Lap only belts on a school bus...

HONEYhas3 · Jul 30, 2012

What is best, using the lap only belt or nothing, for 3 and 4 yr olds?

Ladybugmama · Jul 31, 2012

I'd be more comfortable using a carseat with the lap belt. But I'm not a tech. I do not let my 4 year old ride in a bus without a carseat but she also has some special needs

tiggercat · Jul 31, 2012

Kids > 40 lbs I'd say nothing.
Kids < 40 lbs should be in a child restraint.
IMO

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HONEYhas3 · Jul 31, 2012

I dont think this Mom has the option of car seats. I will find out more info.

keri1292 · Jul 31, 2012

I tell my kids not to use them and explain why. I think compartmentalization is a safer bet. My kids are 45 and 55lbs.

smackeen · Jul 31, 2012

I assume this is an older bus that does not have the harnesses in the front seat.

If that is they case, I agree with Tiggercat.

tiggercat said:
Kids > 40 lbs I'd say nothing.
Kids < 40 lbs should be in a child restraint.
IMO
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If no option for a child restraint, I would almost lean towards just the seatbelt. Statistically riding the bus is safer than driving a car. Also, compartmentalization does not always work for the littles. Hence the harnesses on the newer buses for <40lbs.

Pixelated · Jul 31, 2012

tiggercat said:
Kids > 40 lbs I'd say nothing.
Kids < 40 lbs should be in a child restraint.

I agree with this. If it IS an older bus that does not have reinforced seats to install a car seat on then often you can not have anyone sitting in the seat behind the seat where the child restraint is installed.

Is this for a bus full of kids, or just one or two particular kids? A regular thing or field trip or something? Do you know the weights of the kids?

HONEYhas3 · Oct 14, 2012

I was able to find this out:

"My older daughter will be almost 6 in the summer (now she weighs around 40 lbs and is 41" tall). My younger daughter will be 2 yrs and 2 months in the summer (now she weighs about 30 lbs. and is about 35" tall). The camp I'm looking at uses small buses with lap belts. In the car my 5 yr old is in a frontier and uses the 5-point harness. My 2.5 yr old is still rear-facing."

ketchupqueen · Oct 14, 2012

Ugh, small buses? Small buses aren't built properly for compartmentalization anyway. So that changes the equation to "if they can't put car seats in, a lap belt is probably better than nothing but they really need to get some bus harnesses on there."

Lap only belts on a school bus...

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