Should a 3 year old ride the school bus?
By cindync23
@cindync23 (52)
United States
January 10, 2007 7:48am CST
Maybe I am being a little too paranoid about this. My 3 year old son is in pre-k. All the other kids in his class rides the school bus. I take him to and from school. I have a 5 month old that can't get over a cold and I think it is from getting in and out of this freaky weather. It will be 65 degrees one day and 40 the next with the wind blowing. My mother suggested that he ride the bus. I told her that I did not believe in the saftey of school busses when it comes to little kids. The law is any kid that is 8 or 80 pounds should be in a car seat or a booster seat. My son is still in a car seat. He is 36 pounds.I just do not think that it is safe for him. Maybe I am just being an over protective mother. What do you guys think?
11 people like this
78 responses
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I wouldn't do this for any reason. I'm sorry, but how many scary things could happen in this situation? The child could be left behind, get on the wrong bus, or worse could be hurt by the older kids or the bus driver. If your child was to be sexually abused, your 3 y/o would not have the vocabualary to tell you what happened.
I also don't think that the cold is the reason for your 5 month old not getting over her cold.
Do you have a good friend or neighbor who could stay at your house with your baby while you take the older child to school?
@cindync23 (52)
• United States
13 Jan 07
No, I do not have anyone that could watch my baby. I think the reason that my baby is coughing and sneezing is because of changing of the weather. Her allergies are going into overdrive.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
11 Jan 07
well, i wouldn't let my child to ride a school bus if he is still 3 years old... so, i think you are not an over-protective mother... he is just simply too young and many things he doesn't understand yet... riding a school bus can be dangerous for him... it is best you send him off to school and pick him up... by the way, isn't he a little bit young to enter school? i'm not sure...
1 person likes this
@cindync23 (52)
• United States
11 Jan 07
he goes to pre school. They have a 3 to 4 year old program for at risk kids that have speech problems and etc.. He loves going to school and his speech is improving greatly! Thanks for the comment!
@AndreaM76 (1164)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Well, the good news is that the weather it's self doesn't cause colds and viruses. It has however not cooled down enough to get rid of those pesky molds and pollens. Viruses also thrive best in cl weather but it's not the weather it's self. I know it seems like every time I get me 2 yr old out she seems to catch something. Remeber good hand washing will help the baby immensely. As for the little one at age three riding a bus? I would not recomend it. I didn't like my son at 4 and 5 riding for field trips so I went with him on the bus. I think your mommy senses are right.
1 person likes this
@money_maker01 (1097)
• Malaysia
11 Jan 07
i think your son is too young to ride the bus. the thing is about his safety. he just that 3 years old too kiddie! i know you are also considering about the baby. i think you should ask your husband to take care of the baby while you are taking the boy to his school. it won't take such time,right?
1 person likes this
@cindync23 (52)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I wish that were possible. My husband would enjoy it and he does when he has a vacation. My husband has to leave one hour before I do, so taking him to school or staying at home with the baby is out of reach for him. Thanks for the comment!
@mssilsbee (3)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I didn't want to let mine. But they have aides on the bus and seat belts so I believe it's safe for her. Plus she loves it. She used to cry when I dropped her at school. But now she loves it. I say you will never know until you try it. Sign up for a day. Have a friend watch the baby and you ride with them. Just do your research and do what feels right for you.
@cindync23 (52)
• United States
11 Jan 07
All I know is that they have seat belts on the bus. My son is going to pre-k because of motor problems also. He seems to love to go to school and is talking better. He finaly asked me a question the other day that did not sound repetitive. I was in shock! About 4 months ago, my son just turned 3. We went out to eat one night and me and my son picked out a table. We sat down and he turned to the table beside us as the people were leaving and said "HEY PEOPLE"!!! They just laughed and said " that is funny! He just said merry christmas!" When my husband sat down at the table I told him what had happened and he said that was crazy. We never noticed that other people could not understand what he was saying to that degree! Thank you for the comment!
@crystal8577 (1466)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Personally I would not put a 3 y/o on a bus with a relative on the bus too. My older girls are almost 6 & 7 1/2 & would not want them riding the bus to school alone at this point. I walk them to & from school every day. I also have a baby & understand how the weather is affecting them (she is going on 3 weeks). How far away is the school? Is there anyone else that could possibly take him to school or watch the baby for you?
@cindync23 (52)
• United States
10 Jan 07
The school is 15 minutes away I am not sure how many miles. We live in the country. I do not have anyone to come over to watch the baby or take my son to school. So, it kind of looks like I'm stuck. It is neat that you live that close to the school.(and it gives you a morning workout without even trying!)
@Datingtheplayer (661)
• United States
10 Jan 07
this is true... school buses dont even use seat belts... if you feel more comfortable taking your child to school do so, and see if maybe you can leave your 5 month old with someone still at home, or a neighbor.
@donnadean1980 (97)
•
10 Jan 07
Wow, that seems so young! I don't think I would be comfortable doing that and would prefere to take my child myself until they are a bit older. I hope your baby gets better soon!
@harmoniebreeze (246)
• United States
19 Jan 07
yep.I would be freaking out! I couldn't just let my kid get on a bus at that age. You are not being over protective, you are just trusting your instincts which you should! Good for you.
@cindync23 (52)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I don't think there are car seats. I heave heard from multiple people that there are only seat bealts and only in the front two seats. They would also be riding with older kids on the same route.
@sarahwang92 (45)
• Canada
11 Jan 07
He is too young. There will be other kids and kids do get rowdy during rides. And besides he's probably already upset that he has to leave you for school. And what if something happens on the bus and he doesn't tell you about it. You're right about your concerns. Can you maybe ask your mother to take care of your five month old for half an hour a day?
@cindync23 (52)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I do not have anyone that can watch my baby when I take him to and from school. My mom has a job and has to leave when I have to leave. Thank you for the comment.
@kaiyascloset (372)
• United States
12 Mar 07
I think 3 years old is way too young to be riding a school bus. How do they get them to stay seated without a carseat or booster seat? If they do wear seat belts it's not safe enough for such a little body!
@ragmama (536)
• United States
9 Mar 07
I don't think you're being an overprotective mom at all - there is no WAY I would allow my three-year-old to ride on a school bus, especially with no protection. We just upgraded to a larger carseat that will harness her in with a five-point harness until she's 65 pounds, and I figure we'll have a booster seat once she passes that point - she's nowhere even close at three years old. I'd definitely opt for a little more inconvenience in driving to school and back rather than endangering my child. I think your thoughts are right on the money on this one.
@earthmama97 (597)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Well, I can only say what I would personally do...I would NOT let a child that young ride a bus. I wouldn't let a child that young be away from me either though. If you feel he really needs this program at such a young age, then perhaps you can find someone you trust to drive him to and from. Good luck.
@Tanika (632)
• Australia
11 Jan 07
Heya, I have a three year old in kindy also. We live in Australia and we do not have school buses here unless it is a very elite private school. If we did however, i would not let my daughter ride the school bus alone at her age. I would also be concerned about the safety as my daughter is still in a car seat also. I would also be concerned about her getting off the bus, would there be someone there to make sure she got off? Maybe if she had a much older sibling I might be more inclined to allow it.
I do not think you are being over-protective. Maybe when he's like 12 if you still don't want him to ride the bus then that is overprotective, but certainly not at this age. Tanika.
@marxgames (42)
• Estonia
11 Jan 07
I go to school by bus everyday, but I havent seen any 3 years old child there. I think youngest that could go by bus are like 6 or 7 years old. But if the bus is designed just for taking kids to school, then younger ones could use it too.
