Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

coach and train travel with a 2.5 year old

14 replies

inamaymaybewrong · 20/04/2015 09:48

We have never taken 2.5 yr old DS on a coach without also taking a car seat for him. We deliberately bought a second seat that is suitable for use on coaches for when we occasionally use them, here and abroad - airport transfers etc.
We have taken him on a train though and it's always been quiet enough for him to have a seat to himself or it's been a short trip in the buggy. Same for buses, which we use v occasionally.
My in laws asked to take him on a day trip 1.5 hrs away, reached by 70mph A roads. I agreed but then learned it's a coach trip and he wouldn't be able to take his car seat as he wouldn't have his own seat for the journey. I then said he couldn't go by coach but they could self-drive him in their car if they want to go. They said that wasn't an option so have cancelled their plans for the trip. FIL then started asking why we take DS on trains, buses etc without his car seat and what's the difference etc? He's clearly miffed with our decision (DH agrees with me). To me there's a clear differences in terms of safety and besides, DS is unlikely to sit on an adults lap happily for 1.5 hrs one way, even if they took him without his seat.
Probably one for AIBU too but interested in less fiery thoughts too, so posting here for views please. I feel strongly about car seat safety - DS' main car seat is rear facing - and can't be comfortable with what the ILs want to do. Fair enough?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sockmatcher · 20/04/2015 09:53

I'm exactly the same. My daughter may be allowed on a mini bus with a FF seat at over 3.5 years and thats a huge compromise for me.

Buses generally travel at lower speeds.
Taxis we wouldn't use one without a car seat. I'd actually buy a joie stages if we were needing to use a taxi. Legal and safe are two different things for me.

Original poster

inamaymaybewrong · 20/04/2015 10:06

Thanks sock.
Yes, legal means not a lot. Plenty of the car seats approved for use in the UK are actually dangerous or less than optimal too.

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 20/04/2015 10:15

I tend to think that a coach is similar to a bus, so I have not worried so much about car seats. Reason being it's bigger, so it would stop moving more slowly, not suddenly like in a car. As a larger, heavier vehicle other road users don't want to be squished by it so they are more likely to exercise care. A crash in a bus is more likely to roll over than a car, so a car seat would behave unpredictably. The seatbelts are not standard and often don't seem to fit as well as car seatbelts.

I am hot on car seat safety in cars but I think sometimes you have to be practical rather than worrying about it overly. I am happier now that DS is older and can sit on a booster in a coach, which they usually provide.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Families General parenting

BertieBotts · 20/04/2015 10:21

If you look at news reports, coach crashes are very rare and hardly ever fatal (for the occupants of the coach). Incidents where there have been fatal coach accidents tend to be rural and so serious that nobody survives, so a car seat would probably make little difference.

sockmatcher · 22/04/2015 12:55

Thanks Bertie Botts.

Letter come home and my daughter will be on coach not mini bus. Argh so not fully seat belted either

BertieBotts · 22/04/2015 13:31

Coaches are statistically safer than minibuses, and it's a requirement to use a booster for an over 3/under 12 if one is available.

sockmatcher · 22/04/2015 15:09

Pointless though as lap belts only :-(

BertieBotts · 22/04/2015 15:35

Not in any coach I've been on recently.

sockmatcher · 22/04/2015 17:26

They are here. I'll ring and check again but lap belt only. And what you said about rural. We are that too :-(

Original poster

inamaymaybewrong · 22/04/2015 22:18

Sock, my second seat can be used with a lap only belt...

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 22/04/2015 23:49

Ah sorry sockmatcher, that was probably unhelpful for you! I was saying that for OP who was worried about motorway driving. Even the rural accidents are really rare, like one every few decades kind of rare. Try not to worry! I'm sure she'll be absolutely fine.

sockmatcher · 23/04/2015 07:06

The Britax Prince and Britax eclipse Can be used FF. I'm considering getting one.

There was a fatal coach crash locally last year so probability is on our side!

Singleandproud · 23/04/2015 07:15

Could you not go halves with the Grandparents and buy another seat on the coach if you want him to have his own seat?

Obviously he is still young but what are you going to do when he goes on school trips on a coach? Teachers can't be expected to carry and fit 30+ booster seats.

sockmatcher · 23/04/2015 07:34

Why not? Most of the time coaches stay where trips. A booster cushion would be so easy to fit if a 3 point belt installed. Stick in hold if coach goes elsewhere. 10mins tops.

Road safety is a joke in this country.

Flip