Should I Change My Car Seat Policy?

[jenboo]

I currently do not allow car seats to be left on my property due to liability and space.
The problem is, I run an infant/ toddler only program. It seems to be a big issue for families.

If i cared for older children it wouldn't be a big deal because they wouldn't be in an infant seat. Most of my families come with an infant seat and bases in each car.

Should i change my policy? The only space for car seats would be the garage or my bedroom (I really don't want them in my room).
Should i keep my policy and just deal with families passing me up for that reason?

I never used the infant seat with my son, so to me it's not an issue to have a car seat for each car.

[LysesKids]

I currently do not allow car seats to be left on my property due to liability and space.
The problem is, I run an infant/ toddler only program. It seems to be a big issue for families.

If i cared for older children it wouldn't be a big deal because they wouldn't be in an infant seat. Most of my families come with an infant seat and bases in each car.

Should i change my policy? The only space for car seats would be the garage or my bedroom (I really don't want them in my room).
Should i keep my policy and just deal with families passing me up for that reason?

I never used the infant seat with my son, so to me it's not an issue to have a car seat for each car.

I don't allow carseats to even be brought into my home much less left (and yes I am infant only); I explain to parents that it's up to them how to get the seat from one car to the other each day if they don't have a separate seat for each vehicle (if one parent drops & the other picks up). Carseats can also be dirty, germy things, or heaven forbid they are hiding a bug from who knows where. I won't let it be my problem

I really don't have anywhere to store them each day and parents actually realize that once they interview... I have only lost one family over it since I started the policy 8 years ago.

[jenboo]

I don't allow carseats to even be brought into my home much less left (and yes I am infant only); I explain to parents that it's up to them how to get the seat from one car to the other each day if they don't have a separate seat for each vehicle (if one parent drops & the other picks up). Carseats can also be dirty, germy things, or heaven forbid they are hiding a bug from who knows where. I won't let it be my problem

I really don't have anywhere to store them each day and parents actually realize that once they interview... I have only lost one family over it since I started the policy 8 years ago.

This makes me feel much better about my policy!

[nannyde]

No car seats in the house. I don't allow them to even bring them in. They load and unload babies in the driveway.

[jenboo]

How do you word this policy in your handbook?

[LysesKids]

How do you word this policy in your handbook?

Please leave car seats/carriers in your vehicles for drop-off or pick ups; I cannot store car seats on the property or in the house while you are at work due to space and safety issues, plus they can transport hitch-hiking germs, bedbugs, lice etc from a Gym, Hotel or other facility.

I know it's not always possible, but suggest that you try and have one car seat per vehicle that picks up... the reason behind this is, if one of the cars is in an accident and an alternate must pick up, the car seat that was in the accident CANNOT BE USED due to possible damage (even if none is visible) - your insurance will replace that seat; parents that have to juggle seats between 2 vehicles have also found themselves without a seat last minute due to their spouses OT at work and it makes for late pick-ups and frantic calls.

[Blackcat31]

I dont see why this is an issue simply because you have infants/toddlers. Kids use car seats until they are 8 yrs old or older in some cases so every age has a seat to manage.

As for the bases for the carriers, I have several parents where the base is simply left in ONE parents car. IME, you don't need the base to still use the seat.

Also in this day and age, it is WAY safer for parents to have more than one seat so they don't have to be continually removing and re-installing the car seats into different cars.

I know it can get expensive but kids are expensive and when it comes to safety issues, I just **** my head sideways and look at a parent funny and if necessary ask why we are discussing costs when it comes to safety.... As a parent cost would not be an issue when dealing with MY CHILD'S SAFETY.

I'm sure it's an inconvenience for some parents but it's liability for you. You have to pick which is more important....liability for you or inconvenience for them.

[happymom]

I hate car seats in the house. I stand behind you on this one.

I would suggest to suggest a convertible carseat to any parent who questions it. Simply state that a convertible state is the next stage up from an infant seat and can be used for several years (and they need to buy one anyway). So they don't feel like they're wasting money.

[jenboo]

I dont see why this is an issue simply because you have infants/toddlers. Kids use car seats until they are 8 yrs old or older in some cases so every age has a seat to manage.

As for the bases for the carriers, I have several parents where the base is simply left in ONE parents car. IME, you don't need the base to still use the seat.

