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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

when do cm's use forward facing carseats?

19 replies

lexiemum · 07/05/2006 17:54

ok, so does a cm make the decision when to place a baby into a forward facing seat or do you wait until parent says its ok to do so?

haven't got all my facts yet but i think my cm may be putting dd2 in forward facing seat as of this last week - she has been rear facing before that. we still are using her 1st stage one and have no intention just yet to put her forward facing, though she has v.good head control, sits up perfectly and is crawling. There is another baby involved who is slightly older and probably in forward facing on the opposite days to us, so it might be that she just hasn't changed the seat around when I arrive in the morning. I don't do pick ups so will get dh to look in car before I ask cm about it.

I guess my gut reaction is that she should ask me first esp. as it is quite obvious we're still in stage one as I carry dd2 in it each morning.

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Katymac · 07/05/2006 18:00

It may depend upon her car seat - It might have a different weight limit to yours?

I would have expected her to discuss it with you tho'

Do you carry your dd in in her car seat and leave it?

I tend to use he parents first stage car seat and mine once they are toddlers

looneytune · 07/05/2006 18:15

I am a childminder and currently have 3 babies (not all at once of course) and I take them out in my own rear facing seat at the moment (well, one of them goes in their own sometimes but the other 2 seats aren't suitable).

Anyway, I personally would NEVER move them to the next stage without talking to the parents first. In fact, I've got one parent who said she was thinking about putting her dd into a forward facing seat soon and I made it perfectly clear I would have her in the rear facing seat with me until she was old enough for my forward facing seats (she's only 7 months old and my forward facing are for 9+ months with correct weight).

HTH :)

Original poster

lexiemum · 07/05/2006 18:26

yes I leave my stage one and said this may be easier to use initially but it didn't fit her car.

she has a britax stage 1/2 seat and I checked it as rear facing i.e fitted correctly at contract signing. its just now its forward facing.

shall get dh to check its position on collection. also need to get dd2 weighed as she may well have met weight requirements but shes not 9mths till end of june.

OP posts:

looneytune · 07/05/2006 19:06

Well IF she's moved it foward for your dd then I think you should have words as I don't think it's right to change any part of a routine etc without talking to parents! That's just me though :) Also, I personally wouldn't be in any hurry to move them to the next stage unless they were outgrowing the seat iyswim.

chezbabe101 · 07/05/2006 20:42

the child needs to be 20lbs in weight and able to sit alone for a short while before being in a forward facing carseat, I used to fit carseats for mothercare and mamas and papas

chezbabe101 · 07/05/2006 20:44

she should however check with you 1st, as long as your baby isnt to big for the 1st stage seat its fine, ie: child putting feet up on back of seat in car...

Original poster

lexiemum · 07/05/2006 21:58

thanks guys - she still fits our 1st stage well so we feel no need to move her into the other. Yes, she meets half the criteria for the next i.e sits up independantly but she ain't near 20lbs yet.

I've got DH on the case to check out position of seat on wednesday and if it is still forward facing then I'll be having words on thurs,

OP posts:

NannyL · 07/05/2006 22:14

If your baby is less than 20ib its is negligent and very dangerouse to put her forward facing.

If i were you id make it quite clear that you insist your baby travels rear facing before your baby travels in her car again.

While you are right and she may have indeed swapped the seat round, i would definitely check before the car journey.... you would NEVER forgive yourself if they were in a crash on Wednesday and your baby broke his or her neck as a result would you?

Original poster

lexiemum · 07/05/2006 23:07

nannyl - I know that I should say something on weds am but want to get my facts in order first really. they don't use the car on a wednesday - as they stay local and walk.

been there with another issue early on in contract and they were so quick with what seemed a reasoned explanation that not sure I'd be assertive enough to discuss it. though, they had seriously thought about what I'd said and made significant changes on my return next day, so in hindsight realised that I knew what I wanted.

OP posts:

lazycow · 08/05/2006 11:35

A child should be 20lbs at least to face forward. My ds was 16 months old before he weighed this. he was rear facing until the last couple of weeks (now 17 months old). the CM should definitely check with you before putting her forward facing.

chezbabe101 · 08/05/2006 17:38

my 1st DD was 17 mths before she weighed 20lbs so we bought a rear facing seat that could be turned round when she reached 20lbs

Original poster

lexiemum · 08/05/2006 17:45

this has been playing on my mind today and it suddenly came to me that when I signed contracts I wrote "must be rear facing carseat" on the authorisation for travelling in a car. so will defo clarify this on wednesday morning.

OP posts:

looneytune · 08/05/2006 17:45

I'm not sure if I should say anything to parents again but my new baby mindee is in a forward facing car seat (I saw this morning) and she's about 14lbs (7 months old). :(

chezbabe101 · 08/05/2006 18:58

I would, its all to do with the weight on the seat, the seat in an accident may not be safe :(

chezbabe101 · 08/05/2006 19:01

Get the right seat for your child’s weight

A child that is either above or below the specified weight range for the car seat may prevent the seat from effectively protecting them in the event of an accident. It is critical that your child is in the right seat for their weight.

got that from the mothercare website......

ThePrisoner · 08/05/2006 22:49

Concensus of opinion, amongst group of real-life childminders I asked today, was that we should not take it upon ourselves to decide when to move a child into the next size car seat - it should begin with discussions with parent.

NannyL · 09/05/2006 10:07

I completely agree....

childminders should only decide to choose a different car seat from parent if the child is not the right size for the one the parents choose...

Im a nanny, my 4 year old is only about 13kg.... mummy puts her in a booster with a back for children from 15kg (Guideline 4 years).... i REFUSE to do this and she sits in her group 1 car seat in my car and will continue to do so until she is 15kg regardless!

Either that or i wont drive with her in the car!

Original poster

lexiemum · 10/05/2006 22:58

addressed situation this morning informally, response was well other baby's mum puts her forward facing so thought i'd do the same (inferring my child too)because my dd is heavier than other charge. Made it clear that until mine is weighed (not been done for 3mths) and definately meets the 20lb and we as parents were happy our dd is to travel rear facing. Left that I would inform when it was suitable to use forward facing.

appeared to accept this though felt I left on a sour note and spent the whole journey into working worrying she'd give me notice.

had a more positive conversation tonight, so think all is well and that cm has reflected on what I said and will action.

OP posts:

looneytune · 11/05/2006 07:07

How naughty - can't believe she would do this without talking to you! I'm glad you spoke to her and seem to have worked things out! :)

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