happymom 03:52 PM 06-10-2016
My child is moving up to the pre-k class in August and they have a "short bus" and take field trips. I am excited for him and don't want to exclude him but will my daycare think I'm bat**** crazy if I request that he uses a car seat on the school bus?
I really try not to be a difficult parent but he seems too young to ride on a school bus without a carseat to me.
Does the bus have seatbelts? If not, a carseat won't make a difference. Buses are designed to be pretty safe in the event of an accident.
Thriftylady 06:05 PM 06-10-2016
Originally Posted by Mike:
Does the bus have seatbelts? If not, a carseat won't make a difference. Buses are designed to be pretty safe in the event of an accident.
That was my question as well. When DD went to HS, they didn't use car seats but their small bus had seat belts. I am guessing they will want to keep things the same for all kids. The buses really are safe.
Leigh 08:09 PM 06-10-2016
sharlan 09:03 AM 06-13-2016
Ask what their policy is.
Our local school district has built in "car seats" for littles, but the bus drivers don't use them. They expect the littles to stay seated.
I had a 3 yo that went to a special ed preschool and was shocked to see the 3 yos not strapped in.
daycarediva 09:48 AM 06-13-2016
Our school does not bus for UPK, but the private prek we used did. They had a carseat designated for each child and they were strapped in by an adult.
I am a car seat safety nut, we take appropriate precautions or my kids don't go.
racemom 12:27 PM 06-14-2016
Our local school transports preschool kids, and the bus is designed to have 5 pt harness seat belts and molded seats.
Unregistered 05:08 PM 06-14-2016
Something to keep in mind that buses are designed to be safe. In the event of an accident or fire a quick exit is a must. Children in a carseat will hold up the evacuation while someone is unhooking them and they may be the last be removed from the bus while they adults get as many kids off as they can before hand.
happymom 11:31 AM 06-15-2016
I know buses are safe for school age children, I'm just worried about my 28 pound little preschooler. He's not even big enough for a booster yet and most kids who ride school buses are.
PalmaHall 06:18 PM 06-18-2017
There was this time I saw a guy driving his son, about 4 or 5 years old, on a pickup. He's has a suspension lift kit installed and I was actually appalled. I mean, a car is a car, it's purpose is serve as long as it can get you to places but I'm kinda worried with the safety if a vehicle looks too intimidating. I don't even know if it has a child-friendly seat inside.
happymom 09:23 AM 07-20-2017
Sorry to revive this old thread...
My kid is now starting kindergarten and will be riding the bus daily to elementary school from daycare and back to daycare after school. It's about 1 mile away.
The school bus has lap belts. I met with a CPST who said lap belts are never safe, even on school buses. A child should either sit on the seat of the bus or be restrained in a harness.
Prior to meeting with the CPST, I talked to an assistant director who said that they require all the kids to wear the seat belts.
I don't REALLY know who's right. I know that school buses are generally pretty safe. I'm NOT worried about my child getting up out of his seat, my worry comes from the risk of a major accident. I don't want to be that parent who keeps my kid in a bubble. I know there are risks in life. Should I just let him ride the bus in the seatbelt? Should I ask them to allow him to not wear the seatbelt? Or should I send him a harnessed car seat that can be installed on the bus?
I let him go on the bus for the field trips, and he wore a seatbelt.