What if CM doesn't have appropriate car seat??? Pls help

[luckymummy2sophie]

Hi, my dd will be going to CM in Dec, and CM told me today she only has a car seat for older babies, forward facing I think. Our car seat is one with an autobase which stays in our car, so she can't use that. I'm a bit worried about what will happen to my lo when she goes, as CM has older children she takes to school and often takes kids out in the car. I'm loathed to buy one ourselves as dd should be in a forward facing one in the next 2-3 months, she's 7kg at the mo (6 mths old). It's an expensive thing to buy for it only to be used a few times, she is only going to CM twice a week. ANY ADVICE GREATLY RECEIVED. Should CM have a car seat for younger babies if she takes them from 3 months? Or is it our responsibility to buy one.

would be responsibilyt of cm imo

it is up to the individual cm and parents to decide between who will buy the car seat. ive done both,it really is a decision between both parties .
is yours an isofix?

I have seats for all ages, and have also borrowed a seat from a mum as well.

Even with a car base, they should be able to be strapped in with a 3 point harness as well. You need to point out that it is a legal requirement now that she has the right seat, andit would be her not you that would be fined if she didn't.

She ought to have one I think, if she's accepting babies that young. There is no way your baby should go in a forward facing seat yet, she's much too young. I think the latest recommendations are that they stay in the rear facing seats as long as possible, ideally a year+ because they are so much safer for their necks etc. Argos and Toys R Us both do the Britax Babysure car seat which is only £40, is pretty universal fitting and will take them up to 13kgs so she could use it for a long time yet. But it should be the CM's responsibilty to buy it, not yours.

i must add that it really is not neccesarily the cms responsibility,like i say i have done both and altho i have bought seats for the babies i was told at my icp (compulsory cm course) that it is the parents responsibility.
theres a bit of confussion over this as different icp tutors give out conflicting views but my advice to you would be to chat to your cm about it and come up with a solution.......maybe go halves on a seat that will take your dd up to the age of 4?

Although a lot of childminders have their own infant car seat (me included), a lot of parents bring their baby in in their own car seat as well. My seat is one with a base that stays in the car (M & P Primo Viaggio), but you can also use it without the base. If yours isn't suitable, maybe your cm could borrow a seat from a cm friend who doesn't need it at present. Most of my friends are glad to lend out stuff not being used as it frees up space in their houses!

It sounds as though your car seat is the Graco one, I have one of those with an auto base, but when I first bought it I didn't have an autobase so strapped it in on its own & that was fine. I agree the autobase is good so easy to put the car seat in & out but not completely neccessary. Speak to your childminder again & see if she wants to see if your car seat fits in her car ok & that she is happy fixing it. This is the first time for a long time as a childminder that I have needed to have a first stage car seat for a minded child as I have usually used the parents own.

If the childminder doesn't have the correct seat she cannot use her car. She has a responsibility as a driver to ensure the correct seats are used and a responsibility as a childminder to ensure the safety of her minded children.

It is not always possible to use the parent's seat as not all child seats are compatible with all cars. Its important to check the fit of the seat in the vehicle.

There is no hard and fast rule about who should purchase the seat; people have come to different decisions eg.

• the parents and childminder may agree to share the cost (it should be agreed what will happen to the seat at the end of the childcare arrangement)
• if the parent is requesting the childminder to use their vehicle to collect their child/take to tumble tots/toddlers etc then it may be argued that the parent should provide the seat
• if the childminder doesn't need to use her vehicle but chooses to do so as part of the activities she has chosen to provide then it may be argued that the childminder should provide the seat as she will also be able to use the seat with other minded children in the future. The childminder can also put the cost of the car seat down in her accounts as a business expense.
• the childminder may not have the funds available to purchase the seat and may decide to offer her vacancy to an older child.

the childminder shouldn't be advertise herself as being able to take care of children of certain ages if she doesn't have the appropriate equipment for them

it's the cm's problem, not yours.

wow, thanks guys for fantastic advice, I wasn't expecting so many replies!!