My son is 4.5 and is in Pre-school. He sits/sat in a car seat until yesterday. Apparently Tuesday he let himself out of the car seat and got up.. The driver had to stop the bus and put him back.. unsafe.. school did not want to put him in the car seat for the ride home because they were afraid that he would not stay seated.. ( he did). When we asked him why, he said that he likes to do it, and school will not let him. I think he was asserting his independence. We have had talks with him and explained that you can not take your seat belt off, while anyone is driving, bus, mommy daddy etc.
Yesterday they started the "saftey Vest" .. It looks like a leather straigh jacket to me.! It zipps in the back and has 4 metal rings, that clip to the seat on the bus.
Has your child been put into this? I am not sure if this is safe or not. I get that we need to keep him seated and Yes, this is a way. But what if there is an accident? How does he and the other kids in this get off safely? I fear that this will push his attitude backwards. he has been so postivie lately. .. Do you think this harness is safe, or would you figth back to school/ bus and request him to be back in the carseat.
I am going to call request that a helper be placed on the bus. - That will make me feel better about in the event of an accident, there are at least 2 people that could get him off.
As far as I know this is it.. until the end of the year.
In our cars, when we are parked, yes I let him take his set belt off. Once I put the car in Park, I say Ding.. and that is his queue to proceeed. He does not do it until I say it is okay. I have no issue with him taking it off when weare at the destination.
We do not have the option to drive him, as we both work full time. I wish I could be a stay at home mom for my kids, but reality is that I need to work so I can provide for my kids.
** While my husband and I do not like what it looks like, my son does seem comfortable and my husband feels it is safer than the carseat since he was starting to not fit (with the winter clothes). We are going to just let this happen for now. I know that the saftey of my son and the other kids on the bus isvery imptortant. at no time did I feel that no restraint was an option. Thanks.
Harnesses are very safe and have a quick release in case of an emergency. My daughter and everyone else who rode the public pre-school bus wore them.
It's just until the end of the year. He won't or shouldn't need one next school year.
I work in a pre-k and deal with these vests all the time. The vest is for your child's safety and for the safety of those on & driving the bus. Get over its looks - it is safe & comfortable. I have seen children get out of the vests if they are loose so do not think you're doing your child a favor by zippering it on the last zipper and leaving it loose.
An alternative once your child truly understands he can't get up and you don't want the vest anymore - some bus companies also provide clips that cover the button on a normal seat belt. The clip is 2 pieces, a plastic piece that wraps around the clip and is fastened with a top that looks like the top of a medicine bottle. Adults have to squeeze the top and twist to get the clip off. I have seen children wriggle out of these as well - most of the time because belts are not tightened enough - again, because well meaning adults that don't want seat belts to be too tight.
Don't see the difference between the safety vest and a carseat. If he was using the carseat properly, he wouldn't be able to get out by himself in the event of a crash either.
I have never heard of using a car seat on a bus, nevermind a safety vest.
Most kids can't get out of car seats either, how is this different? When my son was in preschool they had five point harnesses part of the seat and there was a tool to unlatch them so the kids couldn't get out. Same deal if you ask me. There were five other kids on that bus, my son had no right to put them in danger wandering around the bus.
I am a bit concerned with your idea that he is asserting his independence. No, he has poor impulse control as do most kids with ADHD.
You always have the choice of driving him.
I too have never heard of using carseat on a bus and this "safety vest" sounds more like a straight jacket than anything else. I would not want my child in that vest. And I can't imagine that ANY child would like being strapped in like that.
It sounds like he was trying to unfasten his seat belt before he got to school so HE could do it himself. And he did stay seated on the way home, so I would talk to the school/bus company and see if they can give him one more chance.
If not, I would pay someone to drive him. There is no way I would allow that safety vest if I could help it.
I have never even heard of this and it does not seem safe. Sure, it keeps them safe but then in the even of an accident they are trapped...what happens if the driver can't help them? What is he can help some but not all?
Here there are no seatbelts or car seats in the buses. I would have a problem with this.
It sounds safe. It sounds like it's the only option if you wish for him to keep riding the bus. If you fight back I find it likely they will just inform you that he can no longer ride the bus.
