Should family provide nanny with car seats that can stay in her car?
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Anonymous
| I just started a new position with a family with 3 year old twins. They only have one set of car seats so they want me to install and uninstall them in my car every work day (M-F). This is new to me as in all my other positions the family had extra car seats that just stayed in my car. It would be okay if it were booster seats but these are the 5 point harness car seats that use the LATCH system and they are not very easy to install. I have to literally climb in the car to install them and put my weight on them to make sure they are tight enough. It is very important to me that these seats are installed correctly and tight enough and I worry about having to do this every day. It's not very quick or easy and I have to do it twice. Any advice? I brought up to the mom about getting more seats and she basically said it wasn't necessary. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| I never thought it was a big deal to put in the car seats daily. |
Anonymous
| First, I would not use my own car for work. Secondly, they should have a set for your car. |
Anonymous
| I always have the parents install the car seats because I don't want the liability on me if something goes wrong. I've always had a set stay in my car, but if they're refusing to get you a set, then I'd request that they be the ones that install them every morning. |
Anonymous
|
I would ask for a set of cheap ones. It is a hassle to do that daily and it makes no sense.
At three, they should be in a harnessed booster seat. There are several cheap harnessed boosters on the market for $100-140 each. |
Anonymous
This depends a lot on their weight. Even if they do meet weight requirements, many parents are taking AAP recommendations about car seat safety VERY seriously these days. Just do a search in the general parenting forum, many parents will say that they still have their three year olds rear facing! |
Anonymous
| Yes, they should. Doing that daily is not safe. Eventually you are bound to mess it up. Too many times in and out. I have been a nanny a long time, and that has always been the standard - car seats for your car if you are out and about daily. Be sure you are getting the IRS mileage reimbursement rate for each mile you drive for work in your own car. If they only reimburse gas money, you will be bummed when you need tires, etc. much sooner because of the miles you are putting on your car. |
Anonymous
| Ask the parents to install them for you every day, "for safety reasons"... You'll have your own set next week. Cheap assholes! |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
+2 I obviously prefer to have them installed in my car, but if the parents aren't game for that I consent to letting them install them every day. For liability purposes I'm not comfortable doing it myself. They always agree. |
Anonymous
+3 My MB wouldn't let me install the seat....she doesn't even let DB do it. She took a class in order to know how to properly install those fuckers properly. |
Anonymous
| As a nanny, I actually installed the carseats in MB and DBs cars, so I have a differs point of view. As a professional nanny, I have made sure I am completely educated on properly installing many varieties of carseats. I consider that a professional duty. That said, if I drive with children, I require that parents provide a seat for my car full time. |
Anonymous
I +2'd the above, and your post brings up an important point. I should clarify that I either watch the installation (an unusual arrangement but it worked for our daily flow) or double check the installation before driving. But I hate putting them in so I do ask the parents to do that part 
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Anonymous
| Maybe I'm just slow or whatever but I've always had a nanny car provided so my question off this post - what do those who have car seats installed (1, 2, plus) in their own car do during off hours, weekends and so on? Do you just not ever use your back seat or third row ? I don't think I would ever do that. I mean what a waste of your car and personal time. |
Anonymous
| Most families i've worked for have more than one vehicle, I've noticed MB and DB usually have their own personal vehicles and then also a family car, like an SUV or a van. They will either take the seats out of the third vehicle or give me the keys, to be fair when I leave work I don't want cheerios or milk spilt on my seats, so I use their car, lol. It has never been a problem. Families I've worked for have two sets of car seats. |