need car seat help for school bus

[vangelder03]

ds2 will be going to special needs preschool 2 days a week.
called the bus company and they said it was ok to rf him on the bus.
but they won't provide the seat bus has lap belts only.
any help would be great
ds2 stats
torso 14 3/4 inches
between 23 to 26 lbs his weight changes
and 35 1/2 inches tall
will be turning 3 on 8/4/11
seat would need to last til next august
trip is a short one less than ten minutes
which seat would you suggest?

 

[jnamommy]

Will it be an actual school bus with lapbelts, or a big van?
And will you be able to install it once and let it there, or will the teacher/bus driver have to uninstall it when he gets to school, reinstall it when preschool is over, then you uninstall it when he gets home,.........?

 

[vangelder03]

Will it be an actual school bus with lapbelts, or a big van?
And will you be able to install it once and let it there, or will the teacher/bus driver have to uninstall it when he gets to school, reinstall it when preschool is over, then you uninstall it when he gets home,.........?

it will be a 20 or 30 ft bus with lap belts some kids will be in ff car seats or in a harness system attached to the seat.
i will have their safety tech install it and it will remain in the bus.

 

[vangelder03]

bump my appointment is at 8:30 am really need to get a seat tonight
has anybody ever installed a rf car seat on a school bus
i wish i could just drive him but my kindergartner and first grader go to a different school and they would be late if i drove him to school

 

[ketchupqueen]

Whatever fits him should be fine- lap belts are pretty easy installs. I'd probably go with something like the Graco MyRide that is going to last him the time you need, easy to install, but is on the cheap end. I'm pretty sure a MyRide would fit rear-facing on a bus, I've only seen Sceneras RF on buses but I think you'd have a bit of room.

I'll PM Judi to come look, she's taken the school bus class and might know.

 

[Judi]

The problem is front to back space. The evenflo tribute fits perfect, to give you an idea. On the road right now. Will think about this more and post back.

 

[DahliaRW]

Honestly, at 3 I'd just let him ff in the harnesses they provide.

 

[vangelder03]

Honestly, at 3 I'd just let him ff in the harnesses they provide.

if my kid weighed 30 lbs he would be able to use the harness they provide.
High Back Booster Car Seat from cosco is the ff car seat they would provide.
base on review of this seat the harness height is either 14.5 inches or 15 inches.

 

[christineka]

How about ffing in a maestro, then?

 

[ahgirls]

in a harness system attached to the seat.
i will have their safety tech install it and it will remain in the bus.

Is their harness system a star something? I know some dd2 classmates don't weigh 30 lbs. What does the star harness system start at for weight?

On our bus its the aid that buckles & unbuckled the kid. Last yr I had to teach him how to tighten the hip part. Rolling eyes. Can't wait to train this yrs aid.

 

[vangelder03]

Is their harness system a star something? I know some dd2 classmates don't weigh 30 lbs. What does the star harness system start at for weight?

On our bus its the aid that buckles & unbuckled the kid. Last yr I had to teach him how to tighten the hip part. Rolling eyes. Can't wait to train this yrs aid.

one company makes one that starts at 20 lbs (BESI OVER-THE-SHOULDER HARNESS FOR CHILDREN)and another starts at 25lbs to 65 lbs (STANDARDStar)
the school district we are in has the the harness that starts at 30 lbs

 

[Judi]

Ok, finally home looking for pics. One other thing is the belts are not regulated. So you can have one with a 3" stock and another bus with a 6" stock. Oh, the fun.

 

[Judi]

I only have a couple pics. Here is the radian. You see, it is not perfect, but as good as it would go. I was just playing.

FFing.

Snugride with base barely fit.

 

[vangelder03]

can i request that a cpst be the one to install my car seat and to be notified
if the car seat is moved ?
what rights do i really have in regards to the bus and my childs safety?

 

[Judi]

Have fun dealing with bus drivers, really.

 

[vangelder03]

Have fun dealing with bus drivers, really.

what i am really wondering is how long it will take my 3 yr old before he is kicked off the school bus. i am so scared he will try and bite the aide who tries to put him in his car seat.
i can't sleep i am so stressed out.

 

[bethng]

has anybody ever installed a rf car seat on a school bus


I have a student who is RFing in a scenera. There is not a lot of room (its pretty upright but he is over 3 now). The problem is the bus drivers have NO CLUE how to install the seat. I have had to fix it so many times. Wrong belt path, way loose, towels where they should not be, two seat belts used, staps way too high...and the best one...a driver tried to install it ON the STARS seat. He thought he had to use the STARS seat to secure the car seat. :doh: I know that the transportation department thinks I am a PITA because I put in his IEP that he must ride rear facing until he outgrows the rear facing limits of the seat. Tehehe.....but this is a tiny 3 year old. He is maybe 20 lbs and about as tall as a typical 1 year old.....very "floppy" too.

 

[Judi]

Yeah, what Beth said. I have dealt with a lot of bus drivers. Most really do not get it. I hope they do after all the training we give them.

 

[ahgirls]

Do like Beth said get it in his IEP.

I wished I did that for R. Personally I think she would be better to compartmentalization then with their half ass buckle jobs. My favorite is when they (bus driver/aid) let the kids buckle themselves up. I really hope we get a new aid this fall.

 

[ahgirls]

I have dealt with a lot of bus drivers. Most really do not get it. I hope they do after all the training we give them.

Want to come and reteach my school district? Free lodging included.