Should family provide nanny with car seats that can stay in her car?

[Anonymous]

I have tried to install these modern car seats and I agree, they are a pain in the ass to put them in and take them out, etc.

Yes, a family is responsible for installing these seats in your car. They typically purchase a set for your car and request that you keep them inside your car for the duration of your job.

For them to expect you to put them in and take them out yourself is very inconsiderate.
If the family elects not to purchase an add'l set of seats, then by all means it is up to them ONLY to do put them in and take them out.

Considering how difficult modern day car seats are, they are being really unfair expecting you to do the dirty work.

And OP, I caution you...Do not offer to pay for an add'l set just to ease your own workload.
Families are the ones responsible for everything car seat related.

[Anonymous]

Funny I feel car seats now a days are easier to install than in the past.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Still no decision from family on buying another set. I got to keep the car seats for the few days I needed them last week, but will need to re install on Monday and then who knows.

It really is ridiculous, the family is paying me extra 30 mins/day to install these seats, when they could just use that money to buy me an extra set! Trust me I'd rather have my own set, then be paid an extra 30 mins/day. Their reasoning is they don't really need extra seats and they cost over $200/each.

And again, family can't install car seats, I have to do it alone, before I pick up the kiddos from preschool. In the heat, rain, or snowy freezing weather.

The big problem is their old nanny of 3 years apparently did this every day so they think it's no big deal!

[Anonymous]

Tell them they do not need $200 seats. The Evenflo Securekid is $140. Other harnessed boosters are around $100. Can they keep paying you the extra 1/2 hour and you not work that half hour and buy your own seats.

[Anonymous]

MB here. I would install the car seats in my nanny's car every Monday and any days when she was driving more people and couldn't keep them in the car. I did it because I wasn't confident she would know how. It honestly isn't that difficult and if you do it regularly you get very fast and good at it. You do need to be in shape because to do it quickly and securely you need to use some muscle and be able to maneuver in the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I would install the car seats in my nanny's car every Monday and any days when she was driving more people and couldn't keep them in the car. I did it because I wasn't confident she would know how. It honestly isn't that difficult and if you do it regularly you get very fast and good at it. You do need to be in shape because to do it quickly and securely you need to use some muscle and be able to maneuver in the car.

I agree with this. I can very quickly uninstall and reinstall our Britax Frontiers with the latch, and I have been able to do so with other carseats as well. Once you've done it several times it's pretty easy to do. I also agree with needing to be in decent shape in order to do it quickly, and you definitely need muscle strength to pull the straps/tethers tight enough. On a side note...I worked for one family who tested everyone who would be driving their kids to make sure they could properly install a carseat. If you couldn't install it quickly (meaning it couldn't take 10 minutes per seat or even 5 for that matter) and securely you didn't drive the kids (this went for extended family as well).

That being said...I still wouldn't want to install the carseats on a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell them they do not need $200 seats. The Evenflo Securekid is $140. Other harnessed boosters are around $100. Can they keep paying you the extra 1/2 hour and you not work that half hour and buy your own seats.

Or you could go to a yard sale or thrift store and get one for $20
I do not know how well those will do in a car accident, but that is not your worry

[Anonymous]

Who thinks this family can afford a nanny? I'm guessing probably not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell them they do not need $200 seats. The Evenflo Securekid is $140. Other harnessed boosters are around $100. Can they keep paying you the extra 1/2 hour and you not work that half hour and buy your own seats.

Or you could go to a yard sale or thrift store and get one for $20
I do not know how well those will do in a car accident, but that is not your worry

Humm... no, you never ever buy used seats in less you know the person you are buying from. That is not safe to not know the history of the car seat. If you are spending $20 at a yard sale or thrift store for a used seat, you should not be driving children in your car. If you cannot afford them, many counties have free or low cost programs for car seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

WTF? are you in 1980? The new guidelines now say to keep them RF as long as the seat allows. My 3yo is still RF in a 5pt harness.

Guidelines would tell you to have your child live in a bubble for safety reasons as well if it was possible. When I was 3, I was sometimes riding in a car with no seatbelt. I think a carseat/booster is enough and that there is no real need to keep them rear facing at 3-4 years old. They should just make the backseats of cars face the other way if this is such a safety thing. I am sure it would be more safe for everyone then, not just a 3 yr old.

You are what many would call an idiot!!!!
Just because you rode without a seatbelt and you're still alive does NOT mean that nannies should not follow safety guidelines for their charges. And, you're right rear-facing IS safer for everyone and maybe some day back seats will be rear-facing but right now they are not and since there are carseats that will accommodate children rear-facing, why not use them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flipped my 17 month old around to face forward. She was trying to get unhooked and flip herself around. She's already 3 feet tall. Past rf height on the carseat.

Your 17 month old really should be rear-facing. The AAP is acknowledging how much safer it is and recommends that children stay rear-facing as long as possible (which is usually between 3 and 4 years with seats made in the US). There are seats that would be big enough. The Evenflo SureRide is $100 at Target and is really tall. The Graco Size4me/MySize70 is also a really good seat for rear-facing bigger kids. It's around $150. Also, try asking for recommendations on car-safety.org's forums. They are very helpful over there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell them they do not need $200 seats. The Evenflo Securekid is $140. Other harnessed boosters are around $100. Can they keep paying you the extra 1/2 hour and you not work that half hour and buy your own seats.

Or you could go to a yard sale or thrift store and get one for $20
I do not know how well those will do in a car accident, but that is not your worry

Don't buy used child safety seats unless you know the person you are buying them from and trust that they have never been in an accident. Please.

[Anonymous]

OP, could you offer to buy the seats and have the parents pay you back for them? Target has a few good options that are very reasonably priced.

[Anonymous]

Op with an update -- family has agreed to let me keep the seats installed in my car Mon to Fri so I will only have to install on Mondays. It's not perfect but its a great compromise! Thanks to everyone who replied

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op with an update -- family has agreed to let me keep the seats installed in my car Mon to Fri so I will only have to install on Mondays. It's not perfect but its a great compromise! Thanks to everyone who replied

Good to hear!