Should food, gum, bottles, pacifiers, or toys be allowed on the bus?
Gum – no. Toys from home to be played with on the bus – no. Other toys may be provided by the program as appropriate and safe for use in travel. Food – sometimes. There are times that food must be transported such as on field trips. It is best that food not be consumed on the bus. Minimizing the time that the bus ride takes, especially for infants and toddlers, would diminish any need to feed children while en route. Transportation staff should work with the Health Services Advisory Committee to determine whether formula or food needs to be carried in case of emergency and develop a policy and procedures to address it. Obviously, this can be an issue in remote rural areas. Buses need to carry water and paper cups, clean sippy cups for toddlers and clean bottles for infants who cannot drink from a cup. Security objects – consider each child’s individual needs and whether the object poses a safety threat to passengers. Much of the current policy written about the possession of toys and f
