Booster seat on coach for reception school trip?

[Maybeitsok]

My just turned 5 year old is going on a school trip soon via busy dual carriageway to another city, journey time approx 45 min each way. They are still in a rear facing car seat with me, which is all they know, and how they will continue until they outgrow it at 36kg or 125cm tall. They’re currently only 16kg and 107cm!

Anyway, I was reluctant to let them go on the coach but have decided to do so but with a booster seat, so I’ve bought a carry on portable one that’ll be easy enough to use.

Thing is, they’ve asked if it’s just them that’ll have this kind of seat, and it probably will be, since people aren’t that clued up on car seat safety it seems.

Has anyone else sent their 4/5 year old with a booster before? I’m fearful they’ll be ridiculed but then again not sure considering their age. Safety first in my opinion, but want them
happy too.

I have committed the ultimate sin and read the whole thread, but here’s my thoughts,
arent coach seats narrower than car seats meaning the booster might not fit or cause buckle crunch?
Also I thought boosters that weren’t high backed had been made illegal to use as they weren’t safe?

My point exactly. They can’t possibly have kids in car seats. Even my son’s nursery who have their own mini buses can’t because, once dropped off, the driver will go to collect school children to take elsewhere in that time. There’s a timetable of classes needing the mini bus for different reasons. To be honest, I think if a parent suggested this they would simply be told that it’s not possible.

@Jojobees very good point about coach seats being narrow.
The buses that are used on the school runs have 3 seats on one side 2 on the other, 6 across the back.

So they must be narrower than a standard car seat. So really wouldn't be comfortable for the kid beside it if they are rubbing against it or it's encroaching on their space.

And yes it's illegal to use an i-size booster for a child under 125cm.
Can you still buy R44s?

Yes YOU took it on a coach, here they are talking about a 5yo managing this completely themselves.

Along with their bag for the day. And any other belongings they need for the trip.

This is actually quite shocking and doesn’t read well. Yes, parents should feel they need to protect their children generally!

Someone posted a link earlier in the thread which clearly stated that safety for children on coaches is inadequate and they require better fitting seat belts AND car seats.

Sounds like you’re saying it’s easier not to offer the best protection, so don’t bother!

Am I really?

The school actually offered to do it when I said I was planning to hang back and stick it on for them.

Some schools clearly care for their parents wishes 🙂

Or @Maybeitsok dont want you there to do it! It’s tough I think I went on both of mine reception trips and it is worrying it is things like drinking enough etc during the day

but yes to a certain extent risk assessments will be they can’t offer it to everyone

It just won't be possible to run trips for younger children at this rate soon so it won't be a problem. I certainly wouldn't do it.

The school will be weighing up saying yes or no to you. They will have said yes to it as they expect other parents won’t make a fuss about it and so it’s an easy way to appease one anxious parent without the trip becoming difficult.

It’s not possible to do this for every child as the coach won’t fit a car seat on every single seat, and logistically they cannot install and uninstall all these seats or boosters and store them/look after them in the meantime.

They can humour one parent for an easy life though.

The school didn’t weigh up anything.

A school can’t tell a parent a child isn’t allowed to use a booster, if it’s suitable for the coach. 😊

Interestingly I just had a look

My 4yo would absolutely ask me the question "why doesn't any of my friends have one? Will they be OK without one?"

How can you answer that without implying you think her friends' parents are negligent or that she'd be the only one to survive a crash? She'll relay your answer to her friends so think it through

Helpers should actually be going on a school trip to help the teacher and whole class. Not just because they don't trust the school.

OP the school says it is fine and you are completely convinced it's the only thing to do so not really sure why you are asking the Internet. Also the school clearly said yes because you seem like the kind to kick up a fuss and it's not worth the stress to them. School trips are stressful enough.

Of course i thought of this but this shouldn’t be the right approach.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to make the best decisions for their kids based on the best knowledge they have.

Why should I put my own kid at risk because others are? Going through life like that isn’t sending the right message either.

On someone else’s thread. Interesting indeed!

My 9 year old travels on transport to school (he's in an integrated resource) in a booster seat daily, he is the only one
No one says anything to him, they just accept that he's small and sits in a car seat

I’m not convinced it’s the only thing to do, or what I will even do, but i am convinced it is the safest thing to do which it obviously is, there’s no denying that.

So you genuinely think putting a child on a coach is "putting them at risk". And you are happy for your child to receive the message that all their friends are in mortal danger on the coach.

Op, please do not frighten your child in this way. I was brought up by an anxious (single) mum. It is no fun.

Of course it’s putting them at risk, but I never said in mortal danger 😑

Again, you are turning a comparison into a binary of extremes. You say not using a booster is "putting your child at risk".

Just because X is marginally safer than Y, doesn't mean Y is inherently risky!

At risk of what, then, if not death?! Pins and needles..?

As I’ve said a few times now, regardless of that, it is a risk I can reduce further with very minimal effort.

It is actually recomended by those who are qualified to advise on the safety as far as I can see on almost every single car / coach / minibus safety website!

My concern was and is still is alienating my child or causing unnecessary worry, not whether it is safe or not.

If your concern is unnecessary worry, op, that ship has totally sailed...!

This.

the school didn’t weigh up anything

You know this?

Working in schools I can assure you this would cause much eye-rolling and praying that lots of other parents don’t start the same way. At which point, yes the school would be able to say we can’t do this as it’s not possible to manage. You would be told you are free to remove your child from the trip if you aren’t happy.