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Is this bad to do or not a big deal?
Give me your opinions because I have been going back and forth on whether what I am doing is okay.
We live in a new development, very safe and the only people that come in our neighborhood are people who live here. Our road is a cul-de-sac with 5 houses. Ds's bus stop is at the end of the street, which is 3 houses away from ours.
With the bitter cold weather I have been driving down to wait at the bus stop. I have the kids sit in their boosters but don't buckle them in. IS this really bad that I don't buckle them to drive to the end of the street? WWYD?
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Re: Is this bad to do or not a big deal?
imo, yes because it sets the precident that "sometimes you don't need to buckle up" whether or not it's truly dangerous.
I want my kids to think that buckling up is not a choice, it's a requirement.
1. Agree with PP that it shows that buckling up is not always necessary. Where do you draw the line? Buckling up is a habit for me, I would feel weird if I didn't do it - I'd like it to be the same for my kids.
2. The risk of hitting another car may be low, but what if someone or something were to fly out into the road unexpectedly? At a bus stop, kids may run around or fall into the street. Maybe a dog or cat can run across from someone's yard. I've certainly had to slam the breaks for squirrels plenty of times on my residential street. Stopping short because of that can cause children to fall out of their seats if they are not buckled in. Probably not a big deal at such low speeds, but I'd still rather it not happen.
I agree with this, which surprises me. I wouldn't open the door to 'well, it's ok to not buckle up this time'. I don't think it is dangerous at all, certainly no more dangerous than walking.
Having said that, nobody ever, ever drove their kids to the busstop when I was a kid. Everyone stood outside in the weather, whatever it was (pouring rain, freezing cold, etc.). I see cars now always at school busstops and it kind of makes me sad.
Dammit. My parents made me walk to school in the freezing cold snow (uphill, both ways - Not kidding - I had to walk up and then down a HUGE hill each way - haha).
I dont' think it's a big deal to leave them unbuckled - as long as they understand that it is only because they are going to the end of the street. I see what others mean about teaching them that they always have to wear their seatbelt - but I think they are capable of understanding this situation.
David "BD" 2/8/07 Spencer 9/12/11I'm torn. In your case, probably fine. I don't like the setting the precedent like that, but there are exceptions to nearly every rule. We don't eat in the living room, but then we have movie night and eat popcorn in there.
In my case, though, I wouldn't do it. well, DS1 could, but the other 3 would never stay in their seats - even my 3 yr old.
That said, I have to agree with the pp - I guess I can understand driving in the cold, or if ppl on on their way to work after the bus stop - but it amazes me how many cars are out there. The bus stops at the T in front of my house - there's 2 cul-de-sacs and just this one stop - so about 20 houses, and between 7:50-8:10 it's virtually impossible to get out of my house - even in September.
Yes, me too. It's not freaking Alaska people.
I have to agree that it's a little ridiculous to drive 3 doors down. . . but we're very used to taking our kids out in sub-zero temps for hiking/skiing/etc.
Okay, thanks for the opinions. I understand completely the double standard of doing something one day but not the next. My kids don't have a problem with this though.
I do drive to the end of the street because standing there waiting for the bus is cold. I know that my parents didn't do this, I stood out at the bus stop, but I see no reason doing this for my kids. Like I said, no one else is driving on our street (except the other 2 kids that go to the bus stop) so I am not in anyones way by driving my car and parking it there.
I am going to think more about having them buckle up though. If something were to happen, even if the chance is slim, I should't be taking that chance.
I don't think it's dangerous but I don't really see the point. I mean how long does it take to buckle a seatbelt?
And I can't imagine driving 3 houses? Where do you live?!