To think a trained nanny shouldn't need to telling that car seats are compulsory

[ThunderAndFrightening]

That really. DD told me tonight that when they go in their nanny's car they never use car seats. She is 5, DS is 3.

I asked our nanny about it and she replied she didn't know we wanted her to use them. To be fair, we hadn't said explicitly, but given its a matter of law I guess I am shocked she thought there was an option not to. Car seats are always in the porch so easily accessible and to be honest if she couldn't find them, just phone me and ask. She was so blaise I wonder now if I AIBU to be annoyed and should have been clear she should use them every journey. She is really experienced as a nanny and childminder and has her own kids, so not unreasonable to think she knows the law/guidelines for car seats.

No, it's shocking negligence and illegal.

Id be fucking livid. However, checking she knew how to fit them in her car should have been covered at the start, when doing all the general "this is how this and that works" talk surely?

Yanbu. Most unprofessional of her to take them out with no seats. And illegal. I'd be fuming.

I would be giving her a warning (or worse). She put your children's lives in danger more than once. Her attitude is appalling and I couldn't trust her again.

Is she an older lady?

There is a childminder in our area who has over 20 years experience and comes highly recommended yet look in her car and you will find a flimsy hong Kong eBay car seat (the type that's just material which is held in place by the adult belt as though it were round a person with a 5 point harness on top for the child) and a Britax steel framed seat with sling seat that my mum owned for my brother in 1995.

I doubt she means any harm but I would've thought she would (or the parents would of provided) be up to date with current safety legislation and that car seats should comply.

Fucking hell, is this for real? I think a sackable offence if so.

And I'm one of those people who think posters on the rear-facing threads get a little overdramatic sometimes

We did show them to her as part of orientation, but I agree I should have shown her how to the put them in her car to be really clear - although they are the really simple high backed booster sort, no real installation to speak of.

Sadly I do feel like I can't trust her now. She seems totally lacking in common sense.

Um... I don't think I'd be trusting her to look after my kids no matter how experienced she claims to be. What other basic safety rules is she ignoring?

Of course she knew, she just cba to do it.

Sorry but I would consider this a massive red flag. Not only are your DCs more likely to be hurt in the event of an accident (or even potentially an emergency stop), her insurance is unlikely to cover any costs incurred.

Come on unless she been on the moon she knows. As someone who works with children..... Huge red flag. Ill be looking around for another nanny as if she doesnt know that or cant be bothered what else...

If she is British, or from any relatively developed country for that matter, of course she knows about car seats. Just negligent and I'd not trust her with my DC after that.

Gross Misconduct if you wish.

I would.

:o

Slightly de-railing but can I just add that 3 years old is very young to be in a high back booster without a 5 point harness, the bare minimum weight is 15kg but ideally they should be harnessed until 18kg or until the tip of their ears are inline with the top of the stage one seat.

I don't mean to preach its just because we're talking about car safety and I am admittedly a paranoid nutcase when it comes to cars.

Thanks for the safety advice, but he is nearly 4, 20kg+ (98th percentile) and was way over the top of his 5 point harness seat. Definitely too small to travel with no car seat at all though. I can't imagine what she was thinking - who doesn't use car seats at all.

Think we will be getting a new nanny v. soon.

Gross Misconduct.
is she Ofsted registered? I would let them know too.
its not a "nanny thing" its a driver thing. surely everyone knows that small children need car seats?! .

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that every passenger under 14 is in a child seat or is using a seat belt according to the law

if she isn't bothering with car seats, what else is she neglecting....

Jeez, must make you wonder what else she's up to!

Where is she from?

I'd have her out about that too. I'd never be able to trust her again.

I'm not surprised you're shaken. Are you happy to keep using her?

I think that's gross misconduct and grounds for instant dismissal without pay (I am NOT an employment lawyer!) If you use a nanny payroll, you probably have access to a legal advice helpline.

I would not continue using her - she clearly is not trustworthy. Shocking behaviour. I would make sure the agency knew exactly why she was dismissed, and also if she asked for a reference, it would be in there.

I'd be upset if I hired a nanny who had done this before and I didn't know.

Take advice on it to be sure, but if you don't trust her and plan on a new nanny either solely because of this or due to other concerns too, take this opportunity to fire her for gross misconduct.

She has broken the law and endangered your children's lives repeatedly.

Thanks all. To answer some questions she is British, a little older - but am sure car seats have been a legal requirement for most if not all of her career and with her own children.

We are getting some advice. I think the trust has gone.

Qualified?

What quals does she have then?