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AIBU?

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Original poster

National express coach with a baby...

37 replies

rickyroo · 29/01/2019 10:12

Am I right in thinking I would need a car seat? I'm thinking it'd be a bit of a nightmare to take a 2.5 hour coach with a baby but I can't afford the train. Looking at my options...

OP posts:
Yabbers · 29/01/2019 10:13

It would certainly be useful.

Puggles123 · 29/01/2019 10:15

it might be worth giving them a call, I would imagine so as although they provide booster seats etc I can’t recall ever seeing car seats for use.

Original poster
rickyroo · 29/01/2019 10:16

Wasn't sure if it was the same as buses and taxis re having baby on lap. My gut tells me that'd dangerous though even if it was the case...

OP posts:
Bluelady · 29/01/2019 10:16

Do buses have seat belts? If not, how are you going to attach a car seat?

Original poster
rickyroo · 29/01/2019 10:18

@Bluelady I'm talking about a coach not a bus. I think they have belts (I don't think I've been on a coach since high school!)

OP posts:
flissfloss65 · 29/01/2019 10:19

Have you checked train prices on Trainline? They are cheaper than on British Rail site.

National Express is more expensive to use than rail where I live, eg. home town return to London.

sashh · 29/01/2019 10:19

National express have seatbelts.

Call them, they can put a note for the driver to say you might need some help fitting it.

welshweasel · 29/01/2019 10:21

Yes you need an infant seat, all national express coaches have 3 point seatbelts. You do need to book and pay for a seat for the baby though.

MrsWillGardner · 29/01/2019 10:21

A big company like that with modern coaches, highly likely the seats will have seatbelts, but how old is baby? In an infant carrier?

welshweasel · 29/01/2019 10:23

Looking at their policy actually the ticket is free but you must book one otherwise they expect child to sit on your lap, which wouldn’t be safe.

ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay · 29/01/2019 10:25

I wouldn't. The chances of being able to fit an infant seat or even a next stage seat safely in a coach seat would be a risk I wouldn't take. What if your baby needs a nappy change - where will you do that?

EwItsAHooman · 29/01/2019 10:25

They have seatbelts but IME the seatbelt isn't long enough to fit around the car seat so I had to wedge it in against the back of the seat in front of it, mine was a MaxiCosi cabriofix infant seat.

EwItsAHooman · 29/01/2019 10:30

What if your baby needs a nappy change - where will you do that?

Fresh nappy before leaving then change again at the services, coaches usually stop for a short break every 2-3 hours. If it's an urgent change then either change the baby on your lap or lie them down on an empty seat or on the floor of the aisle outside the onboard toilet using a fold up changing mat. Bag it up and bin it when the coach stops.

ChestOfFields · 29/01/2019 10:45

I've just been on a National Express coach this weekend (and also last December)
They have lap belts.
Go on the live chat and ask them, I did this with a couple of things I was worried about and they were very helpful!

Slothcuddles · 29/01/2019 10:52

We recently had a National Express from Gatwick to Wales. Took 7 hours because of problems around Gatwick- the coach didn’t stop for a break once.

Original poster
rickyroo · 29/01/2019 10:57

@Slothcuddles I think that's illegal...

OP posts:
EwItsAHooman · 29/01/2019 11:01

It is illegal, a driver can only drive a maximum of 4.5 hours without taking a break.

Bibijayne · 29/01/2019 11:03

Not national express, but recently took a coach with my little one. Took a car seat and attached it via the seatbelt. Just a heads up, you'll need one of the extra leg room spots (front/ by the toilet) as most car seats are too big for standard coach seat spaces.

Bluelady · 29/01/2019 11:04

Sorry, I've always called everything that carries multiple passengers a bus!

Thehop · 29/01/2019 11:05

There are seat belts but you would have to pay for baby’s seat

Check train line first

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 29/01/2019 11:10

It isn't illegal for a coach to travel 7 hours without a break, as long as they have a driver change which could easily have been done when stuck in traffic or at one of the pickup points

Birdsgottafly · 29/01/2019 11:15

You don't need a car seat.

You are being driven in a large vehicle, by a professional driver.

I don't drive, neither does my DD. We regularly use NE. Their safety record is one crash every ten years, none caused by them and none fatal.

Birdsgottafly · 29/01/2019 11:18

EwItsAHooman, its 45 minutes break for every 4.5 hours. The breaks can be split.

The maximum driving time is nine hours.

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 29/01/2019 11:19

Birdsgottafly
One every 10 years, none their fault, none fatal.? Do you know how to use Google? 3 dead in 2007 one vehicle crash, driver speeding, there are plenty of others but that one was from memory

Birdsgottafly · 29/01/2019 11:20

Oh and yes they have seat belts.

I use them for travel between Liverpool and Manchester, at least Monthly and during December.

The coach is warmer and easier. Also the coach stations are usually very central.

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