To be shocked by woman who dropped off baby at nursery this morning

[Ipad2iloveyou]

She had the baby, who must of been around a year old, strapped in the car with the adult seat belt nothing else, no car seat, just the adult belt!!!!!!! What was she thinking. The nursery is a good 10 minute drive from anywhere as well !!!!

Maybe the car seat was broken?

maybe her other half had gone to work with carseat in his car

Ling - that's not an excuse!

even if the car seat were broken, she could have still padded the seat out - with blankets or anything

If the car seat broke or got stolen or her DH forgot and took the wrong car or any other number of things, it was probably her best option to get the child to nursery so she could go and sort it out - whether that was going to halfords to buy a new one, or to go and swap the cars over in her lunch break or whatever, it was still her best option, probably. I can't see anyone just not having a car seat for a one year old as a permenant situation and would be inclined to just give her the benefit of the doubt.

Op... What did you say to her?

So did you point this out to the nursery staff so they can appropriately address the concern with mum and ensure the child is safe when she leaves their care later today?

I can't believe anyone is making excuses for that, if either of those circumstances occur you don't go out in the car. It doesn't matter if you're the best driver in the world, all it takes is one pillock.

The word busybody springs to mind.

Okay, NinkyNonker so your car seat gets stolen and you don't go out in the car. How do you get a new one fitted? Order one on mail order and wait in till it arrives even if you run out of food and get fired? Honestly

YADNBU

Its illegal to drive with a child under the age of 3 that is not in a correct child seat. It isnt okay for one journey any more than its okay to drive with no insurance, no MOT, with the lights broken etc.

If the seat is broken/missing then you dont make the journey, in just the same way you dont if the car is broken.

Well, I wouldn't do it. It's illegal and the reason it's illegal is because it's not very safe. I appreciate she may have had any number of reasons for not having a car seat on that one day, but personally, I just couldn't do it. I would have asked a friend for help/ borrowed a car seat and been late for work. I know people will me I'm being over the top, but I'd rather risk losing my job than risk hurting my baby!

tatty yup you wait or get partner/neighbour to get one for you.

Not worth a life (or a fine) not to wait.

Oh, and to get another car seat, I also enlist the help of friend/ relative/ DH etc etc.

X-post entropygirl!

mrsholly great minds eh?

I did not say anything because of all your reasons above, but if that was me I would not have any child of mine in the car without a car seat. If my seat broke I would get a friend to look after my child and get myself to a car seat shop. I've watched to many videos on you tube to take ricks.

i wouldn't drive without a car seat for my kids, unless it was an emergency (medical involving my children) it is not safe, and my children are 7 and 5.

There is NO reason to drive with a small child in a car without a car seat unless it is life and death, not in my opinion anyway.

I had my 11 moth old sitting in the back of a taxi, in a nappy, with just a seat belt for 30 mins. She was having seizures and taxi was faster than an ambulance.

Keep yer beak out.

Right, so a blanket would make a difference would it nickelbabe

My point about it being broken was simply that there is a difference between a parent driving their child around without a car seat all the time - which is highly negligent. And doing it once because the car seat is broken - which is risky.

I'm not sure I'd have driven my one year old without a car seat for even one day either but I don't think I'd drop dead from shock or disgust if someone else did it.

Did you say anything to her?

If it were me I would say that she would be up for a hefty fine from the police if they see her and tbh thats one of the better outcomes....

no, a blanket wouldn't make a difference to the legality (i still wouldn't take out a baby unless in an emergency without a proper seat), but it would at least look as if she'd tried to do something about it.
(seeing as she's already broken the law)

ling I do find it shocking...I always find it shocking when people take unnecessary risks with babies lives.

So Op you are perfectly happy to criticise this woman on the internet but not actually try and help her or her baby? Nice!

Maybe she hasn't seen the youtube videos. Why didn't you say something to her or to nursery?

WTF - i think that's classed as an emergency. you wouldn't do that jsut to take her to nursery, would you

I think there is a difference between a medical emergency and dropping a child off at nursery. As a parent, you evaluate the risks in any given circumstance. If a child needs emergency medical attention, and is having seizures, then I doubt any one on this thread, or indeed any parent, would judge your decision. Clearly, the risk of not getting getting yourchild to hospital outweighs the risk of not being in a car seat. However, that is the not the sort of situation being discussed.