If you have the option of driving him to school and you'd feel more comfortable with that then do it. Maybe you driving him for a while will help him be more serious on the bus.
I will admit I'm somewhat surprised that after only 1 offense they are already going to this method, but I also sort of understand. It's not safe for him and it's not safe for the bus driver or the rest of the kids, so it's like a lose/lose situation really!
Good luck!
No, my children have never had to be put in a safety vest.
I believe these vests have passed the NTSA boards safety tests and regulations...(as if we don't have enough regulations already!).
Your son needs to learn self control and safety. They will keep him in that vest until they feel he is no longer a risk to himself or others.
What does HE say about the vest?
How are YOU reacting to the vest?
What is their PLAN for the vest? Do they say if he goes "X" amount of days without struggling they will try to let him go "normal"? or is this permanent?
Do YOU let him unbuckle himself in YOUR cars? He may LIKE to do it, but he needs to hear from you UNCONDITIONALLY that is NOT acceptable. it is NOT safe and he needs to follow the rules, they are there for a reason.
Good luck!
I've never actually heard of them, so I did a little go ogling before I answer.
From what I can see they really aren't anymore restrictive then a 5 point harness. The concern for getting off the bus in the event of an emergency is pretty equal.
I get where you are coming from and as a mom I would probably feel the same way, but it is important to remember that they are thinking about the safety of everyone, and if this is the case it may not be a battle you can win.
The one time my older daughter got out of her car seat while we were driving, I came to a screeching halt at the side of the freeway, spanked her, and put her back in her carseat, all the while reading her the riot act about her unacceptable behavior. A child's safety in the car is nothing to trifle with. She never attempted to unbuckle herself while we were driving again. Your son is not "asserting his independence." He is putting himself and all the other children on that bus in danger (because in the event of the bus stopping short, he will become a projectile that could hit other children). There's nothing charming about that. Whatever the school has to do to secure him in the bus, that's what they have to do. This is the safety and well-being of your child. Non-negotiable. If he has a problem with being in the safety vest, just explain to him that because he did not follow the rules, now this is what is going to happen. Next time, he needs to think before doing whatever he wants! That's a good lesson for a preschooler.
In the unlikely event of an accident, whether he is in a safety vest or car seat, it's about the same difference. Safety personnel will evacuate all the children if need be.
I've never seen or heard of this item.
I think you have to be 100% sure your child stays in his seat.
If he cannot understand/agree to that, them it seems like appropriate action.
I would think the odds favor injury from unrestricted movement over the slim chance of the scenario you're describing.
Good luck.
Hi M., I'm a child passenger safety tech. First, to answer the mamas who have never heard of a car seat or harness on a bus--school buses are designed to keep kindergarteners and older kids safe. The concept that keeps them safe doesn't work on smaller kids (so truly it's more of a size issue, not just age). Preschoolers shouldn't be transported on a school bus without a car seat or harness.
The harness is safe and has been crash tested, but here's why it's better than the car seat--for little escape artists, this harness that fastens in the back makes it almost impossible for a child to get out by themselves. It also makes it tough for an adult to get the child out quickly in case of an emergency. The bus driver or a bus aide needs to carry a seat belt cutter (looks kind of like a letter opener but is stronger) at all times when there are kids on the bus who are restrained in those harnesses, unless its a type I haven't seen that has a true quick release. Just in case of an emergency, your son needs to be able to exit quickly.
Good luck!
J.
You say that this is it until the end of the year but is there a chance that your child can use safety belt with a long belt added for extra protection while on the bus? The long belt attaches in the rear of the bus seat and does not allow for the child to remove it even if the safety belt is removed. My son was removed from the carseat this year and that's what is done for him.
I don't think they will put a second person on the bus just to be sure the kids get out. If they are not doing it already, they are not going to start paying that salary now. And who is to say that the driver and the extra person won't get hurt in an emergency/accident?
The only thing you can control here is whether you drive him or allow him to take the bus. Once he is on the bus, you have to follow their rules.
And speaking of rules, you should remind your little guy of the car seat rules. Not taking it off - EVER - until mommy or the bus driver says it's ok.
