USA Bus Lines

Has anyone taken a baby on a motor coach without a car seat?

My boss reserved a motor coach (luxury bus, more or less) for a company outing in which family is also invited. The problem is that there are no seat belts, so I can't hook up my 8 month old's car seat... Florida law says that car seats aren't required in large charter buses, he's allowed to just sit on our lap. It's not the law I'm worried about, it's my son's safety. Do you think this is safe? I really want to go and be involved with the outing, and a babysitter is not an option. Besides, I want my son with me, it's a family day. Has anyone had any experiences with this? If I end up not feeling comfortable with it, we can drive separately, but I would rather us be part of the group.... Any thoughts?

Public Comments

1. I don't blame you, I wouldn't feel comfortable either without any seat restraints for my baby. Maybe you should drive separately, you'll still be a part of the group when you get there and spend the day with everyone.
2. I don't blame you for having hesitations. If I was in your situation, I'd choose to drive my vehicle behind the charter bus. While the law may not say he needs a seat, you know that he safER in his seat!
3. Does your husband have any tie down straps? They're used for motorcycles, tractors, and such. Maybe he could figure out a way to attach the car seat to the bus seat w/ a safety strap. Obviously this is not the ideal situation but it may just work! I know this would work w/ my car seat if I made it face forward...give it some thought :)
4. You're right to hesitate - its not a safe situation. Those buses were made for grown ups, and even then the only safety factor it has is that its bigger than other vehicles. Very few have any belts at all, and those that do its usually a retracting lap belt which is unusable for a car seat. But no matter what the law in Florida is, the laws of physics are the same in a charter bus/motor coach as in your vehicle and he's just as much at risk. If sitting in your lap in an accident, he would go flying through the bus, which could kill him. If you still want to be involved and abslutely none of the seats have seatbelts, take your own vehicle so you and your child are safe. Those buses aren't exactly safe for anyone - since everyone needs to be wearing a seatbelt. The only reason they get away from being regulated by law into having seatbelts is b/c its inconvenient and expensive to do so. Here's a thread about it with car seat techs (CPSTs) answering the same question: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=4921