Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

1 2

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?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

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?

Suchffun · 04/02/2011 15:39

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

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:

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 15:58

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 16:00

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

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)

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.

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.

OP posts:

Laquitar · 04/02/2011 16:32

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

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

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.

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.

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

Original poster

headfairy · 04/02/2011 17:39

ok, thanks for the responses. I'm not drip feeding here but a little more information on a slightly related subject might affect things too. As I've said, she would have her 2 dcs as well, the younger dc is 2 so he would be at our house all day. I don't have any problems with that, it'll be fun for my two.

She will do the school run to collect her older ds as discussed then he will come to our house for his tea as well as her other son. So I will be feeding both her children 3 days a week, plus they'll be having baths at my house as I need someone to stay until 7pm. She's said that she would like to bath them and get them in their pyjamas so that she can take them home and just put them straight to bed. Again I have no problems, but bearing in mind that she'll be saving a lot of money on that front would it be reasonable to ask her to get car seats, or is it a completely different issue?

OP posts:

ImFab · 04/02/2011 17:40

If you want your child to use a seat then you need to buy them. I would compromise and maybe pay half the mileage for the school run.

ImFab · 04/02/2011 17:43

You sound a tad resentful about her feeding and bathing her children at yours. Be careful what you agree too as you can't change your mind later.

Is she a contender because she is cheaper as she might not be such a bargain now you are having to buy seats, and feed and bathe her kids.

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/02/2011 17:44

i still think you should buy the car seats- it is a different issue

one that should have been discussed at interview, and then maybe her salary will be a bit less to cover the fact she is lucky enough to bring her dc and also not giving 100% time to your dc

food wise, friends who take their own dc have always had their childrens meals previded,tbh an extra meal of pasta/meat/jackets etc isnt a lot BUT they also will bring some food every now and again and this will go feed all,ie she might bring in a lb of mince/few bags of mixed veg etc

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/02/2011 17:44

if she baths your dc as well then dont see the problem,assuming all will share the bath water

Original poster

headfairy · 04/02/2011 17:48

fab, I'm not resentful at all. I was hoping it meant I could make some kind of compromise on the car seats though.

She's a contender because she was so fabulous with ds, straight away I could see she had a great affinity with him, and dd too. She's really lovely, very relaxed and easy going. I got that feeling straight away that she'd be great, but I'm worrying about the logistics.

I guess I'm clutching at straws re the food because she said her older ds was really fussy and would eat only certain types of food prepared in a specific way, so I'm sure she'll end up contributing to the food. And I'm sure as he's only 4 he'll eat such small amounts it won't add much to our food bill.

But you're right, I really do need to be clear about all this don't I?

OP posts:

naughtymummy · 04/02/2011 17:49

Presumably the fact that she is looking after her 2 year old is reflected in her salary, ditto food and hot water ? I would actually think that it would be reasonable for her to provide her own children's food. You can get car seats ever so cheaply these days, but obviously not necessarly the ones that come out top in the tests. I wouldn't let it be a deal breaker for an otherwise good nanny.

FattyArbuckel · 04/02/2011 17:53

I think you need to buy the car seats for your own kids, galling as it may be to have to buy a third set. Certainly you couldn't object to second hand seats if your nanny buys them herself imo.

However you would be justified in paying her a lower hourly rate because she is looking after her own kids as well as yours plus feeding and bathing them at yours.

Laquitar · 04/02/2011 18:00

About the food, ok an extra portion of pasta is not much cost but if you have tight budget the juice and fruits can add up.

Also talk about the activities - will she pay for her own dcs if she takes them all to a music group for example? And will they have to eat out sometimes, who will pay what in this case?

Original poster

headfairy · 04/02/2011 18:09

good point laquitar - I will mention that at the interview. I think realistically if she does any paid for activities it'll probably only include one of her dcs as the other one is at school 9am until 3.15pm, and by the time she's done the school run and got back to mine (her ds's school is about 20 mins away give or take) it'll probably be time to start thinking about tea (my ds goes all pathetic if he has to wait beyond 5 for tea)

naughtymummy that's what I thought, which is why I want to be as open minded as possible. She's so nice and warm and friendly that I'm happy to allow much more than I would someone I didnt' feel would be so good for the dcs.

OP posts:

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 04/02/2011 18:15

headfairy - yes, you do need to be really clear about everything or else it will cause a lot of resentment, then you will also have 4 kids who are used to being a part of each others lives as well to consider if you want to put an end to the arrangement.

It can work really well, I have a friend with 2 girls who has a nanny, she has been there for 7 years, had ML with her son, and other than that has always brought him along, he's 4 now! However, I think it only works for certain personality types - it wouldn't work for me. My friend is really laid back, treats her nanny's DS like a nephew and doesn't resent the inconvenience or cost of having him there at all.

Just a few things I can think of:

Food - you also have to consider school holidays as well as school time - feeding 2 extras at all times - including treats. I think it is simpler for you to cover all the cost of it and pay her accordingly.

Bath stuff - bathwash, bubble bath, shampoo etc laundering of towels. Not to mention the time it takes to bath her two as well.

Stuff - art supplies/baking stuff, it all costs more with 4 kids using it.

After school activities - what are you happy for her to do with her kids that means yours are just tagging along? For example, would you be happy for her one of her DS's to go to swimming classes where your two just have to trail around and get nothing from it, or are all activities on the days she has yours out of the question. I know she's only working 3 days, but sometimes you don't have much choice of which day to attend a class.

Doctors, dentists etc

Visiting her friends, family, toddler groups.

Be clear about things like nappies (if hers are still in them).

What illnesses are you happy for her to bring her kids to yours with? Colds/chicken pox etc If you aren't happy with her bringing her kids if they have CP what is the back up plan? She calls in sick? She has alternative care? ??

Lots of little things, but they become big things if you both make assumptions that are different.

You would probably do really well to start another thread along the lines of 'Nanny bringing her own child, what do I need to consider'.

(I have been doing other things while writing this, so will probably x-post with 10 others who have already said the same thing now!)

Flip

1 2