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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

CM expertise re car seats please!

21 replies

Fluffybubble · 07/01/2007 18:48

I know that this is probably a daft question (not sure that I have even put this under correct section!) but need your advice!

My ds (3) is starting with his CM in a couple of weeks and I need to buy a car seat that will fit her car, and preferably mine too.

Ideally, I would like one with a harness as he can escape from the next stage seats that only use the seatbelt. My problem is finding one that will fit my cm's car, as the only site that I can find which has the fit-finder guide is Britax. Mothercare have been pretty vague regarding the correct fit of a seat, and I obviously can't drag my cm along to various locations to try seats...

What do you do about seats for your mindees? Don't want to appear neurotic but since ds will be spending a lot of time with cm I really want to ensure that I buy the right one!!

Thanks!!

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NannyL · 07/01/2007 18:51

I would go for a britax evolva 1-2-3 cause it does well in crash tests and in a year it can convert into a high backed booster.

or other wise a maxi cosi priori fits most cars as long as there is no buckel crunch... but once he is 18kg he wontfir in it anymore.... but will be traveling safely for the time he does use it!

shosha · 07/01/2007 18:53

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Fluffybubble · 07/01/2007 19:01

My cm doesn't have one that is suitable, she has small babies and older children that she minds, so I said I would get one, am I being daft then??!!

The only one that has shown up as compatible with her car (a Hyundai) & mine (a Clio) is a Britax Trio (now markets as a Fisher Price seat), but I have read elsewhere on MN that the Trio is not great!!

My inclination was that if I was buying the seat that I wanted to also be able to make use of it in my car at a later date, but maybe I am just confusing the issue??!!

Thanks for your replies .

OP posts:

bambi06 · 07/01/2007 19:06

i supply all the carseats as well [im a childminder]as then i know they fit my car , still dont understand why youre expected to supply one which also means having to take the seat in and out of cars everyday!!!

bambi06 · 07/01/2007 19:08

how many kids will she have as to how many she can fir in her car s ive found only certain ones fit three across the back and im not sure a clio is wide enough fo rthree seats so you may end up buying one and it doesnt fit with her other seats.

Original poster

Fluffybubble · 07/01/2007 19:14

Well, I was going to buy one for her so that I can leave mine in my car at all times, just wanted to make sure that I could make use of it if necessary in the future (for ds's friends etc).

Should I be asking her to proived one ideally then? Am new to this...

Thanks for your help.

OP posts:

Bluebear · 07/01/2007 19:17

I used to have a clio and I couldn't fit 3 seats across the back (2 of them were skinnyish high back boosters) - the seats cover the seatbelt sockets.
I have a britax elite which is a larger size seat (fits up to age 6 ish) and still has a harness rather than use the seat belt - bought it for houdini dd...but being a shaped seat rather than a booster it does take up more width in the car.

smeeinit · 07/01/2007 19:19

fluffy, i would ask your cm to go with you to choose a seat and take both your cars,thats the only sure way you will know if its going to fit both cars.
theres been a lot of debate on mn about who should provide the car seat--cm or parents,and everyone does it differently,when i first started out the parents would provide the seats as this is what was reccomended on my icp course,i now have a good selection of seats of my own.
i dont see a problem with cm or parents providing seat,its between the individuals to decide.
aslong as the children are safe thats all that matters.

shosha · 07/01/2007 19:23

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Fluffybubble · 07/01/2007 19:24

Well, I was going to buy one for her so that I can leave mine in my car at all times, just wanted to make sure that I could make use of it if necessary in the future (for ds's friends etc).

Should I be asking her to proived one ideally then? Am new to this...

Thanks for your help.

OP posts:

Original poster

Fluffybubble · 07/01/2007 19:25

whoops!

OP posts:

smeeinit · 07/01/2007 19:29

fluffy,it really is a decision between you and the cm, different people do it in different ways.
if its what you have agreed on then i would stick with it!

