Driving with Nanny Share

[Anonymous]

We've been in a nanny share about a year - our children are 18 months old. Our neighborhood has multiple playgrounds within walking distance, and we have plenty of activities to do in our house and backyard. Our nanny brought up the other day that she wants to take the kids on field trips - and not just in our neighborhood, but around the beltway. We had never discussed driving before, and to me it was because she would not be transporting our kids anywhere. I think there is plenty to do within walking distance. We don’t have extra car seats, so the thought of putting car seats in and out of multiple cars seems more trouble than it’s worth. Plus, because it is a share we do not have an extra car for the nanny, and I am not quite comfortable with the safety features of her car. How do I handle this without making the nanny feel trapped? The kids are 18 months, not 3 or 4 – they can definitely be kept busy without being driven anywhere.

[Anonymous]

She wants to do field trips, totally normal to start around that age. What does the other family think. If your both in agreement about no driving, what about bus/train? If not, let her know. Either way, both families need to agree or part ways. If you agree, you may need to find a new nanny, but that's so much easier than finding a new share family.

[Anonymous]

I think it would be an excellent idea for the Nanny to have the opportunity to take the kids out on daily outings.....

Possibly to some new places.

Maybe the Nanny is just getting bored doing the same things around the neighborhood.
Perhaps she would like to show them around your local zoo, a different park or playground & an A/C indoor mall for hot days.

I think as long as you make sure that her driving record is good (have her provide your family w/a recent DMV printout), make sure her Driver’s License has not expired and that she is fully insured, this could be fun for the kids!!

You can pay to have her vehicle professionally inspected by a certified auto technician or split the co$t of a used car w/the other share family.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you’re not comfortable, you’re not comfortable. I’m sure the nanny will understand. They’re your children and you worry about their safety.

I understand where the nanny is coming from, though. Even if there’s every activity in the world to do in the house or a few different parks to go to, things get stale for both nanny and child (I would say more-so when they’re a bit older).

Sometimes I get really excited thinking about taking my charge to the zoo or children’s museum because I think he’d really enjoy it and I want to provide him with a variety of experiences! Though, my nanny family is uncomfortable with me driving their son, so I am in the same boat as your nanny. I totally understand parents’ reluctance to let a nanny drive their child, so I just make do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She wants to do field trips, totally normal to start around that age. What does the other family think. If your both in agreement about no driving, what about bus/train? If not, let her know. Either way, both families need to agree or part ways. If you agree, you may need to find a new nanny, but that's so much easier than finding a new share family.

13.19 again. Do you know where she would go? That might give you an indication of whether she would be happy with pubic transit or not going anywhere else. I take my charges to the science lab in Fairfax, offshoot of the Air and Soace museum at Dulles, aquarium at Annapolis, to the see the boats at the marina, various museums in DC proper, local nature centers and hiking trails, etc. Some aren’t accessible by public transit, but enough are that I wouldn’t feel like my charges were missing out, but I’m someone who wouldn’t be happy being limited to however far I thought my charges could walk ( and I don’t take a stroller everywhere once kids are capable of walking).

[Anonymous]

I definitely would not be ok with 495.

[Anonymous]

Regardless nanny should have spare car seat in case of emergency.

[Anonymous]

It's fine to say you're not comfortable with it. It's also fine for her to ask, since many families are. We were not with our older child, and just agreed with the other share family that kids would only do local trips--before 18 months (first year) nanny didn't have seats at all, and for second year she did but only took them to a place a couple of miles away on surface roads. We have lots of friends whose nannies took their kids all over town, though, and they had a blast too. It just depends on your comfort level. I would talk to the other family to be sure you're on the same page, though.