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Original poster

If a nanny uses her own car for work who buys the car seats?

39 replies

headfairy · 04/02/2011 14:42

Having just shelled out for a set of car seats for my parents car as they do some childcare duties too, I'm reluctant to buy yet more (that'll be 6 car seats for 2 children!). I've interviewed a nanny I really like, she has 2 ds's of her own, and has to do her school run when she would be working for me. She has a 7 seater she's happy to use but will I have to supply her with car seats? Our current ones are isofix and bolted in to the car, so a real faff for me to move all the time (plus I never have time in the morning, she turns up and I dash off)

Also, if she's using her 7 seater to do the school run, with my dcs in, should she be charging me mileage. What happens if they go to the park after school?

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nannyl · 04/02/2011 17:00

if she has 2dcs she might already have some suitable car seats.

agree that if your children are only traveling to do her DCs school run then you shouldnt be paying mileage, but if they ever do something that benefits them then you should pay 40p per mile

you might not normally need her to drive your DC but can you be certain that you never will? If you even might need her to then you should offer to pay for car seats.

you may have to accept that if she does need to buy extra car seats she may source them from ebay or something and then you have the issues of if you know that they havent been in a car crash...
is that a risk you are willing for your DC to take. (I wouldnt be happy with that risk)... also she may choose to buy a multi-group car seat (that perhaps her DCs older friends could use when shes not working for) and it may not be as safe as the ones you use...
Again if you didnt like it (I wouldnt like it either) then you should provide car seats that you are happy for your children to sit in.

As a nanny i have provided my own car seats. The reason being that i am "little miss obsessed with car seat safety", and my bosses were providing me with car seats that didnt score very well in car seat tests.... also whilst they did "fit" i wasnt happy with the fit in my car...
As a result i supplied my own car seats, ones the which? rated as extreamly safe, and therefor i was happy for my charges to use...

(I didnt buy them brand new, i bought one from one of my old bosses friends, whom id known for a long time and knew the seat had never been in accident, and my other seats were given to me by my old boss as my ex-charges didnt fit them any more

Bertina · 04/02/2011 16:44

I think in your position it wouldn't occur to me to ask her to buy the car seats.

If she might at some point drive your children, then you should provide the car seats. Does she have the correct insurance for her car?

And are any of your dcs at school with hers? If not, no way should you pay for petrol; if so, then look on it as a share and pay half each.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 04/02/2011 16:42

I think you should buy the seats, I mean she only needs them because she will be driving your children. I know it is to pick her children up, but if you agree to her doing that then I think you need to provide the seats for your children.

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/02/2011 16:35

you the employer should buy the car seats, regardless of the fact she brings her dc to work with her or does her school run

you should not pay her mileage for her school run but anything to do with your dc you should, ie their school/trips to park etc

Laquitar · 04/02/2011 16:32

Your idea about buying one each sounds fair to me and a good compromise.

Original poster
headfairy · 04/02/2011 16:24

hmmm I'm not too precious about different types of car seats, after all it'll only be for short journeys, but not so keen on second hand ones... I'm just going to have to ask her how she thinks we could sort it out. I'm seeing her for a second interview this weekend, so we can discuss then.

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LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop · 04/02/2011 16:04

I think if you are asking her to provide the car seats, it is reasonable for her to get them second hand, which you may or may not be fine with.

Foxinsocks · 04/02/2011 16:01

gawd no, I've never made any nanny pay for car seats.

you also then run the risk of her getting seats you don't want/like/approve of (not that this would bother me too much but I can see it creating issues)

scurryfunge · 04/02/2011 16:00

I would try and negotiate that -both can then show flexibility. After all, you could say no to the school run.

Original poster
headfairy · 04/02/2011 15:58

would it be fair to suggest we buy one each? DS is old enough to go in a group 3 (I think they're 4-11 years) and dd is currently in a seat that goes from 9 months to 11 years. That way she could reasonably use the one she buys with other children she may look after etc (not much point if you've got a 7 seater and only 2 car seats)

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 04/02/2011 15:49

If you have allowed her to pick up her own children as part of her contract then it would seem reasonable of her to pay for the car seats. I don't see how she can fulfil her contract if she can't look after your children during her school run.
In spite of that, if you feel she is worth the expense, I would buy the car seats myself to maintain good relations.

Original poster
headfairy · 04/02/2011 15:46

she won't really be taking my dcs to any activities as such. Ds goes to pre school on two of her afternoons, so she might choose to do that in the car, though I usually walk. Other than that it would really only be to the park etc which is about a mile away.

Thing about taking the ones out of my mum and dad's car is then that becomes a pain too as they use the biggers seat for my niece, and also they do childcare one day a week so I'd have to make sure the nanny dropped them off on her last day of the week, and then install them back in my parents car before work, which I don't usually have time to do.

OP posts:
Suchffun · 04/02/2011 15:39

Can the ones your parents have be shared with the nanny?

Laquitar · 04/02/2011 15:38

Is she going to use the car only for her school run? If so, she should pay.

If she was going to use the seats for your dcs even if she didn't have her own dcs, then you pay. Is she taking your dcs to activities that require car use?

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