Car seats on coaches?

Question

I'm taking my 2 1/2 yr old on a theme park trip with my school (I'm a high school teacher). Just wondering what I should do regarding seat belts/car seats. She's still in a car seat in my car with the 2 over shoulder straps. This will be big and bulky to get on the baus and not sure how secure it will fit as not sure what sort of seatbelts they have.

Should I take my proper car seat and hope it fits, or should I borrow a booster seat and use the seat belt, even though they are for over 4 yr olds really?

What do you suggest?

Answer 1

Are you guys taking a school bus? Newer or older? Or are you taking a charter bus?

If it is a school bus, unfortunately there is no way you can safely transport a 2.5 year old child on a school bus as most have no seatbelts. Short buses do, and many newer school buses do, but the vast majority do not. You can try and find out if the one you are taking will have belts, if so, then bring your child's seat and install it. School buses are made on the principle of compartmentalization, and thus have avoided being regulated to have seatbelts. The tall seatbacks keep kids 'compartmentalized' so they don't go flying throughout the vehicle. However, this isn't as safe as a belt, since they still get thrown against the hard seatback in front of them in an accident. And compartmentalization does not work with children under age 4. In fact - in some states it is illegal to transport a child under 4 in a regular school buses, b/c of this reason.

IF you are taking a charter bus, it is possible the 2 front seats will have seatbelts. You would have to ask.

If it is a schoolbus with no seatbelts, you will need to drive separately to safely take your child with you.