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 get the feeling OP doesn’t use public transport! Not sure how she’s cope on a train.

I’m not laughing at that, I’m laughing because it was clear the poster was making a bit of a joke because they feel I’m being OTT re the booster.

Did you not realise that? 😳

“If kids needed them, they’d be a thing.”

Many things didn’t use to be a “thing” but now we know better, and they are. 🙄 Seat belts didn’t even used to be a thing fgs.

For the final time, it’s about minimising risk with A SIMPLE solution (booster) where possible, not uprooting my life and making things incredibly difficult like giving up a car with multiple children, school, clubs, work etc

I never said it was about eliminating all risk.

Get a grip and stop dramatising to try and prove a point, it just shows you haven’t read through.

No it isn’t your whole post is about balancing that risk against the implications for your daughter in being different and your relationship with the school and weighing it up.

It’s kind of hard to see it.

I mean, you did declare that a child in a bus seat was less safe than in a car with a RF seat - which is substantially wrong if you look at the statistics of crashes and injuries from both forms of transport. So either you’re wilfully clueless, or can’t see the forest for the trees.

I think they'll notice too. My nephew was chatting about a lad with a odd nickname that had been acquired over something that had happened at the bottom end of primary.

Or she won't want to use it because that means being different. Kids like to be the same.

Based on my experience, Reception aged children will definitely notice, but they’re used to different adjustments for children with SEN so I’d imagine they will just assume that’s the case with a booster seat too.

@Caravaggiouch I agree they'd notice and would think they would say something too. My daughter is 4.5 but still in 2-3 clothes and has come home upset several times after being called a baby or "only 3" after not being able to do things as well as her classmates because of her size. Kids notice and they are soon to make judgements especially any features that might make a child seem younger than their ages

Kids could wear bike helmets at play time and lunch time. Small thing to do to avoid head injuries if they take a tumble on the concrete. Why not?

The risk of kids splitting their head open on the playground concrete is higher than a road accident in a coach on a school trip. Why not just have the kids all in helmets whenever they’re playing outside? It doesn’t eliminate all risk of course, they could still break their arm. But it’s a small easy thing to do that would prevent injury to the most vulnerable and important part of their body.

Any parent who truly cared about their child’s safety would insist on this with their school.

Sounds like you’ve already made your mind up, and if anyone shares a differing opinion to you, you quickly “correct” them. I’m not really sure why you started the thread tbh, other than to tell everyone they clearly care less about their kids than you.

I think Op started it looking for reassurance her kid won't be laughed at. Or the teachers won't think she That Parent

I'm not convinced she won't be. Nor am I convinced that the child will sit on her throne happily when the rest are like big kids and no booster. And if it can't be left on the bus whos carting it all day.

Round here they ask for packed lunches to be in disposable packaging for trips. Saves teachers worrying about boxes and bottles being left behind.
I'm sure they'll love having a booster cushion to look after.

This is a ridiculous comparison and you know it. Please show me where anyone credible has ever recommended this?

Plenty of articles online re coach/minibus safety, however, and the need for them to be safer for kids this age.

And yes, k agree a playground is more dangerous for this than a coach but as I’ve said many times now it isn’t about eliminating all risk.

I’d be setting my kid up for failure insisting they wore a helmet every day in the playground fgs. It is not the same.

No they’re not 😅

Also, make sure you don’t let him participate in sports day

Exactly - but she isn’t listening to any of that and just focusing on the safety she already knows.
kids notice stuff from an early age and they make comments about it

I never said anyone has recommended it. That’s my point.

The school playground without a helmet on is far more dangerous to your child than a coach without a booster seat.

Putting a helmet on your child at playtime and lunchtime wouldn’t eliminate all risks either, but it would be safer than not wearing one which is your argument for the booster seat.

Nope, you are clutching at straws to make a point.

I have linked several pages speaking about the coach booster/car seat subject, it’s not just something I’ve pulled out of my backside. It has been up for debate amongst people for some time now as far as I can see. It is a small thing that can make a difference and won’t harm them. As I said, we didn’t used to think seatbelts were necessary, smoking was probably healthy and as for asbestos? Hmm.

Forcing children to wear a sodding helmet all day would be damaging and this is not a real argument.

So what do you want from this thread? Everyone offering a different point of view from you is “clutching at straws”

You want to do it so do it. You clearly don’t give a damn about how your child feels about it so crack on. What are you looking for from the replies here?

Away and plonk them on a booster seat if you think it’s so necessary.

My daughter has sat on an inflatable booster on some coach trips. It makes the seat belt fit better. I haven't had her take one on school trips but covid delayed her reception school trip till she was 6 years old. Coaches are safer than cars so I feel OK with her not a booster - I do tell her not to play with the belt and to sit nicely though.

When we've used one on coaches nobody has said anything.

On some school trips the group are given a room to put lunch boxes and bags in so the booster could go there.

I don't think you should be attacked for wanted to make your child a bit safer. Being very aware of road safety is also not necessarily an indication you are overprotective in other areas either.

I am having a similar dilemma to you except it's a preschooler the size of a two year old on a minibus!

Who’s carrying the booster to the room? Often there isn’t a room and children have to carry their bags all day. Some trips I’ve been on there’s a tub for lunch boxes to be stored in but nothing else. No room for booster seats. Staff are generally laden down with medication, first aid, risk assessments and random lost property. It’s not as easy as
a teacher ‘just’ carrying it. And what happens when multiple parents spot a booster seat and decide they want their children to take one too. Just one booster seat becomes 20.

It's just really not fair on the staff who have 30+ kids to supervise they've also now got to look after a totally unnecessary booster seat.

To be fair if you haven’t done school trips it may be assumed that things can get left on the coach!

On some school trips the group are given a room to put lunch boxes and bags in so the booster could go there.

Who's going to carry it there along with all the other stuff they have to carry and hands that need holding. Not to mention all the other seats if this crazy idea catches on. Also, a room like this isn't available everywhere.

The teachers absolutely should not made responsible for it. It should be the child like every other child's possession.

Someone up thread suggested their kids school teachers were more caring than my kids teachers. Because my kids school insist kids are responsible for and carry their own gear on school trips.