Nursery emergency pick-up and car seat issue

[megonthemoon]

Any advice? DS has just started nursery and some good friends have kindly offered to be our emergency pick-up contact for DS should DH and I ever get stuck getting home for nursery closing time.

They don't have children so don't have any car seats or know anything about them. We live in a fairly rural area and the nursery is down an unlit lane so not brilliant for walking in the dark although it is only about 20 mins walk from their house so they could do it. It is a 5 min drive so that is obviously much easier for them.

DS is 22mo, and I think almost 13kg. A few months ago I would have just given them our newborn seat to hold on to as he could fit in that but now he is getting close to the weight limit so that is not going to be safely usable for much longer.

As context, I only commute 2 days per week and I allow 2 hours to do a regular 1h15 journey and DH is only 1hr away should I get stuck in terrible traffic. Plus all being well it will only be for the next 6 months as I will be going on mat leave in August. So hopefully the likelihood of them needing to do pick up is very rare.

So given that, would you:
a) insist that if they do it they walk and bring him back in buggy (buggy left at nursery and safest option but makes it more hassle for them when they are doing us a favour)
b) give them the old car seat to use for which he might be a bit over the safe weight limit
c) buy them a suitable car seat in case this happens (safest but expensive for what we expect will be a very rare occurrence)
d) buy a booster seat which he is too small for but is better than strapping him in without anything?
e) just let them take the risk with strapping him by seatbelt for what is only a 5 min journey.

What would/do you do?

[MumNWLondon]

I would buy the smallest booster seat you can find and seat belt router.

link

Not ideal but its a short journey and he's 13 kgs so almost big enough for just a booster.

[northender]

Personally I'd say d) but I know there will be others who will disagree. We had a very similar situation when ours were small and took that option. Never needed the other person though.

[craftynclothy]

C but could you not buy a cheap suitable car seat - perhaps not the best/safest make but at least the right size etc for your child. My parents have done this as it only gets used a couple of times every couple of months - think it was about £25.

[woodyandbuzz]

Agree with crafty, would buy something like this one £28.50

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3981566/Trail/searchtext%3EGROUP+1+CAR+SEAT.htm

[woodyandbuzz]

whoops ignore that link, it's just a cover!!

[StealthPolarBear]

DH and I have a plan for if he's ever going to be late picking DS up (drops him off and picks him up on way to work). I will go for closing time & just keep him in my car, no car seat till dh arrives. Obv only works for up to about half an hour late but could that be an option?

[BelleDameSansMerci]

Depending on your car seat type (ie Isofix or not) why not just take it out of the car and leave it at nursery? Don't know if this is an option but it's what I do when DD's father is picking her up.

Otherwise I'd buy a spare one even if it is only on rare occasions.

[BelleDameSansMerci]

Or, depending on your nursery, could you see if they have any for use in emergency? I'd think they might?

[PureAsTheColdDrivenSnow]

the nursery may well have spare car seats that you could borrow in an emergency, but if i were you i'd buy a cheap car seat for this purpose. You could sell as new if you never need to use it.

[StealthPolarBear]

seriously, if it's only for 6 mo and you don;t think it'll happen often if at all, I';d just let them keep him in their car until you get to nursery. Give them a bag of toys / books maybe.

[StealthPolarBear]

BTW what do people do with old car seats. I know all the advice about not selling them etc as no one should be buying it, but assuming you do have a car seat that you know is fine, what can you do with it other than throw it out?

[imgonnaliveforever]

Get a really cheap seat/booster off ebay. If it's only going to be used for such a short journey doesn't really matter if it's been used

[megonthemoon]

Thanks guys. SPB - you've made me realise that I bet some friends have got old car seats they'd be willing to lend or sell cheaply for this purpose so might explore that. Letting them wait with him in the car is a good idea as well - thanks!

[littleducks]

Could you not give them the baby car seat for now (does he actually still fit in it? check first) then when he is over the weight limit give them a booster?

The seat he is in now are very heavy and the hardest to strap in, as he may never actually get picked up by them i think that would suffice.