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Original poster

Does 15 month old need car seat on a coach?

27 replies

pedropony76 · 03/08/2022 20:24

Posting here for traffic sorry!

Does anyone know if a 15 month old needs to be in a car seat on a coach? Had a look on Google but couldn’t find out much information. I’m assuming they don’t because a 15 month can sit on a bus with no seat belt so surely must be okay on a coach with a seat belt? If anyone knows I’d be super grateful thank you:)

OP posts:
KyaClark · 03/08/2022 20:31

Yes, they do.

Which company is it?

BarryKentPoet · 03/08/2022 20:36

I've never seen nor used a car seat on a coach.

Sweatinglikeabitch · 03/08/2022 20:37

I personally wouldn't have my baby on a coach without a car seat. I don't really understand why they're allowed to be loose on busses. It doesn't seem safe at all.

Mol1628 · 03/08/2022 20:37

No they don’t.

NannyR · 03/08/2022 20:39

They don't have to use one gov.uk but I would always use one, just as I would always use a seatbelt for myself when travelling on a coach, it's just saved and a no-brainer to me.

Original poster
pedropony76 · 03/08/2022 20:39

No clue what company it is. It’s a day away that’s been booked by the council so I couldn’t tell you.

My DD doesn’t fit in a maxi cosi type of car seat because she’s too tall so where do we go from here? A typical car seat doesn’t fit on the seat of a coach as it’s too small so what’s meant to happen?

OP posts:
sunflowerdaisyrose · 03/08/2022 20:39

Ours had to go on a coach at that age, she didn't require it by law but I bought a car seat that could be connected with a lap belt if necessary but think most coaches have 3-point belts now

Ontomatopea · 03/08/2022 20:39

They should do

sunflowerdaisyrose · 03/08/2022 20:41

Car seat fitted fine when we used one!

Charis1503 · 03/08/2022 20:42

We had an hour's coach transfer on a recent holiday to Majorca and I took a car seat for my then 22month old.

There is no way he would have sat still for that length of time and I was not happy with the safety aspect of him being unrestrained in the case of an accident.

There were plenty of small kids his age without one but I would defo recommend using one if it's possible.

( We have an aircraft approved britax seat which can be safely fitted with just a lap belt - most car seats you won't be able to secure on a coach as they need isofix or a 3 point belt)

Original poster
pedropony76 · 03/08/2022 20:42

Mixed responses.

My DD walks around without the buggy a lot so will often sit down on the bus next to me. There’s obviously no seat belts on the bus so I’m not worried about her sitting by herself on the coach.

I’m not even sure how a normal car seat is meant to fit on the coach?

OP posts:
BungleandGeorge · 03/08/2022 20:44

No they don’t need to wear one and Its rare they have a 3 point seatbelt. I’m not sure how you’d check that it would fit and surely it would depend on the coach company whether they’re happy to have you leave it onboard? I’ve personally never seen someone use a child seat on a coach

MaryShelley1818 · 03/08/2022 20:47

No they don't need one and I've never ever seen anyone using a car seat on any public transport before. Car seats are tested to be used safely in cars.

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 03/08/2022 20:52

pedropony76 · 03/08/2022 20:39

No clue what company it is. It’s a day away that’s been booked by the council so I couldn’t tell you.

My DD doesn’t fit in a maxi cosi type of car seat because she’s too tall so where do we go from here? A typical car seat doesn’t fit on the seat of a coach as it’s too small so what’s meant to happen?

Maxi Cosi do a travel forward facing car seat that folds into a bag and is light weight. It's about £130, and good for taxis and other short journeys.

Original poster
pedropony76 · 03/08/2022 20:53

NannyR · 03/08/2022 20:39

They don't have to use one gov.uk but I would always use one, just as I would always use a seatbelt for myself when travelling on a coach, it's just saved and a no-brainer to me.

Thank you for the link @NannyR

Thanks for the responses guys. I can see that legally she doesn’t need to be in one so that’s great

OP posts:
minipie · 03/08/2022 20:57

It’s different from a bus though. Buses are generally urban, stop a lot and rarely go fast. Never go on motorways. Whereas coaches go on motorways and up to high speeds. Also buses just don’t have a belt so no option for a seat whereas a coach does.

I think I would compromise and bring a booster - perhaps someone can lend you one?

KyaClark · 03/08/2022 21:07

Bloody hell. I didn't take my then three year old on a trip to London because I was sure it said car seats were needed and there was no way I was lugging one around with me.

What the hell did I read if that's not the case??

Apologies.

Thehop · 03/08/2022 21:11

Legally not needed. There’s no way I’d take my 15 month old on a coach without one.

we have a britax eclipse, bought for flying with and using on coach transfers on holiday. It secures with only a lap belt.

Original poster
pedropony76 · 03/08/2022 21:12

Ah no! Sorry about that🤦‍♀️ It seems that exceptions are made on coaches which is helpful. I also have no energy to drag a car seat around with me haha

OP posts:
Original poster
pedropony76 · 03/08/2022 21:25

Thehop · 03/08/2022 21:11

Legally not needed. There’s no way I’d take my 15 month old on a coach without one.

we have a britax eclipse, bought for flying with and using on coach transfers on holiday. It secures with only a lap belt.

Fair enough. Luckily my DD enjoys long bus journeys so she’ll be fine. I’ll be sitting next to her too so she’ll be seated and buckled in at all times

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 04/08/2022 18:46

Legally no, they are expected to be held on your lap. You'll struggle to install a car seat on a coach as many don't have three point seatbelts, even if they do have a three point belt, there is often not enough space between the seat you're on and the one in front. Some people choose to take one anyway and kind of wedge it in hoping it's better than nothing. Risk wise - I don't know if it is better than nothing, but the chances of being in an accident on a coach are very low and even if you did get into an accident, because a coach is very heavy they tend to come off better than the other vehicle(s) and stop more slowly than a car, so injuries are likely to be less severe. Similar to a bus in that respect, the main difference with a bus is that buses tend to go at slow speeds around town centres whereas coaches often travel on motorways.

BertieBotts · 04/08/2022 18:47

If it's a minibus, you can fit a car seat in it the same as a car so I would probably do that if you can.

welshweasel · 04/08/2022 18:52

There is no chance I would take a child that age on a coach without a car seat. I’d either travel using alternative transportation, take a seat with me (have done this many times on national express and they fit fine) or not go. There is a huge difference between legal and safe.

BakeOffRewatch · 04/08/2022 18:58

Our nursery recently did a coach trip and all under 2yo were asked to bring a car seat. I asked what type as I’d have to buy one, they said any. Not sure what was used in the end, one of the other parents kindly brought an extra seat along for my child.

Original poster
pedropony76 · 04/08/2022 22:07

It’s not a minibus, if it was then I would have said that…

If you wouldn’t take your 15 month on a coach without a car seat then thank you for your input. I’ve stated more than once that I happily would as she often sits on the bus. We won’t be going on the motorway either so it should be relatively slow speeds

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