Anonymous wrote:Nice writing style. No, you should not be cooped up all day. It'd make me feel like a pet.

Who gives a shit about her writing style. Read the post, answer her, and be helpful.....or keep your mouth shut....rude, hateful person.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to a thrift shop, or a salvation army. You can purchase a car seat for $10.00. Usually they are in fine condition and cleaned up before being sold. If you still feel like they are not enough, you can always throw a towel or blanket on the seat. My daughter did this when she flew to see her brother in No. Carolina with the baby, so he could put it in his car while she was visiting.

That is the worst suggestion ever! And also, I don't buy it. Thrift stores do not accept car seats. This is because there is no way for them to know whether or not the car seat has been in an accident before. If a car seat is involved in an accident, you're supposed to replace it because it isn't as strong as before.

But sure. Just toss the kids in whatever. Why not just borrow a truck and let them ride in the back, while you're at it?

This is totally true, you are never supposed to sell a carseat and anytime getting one for free from someone, you need to make sure it was never in an accident and has not expired.

The truck comment is funny though. When I was little there were no car seat laws at all and you would frequently see people in cars just holding babies or young kids sitting with just a seatbelt (or even without). It was not safe at all, but I do think that the laws have gotten a bit insane with the height and age requirements these days. Babies and toddlers, yes. 7-9 yr olds? Shouldn't really need a booster seat anymore.

Anonymous wrote:Go to a thrift shop, or a salvation army. You can purchase a car seat for $10.00. Usually they are in fine condition and cleaned up before being sold. If you still feel like they are not enough, you can always throw a towel or blanket on the seat. My daughter did this when she flew to see her brother in No. Carolina with the baby, so he could put it in his car while she was visiting.

That is the worst suggestion ever! And also, I don't buy it. Thrift stores do not accept car seats. This is because there is no way for them to know whether or not the car seat has been in an accident before. If a car seat is involved in an accident, you're supposed to replace it because it isn't as strong as before.

But sure. Just toss the kids in whatever. Why not just borrow a truck and let them ride in the back, while you're at it?

Go to a thrift shop, or a salvation army. You can purchase a car seat for $10.00. Usually they are in fine condition and cleaned up before being sold. If you still feel like they are not enough, you can always throw a towel or blanket on the seat. My daughter did this when she flew to see her brother in No. Carolina with the baby, so he could put it in his car while she was visiting.

I thought that it was illegal to sell used carseats and many charity organizations will not accept used seats. (We were trying to donate ours and this is what we heard.)

Go to a thrift shop, or a salvation army. You can purchase a car seat for $10.00. Usually they are in fine condition and cleaned up before being sold. If you still feel like they are not enough, you can always throw a towel or blanket on the seat. My daughter did this when she flew to see her brother in No. Carolina with the baby, so he could put it in his car while she was visiting.

This is why I specifically ask during the interview that a carseat be available for me on the first day of work or within the first week. I will not work for families who don't allow me to take their child out to museums or playgrounds. I expect at least one museum membership, a carseat and to be reimbursed for any agreed upon purchases.

So far I've never had any issues.

OP here. About the mud. It's not about the mud. It's about destroying their beautiful backyard. I'm not going to take the kids back there and destroy the property.

Come on. The kids playing in the backyard when its muddy isn't going to destroy the property.

OP here. About the mud. It's not about the mud. It's about destroying their beautiful backyard. I'm not going to take the kids back there and destroy the property.

I'm a nanny too. I've been in a similar situation to you recently. I buy the kids little things here and there (food, transportation, craft supplies), etc. and just realized the other week how much it's added up over the past 6 months. What I'm going to do is ask the mom to leave $20 in an envelope in one of the kids backpacks so that it's there when I need it and I don't need to ask for money. If she trusts me with her children she should certainly be able to trust me to spend pocket money responsibly!

I also have nannied in the past for a family in the suburbs. For this one specific family I would come at 6am and leave at 7pm 5 days a week. I didn't have a car at the time so I was essentially stuck in the house. Both the children and I went a little stir crazy, especially in the winter. I don't think that it's out of line to want to get out of the house a bit, no matter what the child's age is. It's not just for the nanny's sake, but it's more important for the kids! To be able to be out, at a play group, park, or just head to the mall and walk around. I can't imagine any stay at home mom doing the same- being at home all day everyday without ever going shopping, etc. just to get a bit of fresh air- for months on end. After a few months I ended up finding another position because I needed a bit of flexibility. I hope that you find a solution to your problem!

New poster here. I think outdoor playtime and getting a little dirty is much different than playing directly in the mud and getting totally covered in it. I wouldn't allow my kids to do that, I definitely wouldn't assume that a parent would be ok with me doing that with their kids. You make a HUGE mess going back inside and honestly, most people don't want even play clothes covered in mud that they then have to wash really good.

Getting grass stains and smudges of dirty etc cannot be helped, but there is no need to jump into a muddy backyard. Playing with mud with hands, a bucket and shovel etc when off to the side of it means getting to play with it without getting covered head to toe in it.