After waiting for CTA, Chicago moms hand out ‘Baby on Board’ pins to pregnant women

After promising to print “Baby on Board” buttons to alert L train customers that a pregnant woman might need a seat, some Chicago moms decided that they had waited long enough.

In July, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Chicago Transit Authority was working on a project to hand out the buttons some time this year. The agency was vague about its plans then, and a group of moms who wanted the buttons “sooner rather than later,” decided to make their own.

Megan Nufer, who was pregnant at the time and now mom to a daughter born in May, reached out to the CTA with her button idea. The CTA told her that they were working on implementing a button project, and that they hoped to print them this year. Itching to get something done sooner, Nufer reached out The Mom Project to see if they could help.

It turns out they could and the initial batch of buttons was funded by The Mom Project. The company celebrates the CTA’s effort, but wanted to get things rolling until the agency delivered on their promise, according to its website.

About 1,000 buttons will be handed out 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 10 at Goddess and the Grocer, 225 N. LaSalle Street near the Clark and Lake station. More buttons will be made if there’s enough demand. Anyone who can’t make can reach out to The Mom Project on Instagram.

“All expectant moms deserve a seat on public transit if they need one. It’s a small gesture with a big collective impact. We’re very excited for the CTA launch to more widely promote this initiative and hope this bridge of buttons ensures more women in Chicagoland arrive to their destinations with peace of mind,” said Colleen Curtis, head of community at The Mom Project, in a statement.

In some cities, public transportation is designed to be more family friendly with wide platforms and designated family areas or cars. Other cities are also allowing families to keep strollers open on buses which can make rides more accessible.

The CTA did not immediately respond for comment.