to not let DD1 go on coach trip?

[SeriousWispaHabit]

Really don't know whether I am or not and am prepared to abide by the rules and accept any responses graciously.

DD1 is just turned 3 and started this term at the local nursery/preschool. They are planning a trip to an aquarium which is about a one hour drive away and will be going in a coach and along the motorway. I asked about car seats and was told that there are 3 point harnesses (normal seat belts) on the coach and this is what they use.

I know a coach/bus is safer than a car but it still doesn't feel right. I know I have a slightly skewed perspective on car safety, having worked in A+E and a hospital paediatrics department. I have seen the results of children not being properly secured in cars. DD1 still has a rear facing seat when in our car so it is a big jump for me to go from that to in a coach with just an adult seatbelt.

On the other hand I know she'd have a great time and it is a great experience etc but I just don't know.

Bah thought this was a thread about the channel 4 programme Coach Trip with the fabulous international tour guide Brendan.

Seat belts aside, I think it's a stupid idea to drag nursery age children out for a full day trip. I don't mind when my DC go with their CM on a big trip as it's a small group and she can adjust the day to suit all the children. But there are going to be tantrums, melt downs, interupted/nonexistent naps - in other words MAYHEM!!!!!

Surely if they are in nursery they wouldn't have a nap anyway.

I loved trips out when i worked at Nursery, we used to go to the forest school, it was fantastic, the children got so much out of it.

Some of the 2 year olds might well do. I just think a full day trip is too much for that age group. A morning trip, ending just after lunch would be fine, but anything more than that would be too much. I would only have let my DS go to something like this if I was one of the parent volunteers.

This is a pre-school nursery rather than daycare is it not.

Where I live my children started school at 3. They go on at least 3-4 trips per term on a coach. There are no car seats on the coach but they have to use the seat belts provided. They sometimes went out for a few hours, sometimes for the whole day. And my friend's school took a class of 4 yr olds away over night to the beach. I guess it's what you're used to but I have no problem with it.