Vent Van Driver - School Transportation

CuddlyMonsters

New member
Just earlier this week I had my daughter van driver tell me he doesn't really think she needs a booster seat!
My daughter is only 43lbs. She weighs the same as her 4.5 year old brother. I have not measured her height lately, but for a 7 year old she is only in the 3rd percentile for height and weight. She is fitting size 5 pants and size 6 tops...

She does need a booster otherwise the seatbelt does not fit her correctly, the belt will cut into her neckline and it also sits too high up on her waistline and I don't like that.

BUT... here is what gets me. The van driver said well the other 2 kids aren't in booster seats! Mind you the seat belt cuts into both of the kids necks, so I my opinion those 2 kids don't fit the seatbelt correctly either...

I called the van company that transports them to voice my concern and they said they will transport the child according to what the parents consent to...
 
ADS

MotoMommaNH

New member
I called the van company that transports them to voice my concern and they said they will transport the child according to what the parents consent to...

Hope they have that in writing. In today's world, I'm sure if there was a crash and those kiddos got hurt because of improper restraint, that company would be sued.

On the other side of things, great job for recognizing your kiddo's need for a booster! Your child, your rules! I hope the van driver doesn't give you any more issues with it.
 

CuddlyMonsters

New member
Hope they have that in writing. In today's world, I'm sure if there was a crash and those kiddos got hurt because of improper restraint, that company would be sued.

On the other side of things, great job for recognizing your kiddo's need for a booster! Your child, your rules! I hope the van driver doesn't give you any more issues with it.

I guess what the van company explained to me is they transport kids according to what the parents consent to. I find it kind of funny because I actually had to write a letter to transportation authorizing them to transport my child in a HBB, but you don't have to write a letter to them authorizing them to transport your child in just a seat belt.

DUH! You transport special needs kids, they don't all fit under a seatbelt, they are only in Kindergarten and 1st Grade. Heck, I have other friends that still have their twin boys who are in 3rd Grade in HBB because they are both on the smaller side!
 

Athena

Well-known member
Wow, that sounds frustrating! Considering that in many states 7yos are legally required to be in a carseat/booster ... I know slapping a sign that says, "school bus," on the side of a van suddenly changes the laws, but not the laws of physics. :rolleyes: Anyway, great job keeping your kiddo safe and good for you for speaking up for the safety of the other kids too!

You are right about 3rd graders needing boosters, not just the small ones. My 2nd grader is very tall for her age, but she'll definitely need one through 3rd grade, probably longer.
 

cstep11

New member
My 4th grader still needs a booster. Probably for another year. Good for you for keeping your kids safe and putting your foot down to keep them that way :)
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Most kids do not fit the belt properly until between 10 and 12 years of age. At age 8, 1 in 10 kids fits. At age 10, about 5 in 10 kids. It's not until 12 that almost all do.

What a huge liability for them.
 

CuddlyMonsters

New member
Ugh! Just this morning her van driver told me that she can not get buckled with the booster seat, but yet she did it on her own with me standing next to her. It took her about a minute, she is not the fastest, but she can do it! My kid is 7 and she needs to learn to do things on her own! She sits in the third row of our van and can buckle her HBB correctly on her own...
 

hgpswimmer4

New member
My 1st-grader is very tall for her age but still needs a booster. The van driver has also told me not to have her bring hers on the van because he thought I was "wasting time" by putting in it the seat and making sure she is buckled properly. I have her use a spare backless booster but she primarily uses a HBB when with me. Even though she's close to 90% for height and 75th for weight, she will probably need a booster till she is 9-10. My 4th-grader passes the 5-step test in some vehicles but still needs his LBB in larger vehicles. He's also a big kid and he's not a skinny kid either.
 

Athena

Well-known member
My 1st-grader is very tall for her age but still needs a booster. The van driver has also told me not to have her bring hers on the van because he thought I was "wasting time" by putting in it the seat and making sure she is buckled properly. I have her use a spare backless booster but she primarily uses a HBB when with me. Even though she's close to 90% for height and 75th for weight, she will probably need a booster till she is 9-10. My 4th-grader passes the 5-step test in some vehicles but still needs his LBB in larger vehicles. He's also a big kid and he's not a skinny kid either.

Good for you for making the driver let her use it! I wonder what these drivers would think about my 97% 2nd grader who just moved into a HBB (previously harnessed). :D
 

CuddlyMonsters

New member
My 1st-grader is very tall for her age but still needs a booster. The van driver has also told me not to have her bring hers on the van because he thought I was "wasting time" by putting in it the seat and making sure she is buckled properly. I have her use a spare backless booster but she primarily uses a HBB when with me. Even though she's close to 90% for height and 75th for weight, she will probably need a booster till she is 9-10. My 4th-grader passes the 5-step test in some vehicles but still needs his LBB in larger vehicles. He's also a big kid and he's not a skinny kid either.

I am glad I am NOT the only one that does this! At this point I really think he is just giving me a hard time about her being in a booster because the two other ones who are twins and smaller that her aren't in a booster seat. However at least I have the peace of mind knowing that my child is being transported safely to and from school. Here in PA you can get a ticket if your child is not properly restrained!
 

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