National express coach with a baby...

[rickyroo]

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...

I’ve asked before and you need a car seat so you have to book a seat for a baby but definitely don’t pay for it. The seatbelts were normal diagonal ones. I didn’t take baby in the end so didn’t put it into practise.

Onlyjoinedforthisthread, compared to how many people who've died walking whilst on the pavement?

2007, is 12 years ago. Safety standards etc have increased a lot since then. The driver was an alcoholicand had been drinking.

Would you weigh up a medical procedure based on 12 years ago data?

Wouldn't count on them stopping these days as they have a toilet

I went on a NE to Manchester, 5 hours 15 minutes, no stop
I went on Megabus to Oxford, a few hours, no stop .

So better than one accident in ten years, one in 12. You do wonder how some people's brains function.

Oh I tell a lie but not .

The coach to Manchester from London Victoria . Coach did stop at some point just after a toll part of the motorway ? But nobody was allowed to get off . Oxford coach , drove all the way there only pulling in, once nearer to destination, at a park and ride to pick people up (and some did get off there)

Birdsgottafly
Not sure what medical procedures or pedestrians have to do with it.
You said
Their safety record is one crash every ten years, none caused by them and none fatal
I'm saying a quick Google shows all 3 of your claims are incorrect!
I have no problem using a coach, no problem taking a baby on the coach, no problem with their general safety.
I do have a problem with idiots spouting bullshit as fact

Yes they have belts but not sure if a car seat will fit. I believe they supply age 2+ toddler seats (you can legally have a child under 2 on your lap) call them for current advice. They do stop on long routes, but sometimes drivers switch at that point and passengers don't disembark, especially if it's running late

@Onlyjoinedforthisthread, do you not know that 12 is bigger than ten?

Bluelady
Well aware that 10 is less than 12.
The have been many more crashes in the last 10 years than one claimed by Birdsgottafly
There has been at least one fatal crash that was 12 years ago, there may have been more, Birdsgottafly claimed there hadn't been any deaths
Birdsgottafly also claimed none of the accidents were caused by national express, again wrong.

I've done it with a baby/toddler on my lap. Yes, it probably would be unsafe in a crash situation but this is very rare. You can also take a car seat if you want to. I think personally I would base my decision on what I planned to do at the other end and what you'd do with the car seat next.

I agree with asking for extra legroom seats. However, don't ask the driver to help you fit it - that's your responsibility to know, and the driver would probably not have a clue unless they happen to have young children themselves.

I'm pretty sure a baby can last a couple of hours without a nappy change, if there is a big poo emergency you'll just have to deal with it, it will be fine.

OTOH if you want to try to get the train a bit cheaper this is a pretty good guide: www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets/

Have taken coach for several journeys with one or 2 small children.
You might not fit the car seat in as not enough space - I wedged it sideways once and invented a way to fasten seat belt - not the safest but needs must. Also have travelled without car seat again not great but is legal.
How old is your baby?
Am still scarred mentally from changing world's worst nappy in moving coach toilets. So probably are most of the passengers! Same problem on train though. And at least on coach you have a seat! And can put luggage away not watch it all journey.
If it's much cheaper then go for it.

Yes, I have taken a baby in an infant seat several times. You do need the seat right at the front so get there early!