Original poster

Fluffybubble · 07/01/2007 19:30

She has a people carrier which has seven seats so not sure which my ds would be in. She will only have the 2 babies when my ds is there as he will only be with her from 9.30am to 2.30pm, so outside school hours (except in hols).

I don't mind buying the seat myself, esp if I can also get some use out of it (ds will be off to school a year in September). I want to make sure he is safe, but feel a bit like I am making mountain out of molehill! Can't bring myself to buy one from local Halfords or Mothercare without being sure though! Maybe I need to communicate with my cm!!

Thanks for all of your replies, very helpful!

OP posts:

smeeinit · 07/01/2007 19:37

fluffy, you certainly dont need to worry about thinking you are making a mountain out of a molehill?!
this is your childs safety and you have every right to be concerned about which seat does the best job for him/her.
if i were you id ask the cm to go out with you to get seat,or if thats not possible see if she can go out with her car to ensure the seat you choose will fit ok.
im a cm and would think thats a perfectly reasonable request!

nannynick · 07/01/2007 19:45

Car seats I have are Group 1-3 high back booster seats which have a 5 point harness. Bit cheap and cheerful, but practical for long term usage as multi group. Did find the crotch strap was too close though to fit a 3 year old in, so depending on size of your DS you may find that he won't fit in seats with a 5-point harness.

Does it need to be a special size, iso-fix fitting, or any other special requirement to fit your CMs car?

Not sure but if you get from Argos, will they allow you to return it if it didn't fit. So if you choose a car seat they stocked, that may enable you to check that it will fit in each car. You'll need to check with them regarding returns policy on car seats.

S88AHG · 07/01/2007 20:45

Maybe if she already has some car seats you could see if one of the ones she has (IE Britax Freeway or whatever) s will fit your car too, then buy one of those.So she didnt have to go aswell, if you see what I mean

babydales · 07/01/2007 20:48

Just a little surprised that you are actually providing your own.Like many I provide all my children with car seats and if I get a new child that I dont have a seat that is right for then I go and buy one. I have always thought that that was part of the job. But each to their own. Just 1 question When your child finishes with this minder are you keeping the seat?

Original poster

Fluffybubble · 07/01/2007 20:58

babydales, yes, I would keep the seat if I had bought it, that's why I would like one that I can use in the future if poss.

Feel a bit daft really, my cm is lovely, but am being a bit thick regarding practicalities, and have just assumed that I should buy one!

Thanks for the reassurance smee, I feel like I should be slightly more prepared than I am (although, I think that is due to the whole return to work thing in general, brain appears to have dissolved in past 3 years!!).

I actually bought the Freeway, as this would fit too, but only until ds is 4 yrs approx. It is due to be returned on Tuesday! Nannynick, the Britax Trio is available under the Fisher Price brand in Argos, so might go down that route, thank you! If not, may have to make a day of it shopping with cm, as smee suggests!

Must use my brain in future! Thanks for all of your suggestions, did think I might get shot down in flames for being a wally so I really appreciate it!

OP posts:

NannyL · 07/01/2007 21:13

I ahve a clio and i can fit 3 car seats in the back

a britax renaissance (group1) a britax highliner (group2) and a britax horizon (group 3) DO just about fit in the back of my car!

ThePrisoner · 08/01/2007 00:46

No specific advice on car seats, but just wanted to say that all minders I know provide their own car seats.

If you get a car seat for your ds, will it stay with her all week? Will it be used by other mindees if your ds isn't there?

ayla99 · 09/01/2007 10:42

It doesn't matter who buys the seat - if the parent buys it they should keep it after cm no longer needs it and if the cm buys it they should keep it for use with other mindies. I don't know what people who pay half each do!

The important thing to do is to check that the seat fits any car it is to be used in. If you live near a shop like Kiddicare in Peterborough you and your cm can take your cars and they will try the seats in both cars before you buy.

Or visit Britax Fitfinder and put in the details of each car.

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