Driving
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Anonymous
| Our nanny wants to start driving our 18 month old twins. Our neighborhood is incredibly walkable to local parks and activities. She's been with us for over a year. When did you let your nanny start driving your children? |
Anonymous
| When our nanny wanted to take our kids a bit further; places that weren't really walking distance (baby concerts, and museum visits). Certainly sooner than a year. |
Anonymous
| Around 2 yrs old but to places close to us. It does help her to get out further from our house - gets boring doing the same thing all the time! |
Anonymous
| So the twins are 18 months; how long has the nanny been with you? |
Anonymous
| Our nanny started driving them as soon as she wanted to. She'd take them in their stroller to the mall or something just to get out a bit when they were less than a year, and once they started walking they went tons of places. |
Anonymous
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OP--our nanny has been with us for about 15 months and the twins are 18 months old. My husband and I are the only ones who drive our children and worried that it's too dangerous and unnecessary.
How did get comfortable with your nanny driving your children? |
Anonymous
Unless you allow her to take them on metro, yes, but 18 months (15 months with your family), driving is quite reasonable. |
Anonymous
| Perhaps let her take you long on an outing? |
Anonymous
Also, what's her driving history, OP? |
Anonymous
If she wants to drive the kids, OP should already have her driving record. I can understand wanting to observe her driving, that's quite reasonable. But 15 months of just a little walking, and no way to take the twins anywhere else to expand their normal lists of parks and activities can be stifling. It's not unheard of for a nanny to not drive her charges, especially if she doesn't have her own vehicle, but she can take them on metro in that case. |
Anonymous
Your anxiety is perfectly normal, OP, especially for multiples. I had my nanny take my twins to places close by at first, then progressed to farther locations. My nanny is very organized and she had snacks, changes of clothing, etc., all ready to go. I knew exactly where they were going and we all have cell phones so any delays/issues could be communicated easily. Assume you have done a driving record check and she is driving your car or her well-maintained and insured car. |
Anonymous
| I was super anxious at first but as she drove more, got more comfortable but we didn't allow until our DD was 2.5. |
Anonymous
| PP - we also bought a super expensive, safe britex carseat for her car!!! |
Anonymous
OP's posting was not too long or complicated PP. It stated that nanny has been employed for a year. |
Anonymous
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I have always been empowered to drive charges beginning at various times of employment; some jobs have required driving on the first day and others are more similar to your situation OP. In all situations I have provided my driving record if requested, proof of insurance, and used the family's car seats and cars if asked. We go to approved places and, if it's anywhere other than school, I text when we arrive.
For my twin charges: I was with them from 6 weeks old, we began driving around 10-11 months when they were old enough for a Bubbles class. Grandma came with us for our first trip (I'm sure so she could report back to MB, fine with me!) and subsequent trips I just texted when leaving one location and arriving at another. I would encourage you to identify what makes you uncomfortable about the driving situation (your nanny's ability, their car, changing car seats frequently, traffic, etc) and address things one by one. Provide a vehicle if that makes you feel more secure, have someone drive with your nanny for a trip or two, get location confirmation as needed. Do whatever you need to feel ok letting your nanny drive your kids because if she is coming to you asking, it's because they are all starting to go a little stir crazy. |