nevertheless, 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.[1] 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".[2]
[edit] See also
- Baby on Board (film) 2009 film starring Heather Graham
- Baby In Car - trademark registered by peek-a-boo K&M (OHIM-EU), refers to a sign intended to be placed in the back window of an automobile to deter tailgating
[edit] References
- ^ "Baby on Board". Urban Legends Reference Pages. 2006-09-02. http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/babysign.asp. Retrieved 2007-02-06.
- ^ George Carlin: What Am I Doing in New Jersey?
