Would you ever leave 3 infants in a car? Even for a second?

[Anonymous]

We share a nanny with another family. Between the two, there is one 4 year old, and 2 12 month olds. There is another baby on the way. The other family wants the nanny to take the 4 year old to and from daycare. Obviously the only way she can do this is to pack up all the kids and take them all. The other parents have spoken to us about this, and are struggling with figuring out what to do at the preschool pick up and drop off. The school's policy is that the mother (or caretaker) must take the child into the school, and come inside to get them when the day is over. I certainly understand this policy as they don't want 4 year olds heading out into the parking lot alone.

But it leaves us all with a real conundrum. How will she get 4 kids (in the fall, it will be the 4 year old, 2 who are barely walking, and an infant!) into and out of the school?

The other parents raised the issue with us, and we are at a loss. I don't know how she'd be able to do it. So someone asked, "why not leave the other kids in the car?". Really, I thought, what is going to happen? This is a safe suburban area, in a preschool parking lot,... with other moms/kids around... the other kids would be strapped into car seats... and she'd be gone a max of 3-4 minutes.

But then there is this voice in my head saying "someone will call social services on the nanny!"

Are we off our rockers for even considering this? What are the reasons why we shouldn't do it? Is there a good alternative anyone can think of?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it-- For sure.
I think she just has to trek in there with everyone, or maybe another parent can walk the child out to the car and she can wait there with the other kids. Do they have any friends at the preschool? As a parent, I certainly wouldn't mind walking a child to their car in that type of a situation. I'd be walking to the parking lot anyway...

[Anonymous]

I don't think the preschool would allow it. It is illegal to leave a child in a car and go inside an establishment -for any amount of time.

[Anonymous]

I think it's time to re-consider the nanny share. I don't think it's going to work well with 4 children. It's not very good caregiver-child ratio at the point. No better than a daycare.

I don't think it's wise to leave children in the car, even if it's just for a couple of minutes. Could one of the parents handle the drop off, so that the nanny just has to do the pick up? I think the safe thing to do would be to take all the children in with the nanny during pick ups. Get a double stroller and place the 2 one year olds in there, the 4 year old walks, and the nanny carries the infant in a bjorn.

Perhaps another option would be to befriend another parent or caregiver at the preschool and ask them to help with the drop offs and pick ups?

[Anonymous]

It takes much more than a few seconds to get a child into preschool. It takes me about 5-10 minutes to get child out of car, into school, coat off, lunch in the right place and back to the car. You can also get caught up inside.

[Anonymous]

The PP is right: A 1:4 ratio is too much for a nanny share, and leaving the babies in the car is not okay. I think I'd simply find my own nanny.

[Anonymous]

I would never do this. Anything can happen in 3 -4 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Do not leave the kids in the car. Period.

If you have to use a big stroller or get additional help, then that's what you do. It sucks, but do not risk leaving those kids alone in the car.

And it's illegal.

[Anonymous]

I was going to suggest a stroller as well. I have twins and a older son. When the twins were infants, I would put them in a stroller and then take the older child into his activity. Honestly, it is a PIA but that is the safest way to do it.

On occasion, if one of the twins were under the weather, I would call a friend and have her wait until we got to school and she would walk both kids in. There aren't a whole lot of options in this situation.

[Anonymous]

No way. I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't have the peace of mind for one thing. Too many "what ifs". Like the PP said, you may think it will only take 3 -4 minutes (even that is a long time) to get DS inside, but what if it takes longer? What if teacher wants to talk to the nanny and relay a message, etc.

Can you call the place and see if they can meet the nanny outside? Perhaps they can make an exception.

Otherwise, as much of a hassle as it is the nanny will have to use a stroller to get everyone in and out....assuming that she honestly will do that and not be lazy and leave the little ones behind.

[Anonymous]

Frankly, if I were a nanny I would never agree to take sole responsibility for 4 small children for even the shortest about of time. Anything can happen on the ride to/from daycare. What if she get a flat tire or there is an accident and she needs to get out of the car. Even with a double stroller it would be hard for her to manage - imagine her pushing a double stroller, carrying a new born while keeping an eye on a 4 yo.

I agree with a PP, that it may be time to reconsider this nanny share route.

Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

It is not illegal (or dangerous, IMO) to leave children strapped in their car seats in the car, with the doors locked, AS LONG AS THE ADULT CAN EASILY SEE THE CAR.

Will the nanny still be able to have the entire car in her line of vision at all times? If so, I would be fine with this arrangement. If she actually has to go inside the building where she can't see the car, I would vote for the plan where she gets all the kids out and into the stroller to take the four year old inside. She should come up with a plan for going in and out of the car with them, anyway, because presumably there will be other situations where she might need to transport them, and maybe even run into a store or something with all of them.

[Anonymous]

Yikes, 4 is a lot to stick on one nanny, especially with a newborn. You really shouldn't have her leave them in the car at all. I know if I saw that and didn't know the situation, I would call 911.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not illegal (or dangerous, IMO) to leave children strapped in their car seats in the car, with the doors locked, AS LONG AS THE ADULT CAN EASILY SEE THE CAR.

Will the nanny still be able to have the entire car in her line of vision at all times? If so, I would be fine with this arrangement. If she actually has to go inside the building where she can't see the car, I would vote for the plan where she gets all the kids out and into the stroller to take the four year old inside. She should come up with a plan for going in and out of the car with them, anyway, because presumably there will be other situations where she might need to transport them, and maybe even run into a store or something with all of them.

I am not a nanny, but I would like to know if there is a single parent out there who would take on the task of taking 4 very young children (a 4 yo, 2 2yos and a baby) anywhere alone in a car? How exactly do you take 4 kids to the store expecially where 3 of the 4 are not mobile. It shocks where parents expect a nanny to do they are unable/unwilling to do!

[Anonymous]

Agree that this is too much for one nanny . . . and also agree that the kids should not be left alone in the car.