What would you say?

[Anonymous]

My nanny occasionally drives my 3 year old around. Most of the time, he is in school and she is home with my baby. Today they went out and I saw her installing the car seat, and it was not the one I bought for her. It looks like a perfectly fine carseat, just somewhat old, but I bought one specifically for her that I would prefer she use. She lives with her sister who also has a 3 year old so I am wonder if her sister is using my seat. How do I address this?

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. You are right to be upset. I would address it directly: "Nanny, I wanted to check in with you regarding 3yo's car seat. I noticed today that you are using a car seat that is not the one I provided for you. In the future I expect you to use only the car seats I provide you with for my children."

It is a very simple and reasonable request, and any good nanny would comply.

[Anonymous]

Just say-

"Larla, I noticed you are not using the car seat we provided for you. It is important to us that you use it as we want reassurance Larlo is safe in the car."

[Anonymous]

Or

"Larla, I noticed the carseat you were using today isn't the one we provided. Why?"

Then, whatever her answer, you can say "Well, I'd prefer that you just use the one we purchased for Johnny so I don't have to worry about expiration dates or prior history of anyone else's carseat. Thanks."

[Anonymous]

You should ask. I normally play Devil's advocate in favor of the nanny but if she swapped the new seat you bought and let her sister use it, I would let her go. This would be blatant dishonesty to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should ask. I normally play Devil's advocate in favor of the nanny but if she swapped the new seat you bought and let her sister use it, I would let her go. This would be blatant dishonesty to me

Agreed. The old one is good enough for your kid but not for her nephew/niece? Not.ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should ask. I normally play Devil's advocate in favor of the nanny but if she swapped the new seat you bought and let her sister use it, I would let her go. This would be blatant dishonesty to me

+1. plus, if others use the car seat you bought, at this point you do not even know if it is safe to use it. how do you know that the nanny's sister did not get into an accident with your car seat? if the nanny puts the car seat in the car only when she drives your child around occasionally, then the car seat should stay at your house. a car seat, and a properly installed one, can make the difference between life and death so I would not take this lightly. you bought a car seat for her to use, she is using something else, I would ask why and where is the other car seat, and whatever the excuse she comes up with, I would add that from tomorrow morning I expect to see the new car seat back and that she is supposed to use that all the time

[Anonymous]

I would ask. I will say that if she isn't onterested in and educated about carseats she may have just been treating them as interchangeable. That would mean it wasn't malicious, but it still means your nanny isn't very bright. Carseats are a BFD.

[Anonymous]

Keep the carseat in your house.

[Anonymous]

Car seats expire. They also need to be replaced if there is an accident. I would insist nannybuse your set.