success story RE: rear facing on a school bus

bethng

Active member
I just got a new little boy in my class. He is 3 years old. Has down syndrome among other issues. He is about 20lbs and the size of a 8 or 9 month old. They had him riding in a safeguard seat that they have on all their buses. This poor little tiny boy was just hanging there in the seat with his head down (no head control) and leaning to either side (no trunk control). So after several emails and phone calls to the transportation dept ("whats a convertable car seat? You mean an infant seat? Oh we dont have any convertables") I finally was able to convince them to buy a scenera at walmart so he can rear face on his bus ride. Now the next issue is .....can the bus drivers install this correctly? We will find out when he arrives at school monday morning. I am putting my money on "NO." It wont be installed correctly. But I will fix it if need be. Will bring some pool noodles just in case. Just grateful that he wont be in the safeguard seat anymore. Poor little guy. Will post a pic next week :D
 
ADS

Kaede's_Mom

New member
Poor thing. I bet that was so uncomfortable :(

Glad you were able to get them to do a new seat. I am better it isn't in right either, or worse in FF.
 

bethng

Active member
Poor thing. I bet that was so uncomfortable :(

Glad you were able to get them to do a new seat. I am better it isn't in right either, or worse in FF.

It will not be forward facing. I wrote in his IEP today that he must ride rear facing. They can not forward face him and go against the IEP....tehehehe. But the bus drivers do not know how to install it. I am just waiting for monday when he arrives in the seat. Lord only knows how its going to be installed. :rolleyes:
 

bethng

Active member
Well after a day of phone calls and arguing with the director of special transportation....I finally won! The seat arrived rear facing and with the belt through the forward facing path. Fixed that right away. But the buckle stalk was way too long and was getting in the way of the belt path plus making it almost impossible to get the seat in tight. So I twisted the belt stalk 3 times and bingo....rock solid install. Well head of transportation came unglued! "you cant do that!" I told her that I could show her my manual from safekids that says you can and she says "I cant take the word of some random organization that you can do something like that" Safekids a "random" organization? whatever lady. Finally got my instructor involved and in the end I won. So all 22 pounds of 3 year old little "T" are happily rear facing on the bus in his scenera. crappy cell phone pic but I had to be fast. Driver was already late because I was messing with his seat for so long lol!
 
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bethng

Active member
Nicely done :thumbsup:

Random organization, my big white butt :rolleyes: Did you shove your SafeKids manual up hers? :whistle:

lol no. I shoulda though. It was enough just to have my instructor email her a 2 page letter of information with references to back everything up. And she did address the "some random organization" comment too. :D The brilliant director of transportation's answer to my question "where do you get your training regarding car seats, their use on buses and how to install them?" was "OSPI" huh? The superintendent of public education is a CPST? I think not.
 
A

Ashley

Guest
Love it!!!! You rock! It’s amazing when people do the right thing no matter how difficult . Also thanks for your post I’ve been searching the web like mad. My husband is a quadriplegic and we drive a f 350 cutaway handicapped bus and are about to have our last baby. I have been trying to find some advice for the exact issue you resolved by twisting the buckle. I have calls into the safekids through Texas childrens but no response yet and down to about a week to install before delivery. Thank you so much! As a mom of special Ed kiddos I absolutely love teachers like you .
 

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin
Staff member
Please be aware this information is quite old. Twisting the buckle stalk up to three full twists is usually a last option, as long as it is not prohibited in either vehicle or child restraint owner's manual. I hope your local Safe Kids is able to help you in person, as this is the best way to make sure there isn't a compatibility issue or other installation issues.
 

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