Car seats / seat belts on coaches?! Over cautious Mummy?

[Poppychick]

DD was going on a 'trip' today with nursery. They told DP that they had a coach firm with car seats but when I got there it was a double decker bus.

We got in and I asked about seat belts and was told there'd be a lap belt for DD. She's only 3.5 and small for her age. I said this wasn't okay and she could only go if a car seat was used for her.

Is it safe taking them on coaches with no car seat?

[Seeline]

I've never heard of car seats on coaches. however, our nursery/school only ever book coaches for trips if they have seat belts.

[stitch]

our kids school only takes them on coaches with seat belts. proper ones. but they dont worry about car seats. even though many kids are under 135 cm.
i think that your dc nursery need to rethink their policy tokeep in line with current laws

[ComeOVeneer]

Ditto seeline, although ds has never ben on a trip (3.) and dd only starte them once she ws in reception.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Because coaches are so big and heavy, they are much less likely to stop suddenly. Hence seatbelts and car seats are not as necessary. We don't use seatbelts on trains.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I've taken DS on a coach and wouldn't have thought about using a carseat. We also travel a lot by bus and obv no car seat there.

[singyswife]

Yeah it is not law that they have car seats in a bus/coach. They do require lap belts though.

[Seona1973]

a car seat wouldnt be compatible with lap belts on a coach anyway so you wouldnt be able to use it safely anyway. Seatbelts are good enough for coach travel so no need for a car seat.

[Poppychick]

Really? Thanks for that it seems I'm going OTT again.

Thanks for those replies.

[naturalblonde]

You can get car seats that are suitable with lap belts, I use one for my dd as she goes on coaches alot.

You can get coaches with 3 point seat belts, although most have only lap belts.