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Original poster

Who buys the carseat??

29 replies

CourtneyA · 17/06/2012 19:03

Im starting a nannying job soon and am really confused about who should buy carseats & pushchair?? the family's pushchair is too big to fit in my car so we made a joint decision to buy a second hand one.

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OldLadyKnowsNothing · 17/06/2012 19:04

The parents buy the car seat.

giraffesCantFitInThePalace · 17/06/2012 19:06

parents.

EmmaNess · 17/06/2012 19:07

parents

they should be buying the pushchair too

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 17/06/2012 19:09

Yes, and the pushchair, should have mentioned that. And your "business use" car insurance, and petrol/wear and tear when out and about with the dc.

Original poster
CourtneyA · 17/06/2012 19:12

they've agreed to pay petrol and the additional cost on my insurance. havent really spoken about wear and tear as im hoping not to use my car that often. I thought it should be the parents. The parents mentioned putting their carseat in my car on Mon morn and taking out Fri eve - am i right to be worried about what they are going to do after ive stopped working for the day like in an emergency? as they only have 1 carseat

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 17/06/2012 19:15

I think that's a sensible point to raise!

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 17/06/2012 19:17

Hmm, I think the carseat should stay with the dc, as you say, in case of emergency. Though I appreciate that if their home is small, a bulky carseat blocking the hall would be a pita. Think that's just how it goes.

Original poster
CourtneyA · 17/06/2012 19:21

really still not sure of what to do? should i approach the parents with my concerns or just go with their plans as they know best! - well thats what im hoping!!

OP posts:
KateShmate · 17/06/2012 19:22

Definitely parents.
We've got 5 DD's, and have always had a spare carseat for each in our Nanny's car.
3 are still in 9mth-4 carseats which are a bit of a PITA to keep swapping and changing, and so we thought it would just be easier all round to get a double set of seats.

nannyl · 17/06/2012 19:32

Im going to give a different opinion

I am obsessed with car seat safety... IMO only the safest seat avaliable that safely fits my car is good enough for any child that sits in it.

As a nanny for 7 / 10 years i provided my own car seats... because they ones parents provided didnt score that well in which? reports and it wasnt something i would compromise on.

I therefor bought the safest car seats on test, and no parents had a problem with their children using them

it also meant we never had to faff swapping car seats around which was a huge bonus.

However this was my choice and all the parents did provide car seats, I was just not happy to use the ones they had provided.

In all my jobs the parents have provided a small maclaren for me to keep in my boot at all times. again faffing about with buggies is something i can do without and you can get them so cheap it seems mad to be passing a buggy about for several years.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 17/06/2012 19:38

Re leaving the carseat with the dc... I'd put the carseat in my car on Monday morning as per expected. Then, after the day's work and as I was about to set off home, I'd say something like, "Oh, just occurred to me; what if you need to take dc to the doctors or something overnight? I'd better leave the seat here!"

I think the parents just haven't thought it through, good that you have.

Original poster
CourtneyA · 17/06/2012 19:38

im prepared to look at carseats with the parents so we can both agree on a carseat we find appropriate and safe for the children like we did for the pushchair.

OP posts:
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 17/06/2012 19:47

Good idea, the seat will need to fit both cars safely, not all "universal" car seats are.

Original poster
CourtneyA · 17/06/2012 19:51

Im meeting with the parents tomorrow so am going to raise this with them and see what response I get. They seem reasonable enough so hopefully we will sort something.

Ive been looking online and been speaking to people and Halfords have been recommended as they fit carseats.

One last thing - what carseats would you recommend? Baby will be 9months, am hoping to keep him rear facing until he's 12months, and the eldest will be 4 nearly 5

OP posts:
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 17/06/2012 19:59

The ideal carseat will depend on the cars involved, and check it fits properly in both before you buy. Can't really advise re retailers.

nannyl · 17/06/2012 20:08

oh i wouldnt trust halfords to fit car seats

i know far to many people who have had them fitted wrong (sometimes not even nearly right) and been told car seats fit safely when they dont Sad Angry

if you both have isofix the decision may be easier

nannyl · 17/06/2012 20:09

if baby is 9m then he will still be (probably) in a baby seat so no need to get another one for a few weeks, as you dont normally need to leave the seat in the car, and can use what he already has

Original poster
CourtneyA · 17/06/2012 20:36

he is still in a rear facing baby seat which i do intend to use if it isnt a struggle - i only have a 3door car.

OP posts:
Original poster
CourtneyA · 17/06/2012 20:36

Where else fits carseats?

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 17/06/2012 21:17

Good local independant shops, in car safety centre.

Agree keep that baby rearfacing for as long as possible and avoid halfords. Twice the twunts have fitted a car seat incorrectly for me. I just let them do it and pointed out their error. Refused to fit me a seat after that!

nannyl · 17/06/2012 21:28

mothercare fit car seats.... but i wouldnt trust them either!

nannynick · 18/06/2012 06:56

Personally I provide the car so I also provide seats. If parents don't want to use the seats I provide they can provide their own as long as they fit the car and remain in all the time. Baby carry seat may be an exception as that gets taken in and out frequently.

Agree with others, where possible use independent local store. Try fitting before purchase.

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 18/06/2012 13:44

I'm the same as nannynick I have my own carseats that have been correctly fitted in my car, I own a stage 1, 2, 3 and a booster seat. If parents aren't happy to use those then they can supply one but it must be fitted by a professional and is for use solely in my car. Its to easy for mum or dad to drive off in a rush and forget to hand carseats over or for you to be in a rush to fit it before the school run and not fit it correctly and some are so heavy that my back really cant take the daily bending and lifting of fitting them!

I also own my own pushchairs but that is purely because my boss went to work with hers in the boot of the car on a 3 day course and I borrowed one from my aunt, in the end she gave it to me and then a friend gave me her old one when her son went into a lightweight buggy, so I own a combi pram/pushchair and a buggy.

I do find it easier to supply my own but it was never a concious decision it has just sort of happened over the years.

Frakiosaurus · 18/06/2012 14:51

As a parent I would buy a seat which fitted nanny's car. We had a maxicosi baby seat and a britax first class in our 3 door clio (not at the same time!) and both were fine from a 'getting baby in' POV. The Britax would be a pain to fit forward facing but I plan to leave that with my parents for occasional use.

I would insist on ERF though so given that they tend to be a bit more expensive I'd definitely pay.

KateShmate · 18/06/2012 19:22

OP, I would probably suggest an ISOFIX base - quite expensive but it means that you can literally clip the baby seat in within a second. Therefore you can put the baby in the seat before you go out to the car. I only say this as I can't imagine it would be too easy trying to put a baby in an infant seat in a 3 door car.
Isofix bases are the way forward - they're brilliant for quickness!

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