Learning experience or reason to fire nanny?
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Anonymous
| I just found out today that since the weather got cold and DC's had to wear a thick jacket to go outside, so about a month, nanny has been securing DC in the stroller only by the waist, not the shoulder straps, which she would tuck under the armpits. I happened to be there today when nanny put DC in the stroller (I usually am not because DC will otherwise throw a fit and try to stay with me) and when I asked about it, she said it was too hard getting the shoulder straps over DC's jacket. (NB - the shoulder straps are actually long enough to go over a winter jacket, but sometimes excess strap will be hidden behind the bunting.) We live in a metropolitan area (not DC, btw) where nanny and DC are strolling around probably about a mile every day, crossing streets that are heavily trafficked and full of potholes and cracks, to get to the library, playground etc. I have seen strollers topple over, kids fall out of moving strollers because they weren't buckled in. I was shocked that nanny thought it was okay to do this and not bother bringing it up with me. This is not the first time I found nanny's attitude about safety questionable, but the other incidents were much less serious. I find the seatbelt situation so egregious and given past incidents as well, her attitude about safety too casual for me, and concluded that I will need to find another nanny. I explained all this to my mom tonight and her attitude was, you otherwise like your nanny, use this as a learning experience, there's no perfect nanny out there. She went on to say that our generation is way more uptight than hers about safety, etc. and maybe I'm overreacting. I do otherwise like our nanny, I don't love her because I think she could do better with certain things, but the safety thing is the only thing I find really objectionable. I am confident she will strap DC in properly going forward, my worry is that her casualness towards safety will manifest in other unsafe situations as well. I'm truly not looking for validation to fire her, just an outside perspective as I can't help but be really upset in this moment. |
Anonymous
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Is she young? That would concern me too.
Think you need to sit her down and express your concerns. |
Anonymous
| Um, as long as your baby has neck control, this is not a big deal. At ALL. I have only done the waist strap. |
Anonymous
| In a car? Fire her. In a stroller? Give your head a shake and vow to become a much chiller mother and MB. |
Anonymous
| How old is DC? |
Anonymous
| OP here. I'm sorry I should have mentioned that DC is 20 months old. My concern with the stroller seatbelt are primarily 1. the streets around here are VERY uneven - humps and cracks/potholes that can cause your stroller to go off balance or even topple. In the winter, there can also be ice. Without the shoulder straps on, DC could fall out of the stroller. It's not like an every day occurrence, but I have seen people's strollers hit a wicked bump and tilt. 2. DC is old enough to climb out of the stroller if the shoulder straps are not on. It's never happened yet, but that's because DC is always strapped in with me and DH. |
Anonymous
You are crazy. |
Anonymous
Really? If that's how people here feel, I'd appreciate them elaborating why I'm so crazy and not just say you're crazy, which doesn't tell me anything. I guess the other thing that bothers me, which I mentioned in my original post, is that nanny didn't even bother to mention this to me, it was that much of a non-issue for her. She's actually good about telling me about things that concern her, but this apparently did not. Are shoulder straps considered optional by most parents??? If that's the case, then I can be more sanguine about this. |
Anonymous
| I've never used a seat belt in a stroller |
Anonymous
| Not everyone has common sense. I'd be more concerned about a car seat but you are right to be concerned. You teach her the proper way and if she continues to do it, then I would consider my options. |
Anonymous
Because the stroller is moving so slowly. Even if it tips, or bounces, it is unlikely your DC would get badly injured. He could just as easily trip and fall while running. If he tried to climb out, she'd probably be more interested in the shoulder straps and start using them. I think you're overreacting, too. Tell her that it makes you nervous that she doesn't use them, and show her how to fix the stroller, but also recognize that you are vastly exaggerating the possibility of harm in your head. Could something awful happen if she hit an icy bump in exactly the right way?I guess so. A car could also drive up on the sidewalk and hit them. That happens, too, probably about as frequently. |
Anonymous
| Why do you need a seatbelt in a stroller? |
Anonymous
| A young baby? This would concern me. An almost 2 year old? Not in the least |
Anonymous
Same here. If she said that about a car set I'd be livid, not the top half of a stroller strap. |
Anonymous
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Oh for God's sake, OP, get a grip! Your child does not need shoulder straps in a stroller - he's about 2 years old! I stopped strapping the top straps when DS was about 12 months so he could have more range of movement. And I live in the city, too.
You are a drama queen, OP. Please apologize to your nanny and see a professional. |