I am getting mixed answers and just would like it simplified as to the exact way it should be. I am not a mom but I do drive a school bus and have little kids and I think 3-5 year olds should be in a booster?
And 1-3 in a car seat. But, some people say up to 7 if this is the case then I have kids on the bus should be in them and there not?
Does this go by state or federal guidelines? What are the federal gudelines?
This is in MA. USA not UK :)
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littleangelfire81 says
The regulations that people are supposed to follow are at the state level, however, safety should rule first. Theoretically, kids are safer in a bus than a car, except that compartmentization doesn’t work when the kids are little.
MA is Masachussettes, right? LOL
"No child under age five and no child weighing forty pounds or less shall ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle on any way unless such child is properly fastened and secured, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, by a child passenger restraint as defined in section one."
So kids 5 and under must be in a car seat/booster by law, however, this doesn’t apply to school buses/public buses, taxis. Kids 5 and up must be in a seatbelt.
Safety is a whole other issue! Here’s the breakdown:
!)newborns should be in a rear facing car seat and stay that way until they reach the maximum rear facing limit of a convertible car seat, 30-35lbs. The AAP says keep them rear facing as long as possible, preferably for their first 2 years of life. So up to 2 years old should be rear facing.
2)Once they reach the weight limits of a rear facing convertible car seat, it should be turned forward facing. And they should remain in a forward facing 5 point harness as long as possible, to at least 4 years of age AND 40lbs. If they are 40lbs but not yet 4, they need a higher weight harness seat to accommodate them (like Britax Marathon, Safety1st Apex, some special harnesses made for buses).
3)Once they outgrow the harness, they need to be in a booster seat until age 8-10 years old, or when they are both 80lbs AND at least 4’9" tall.