Inspired by the carseats on planes thread..

[magicfan]

I was just curious, for those who are against ever putting a child ona plane without a carseat, what would you do if your child were to ride a city bus, tour bus or school bus, with no seat belts. Except for the school bus, which you obviously wouldn't be riding on with your child, would you hold your child on your lap then? AS for school busses---ours do not have seat belts.

I was just wondering how people feel about this.

edited to add:

How about Disney transportation, such as the busses that take you from the resorts to the parks? I don't recall them having seatbelts. I also have never seen anyone put a child carseat on them.

Seems like so many people are against not using car seats on planes, but make exceptions elsewhere.

edited to add:

Can this thread be deleted? I didn't realize at the time that it was not appropriate to post this on this board (or at all...did not want to start a heated debate). Thanks

 

[all4fun]

Hmmm, sounds like a debate is about to start.

I think the difference is that on a plane you have the option to have your child properly restrained. That isn't even an option on the other modes of transportation you listed (unfortunately).

Personally though, I think this topic has been talked and over-talked on this board. For those of us responding, please remember what this board is really here for and try to keep it nice.

 

[magicfan]

Hmmm, sounds like a debate is about to start.

I think the difference is that on a plane you have the option to have your child properly restrained. That isn't even an option on the other modes of transportation you listed (unfortunately).

Personally though, I think this topic has been talked and over-talked on this board. For those of us responding, please remember what this board is really here for and try to keep it nice.

You bring up a very good point about it being an option.

I truly did not intend to start a heated debate. I was just really curious about this, and was wondering how people felt. Just wanting "nice" honest opinions, just to satisfy my curiosity.

 

[SoCalKDG]

I guess you don't use public transportation and just rent a car.

 

[cinjam]

School buses rely on something called "compartmentalization" for safety rather than seat belts. Children are compartmentalized between strong, closely spaced, high-back, well-padded (energy absorbing) and anchored seats for crash protection. Some articles addressing addressing this:

http://www.safety-council.org/info/traffic/schbusbelt.htm

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/buses/pub/seatbelt.hmp.html

That said, our school district (in NJ), has belts on school buses.

We've always bought ariplane seats for our children when they were under two, yet I had no problem going on Disney buses with no restraints what-so-ever I guess if it really bothered my I would have rented a car to get around

 

[beth_cam]

While I am considered the carseat Natzi by most around me, I dont know if I would have thought about it on a plane. however, we have been on two long trips and didnt even consider flying cause we didnt want to buy 3-4 seats or hold the kids for a plane ride. When last at disney we rode the busses our to mgm one evening and back. The next day we decided to drive. It was such a hassel with the little ones and scary. My daughter attends a private school. They have one Mini-bus with lap only belts and two regular busses with no belts. Last year before the first field trip, I called the highway patrol and asked about carseat laws and busses. They told me that in my state, ALL CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OLD in any private or public transportation must be in some form of child restraint/carseat.(exception - PUBLIC school busses - I think due to lack of money to add seatbelts for the number of 5 year olds that use them). She rode the bus one time when she still could in a regular carseat and hasnt since. We will probably drive to the parks on this trip as well.

 

[grlpwrd]

I won't debate this issue....

For me I never compromise my children's safety so they always have used a carseat on an airplane.

 

[Brina]

We always used carseats on planes - from the time they took their first flight at 6 months old.

In Disney we had a rental car and that is how we visited different parks. We were staying at the contemporary and walked to mk.

As mentioned by a previous poster - whenever carseats are an option we have used them. In some places they are not an option. My kids have ridden on the NYC subway trains without carseats and on some public buses. You do what you can.

 

[BethR]

Debates on the Family Board are not appropriate and since this thread is sure to be headed that way, it will be closed.

I invite anyone interested to post this discussion on the Community Board where discussions of this kind go on, as long as people remain civil.