Also in this day and age, it is WAY safer for parents to have more than one seat so they don't have to be continually removing and re-installing the car seats into different cars.

I know it can get expensive but kids are expensive and when it comes to safety issues, I just **** my head sideways and look at a parent funny and if necessary ask why we are discussing costs when it comes to safety.... As a parent cost would not be an issue when dealing with MY CHILD'S SAFETY.

I'm sure it's an inconvenience for some parents but it's liability for you. You have to pick which is more important....liability for you or inconvenience for them.

Their complaint is that they just spent a few hundred on a bucket seat and 2+ bases and now they need to buy 1-2 new carseats (depending on how many people pick up/drop off) instead of getting to wait 1-1.5 years.

I'm big into car seats though so maybe I'll create a flyer with budget friendly options to include in my tour/enrollment packet.

[Blackcat31]

Their complaint is that they just spent a few hundred on a bucket seat and 2+ bases and now they need to buy 1-2 new carseats (depending on how many people pick up/drop off) instead of getting to wait 1-1.5 years.

I'm big into car seats though so maybe I'll create a flyer with budget friendly options to include in my tour/enrollment packet.

Oh, I get it but like I said your liability is worth far more than a couple hundred bucks.

....and a few hundred on a bucket seat and 2 bases?! Where are they shopping? ! A quick Amazon search and seats AND bases are pretty inexpensive unless they are buying really top of the line seats but in my experience those parents that buy top of the line are safety geeks and most of those types rarely mention cost in connection to safety.

I get it though....it's an added expense for parents but like I said, until we (general we) can rein in this outrageous idea of suing everyone for everything, MY liability outweighs ANY issue a parent has in regards to THEIR child.

[KTsKids]

Their complaint is that they just spent a few hundred on a bucket seat and 2+ bases and now they need to buy 1-2 new carseats (depending on how many people pick up/drop off) instead of getting to wait 1-1.5 years.

I'm big into car seats though so maybe I'll create a flyer with budget friendly options to include in my tour/enrollment packet.

Chances are the infant seat they purchased won't last 1-1.5 years. Depending on the model purchased infants can outgrow them well before the 1st year forcing the parents to purchase a convertible car seat anyway. I am a child passenger safety tech and used to work with a non-profit that helped parents with installation and also gave out seats for low income families. We never gave out infant only seats (carriers) because the simply didn't last that long. Even when I worked for the children's hospital we always gave families convertible car seats that went from 5lbs to 40 or 65 for newborns.

I don't allow seats in my home (mainly for sanitation reasons) and I always recommend my families purchase a convertible seat for their second vehicle. They will need to purchase one anyway when their child outgrows the infant seat! If a family has a true financial need tell them to contact their local Safe Kids coalition (safekids.org). Most, not all, Safe Kids programs offer free or low cost seats as well as some really great education to low income families.

[happymom]

I hate playing musical carseats, so I couldn't imagine not having a seat in both of our cars.

I am huge into car seat safety and my 1 year old rides in a $30 seat in one car and a $44 seat in the other car. I feel 100% confident that he is safe in those "cheap" seats.

[jenboo]

I hate playing musical carseats, so I couldn't imagine not having a seat in both of our cars.

I am huge into car seat safety and my 1 year old rides in a $30 seat in one car and a $44 seat in the other car. I feel 100% confident that he is safe in those "cheap" seats.

We have the $45 scenera next and love it!
They all pass the same pass/ test so all are safe!

[jenboo]

Chances are the infant seat they purchased won't last 1-1.5 years. Depending on the model purchased infants can outgrow them well before the 1st year forcing the parents to purchase a convertible car seat anyway. I am a child passenger safety tech and used to work with a non-profit that helped parents with installation and also gave out seats for low income families. We never gave out infant only seats (carriers) because the simply didn't last that long. Even when I worked for the children's hospital we always gave families convertible car seats that went from 5lbs to 40 or 65 for newborns.

I don't allow seats in my home (mainly for sanitation reasons) and I always recommend my families purchase a convertible seat for their second vehicle. They will need to purchase one anyway when their child outgrows the infant seat! If a family has a true financial need tell them to contact their local Safe Kids coalition (safekids.org). Most, not all, Safe Kids programs offer free or low cost seats as well as some really great education to low income families.

I'm not a cpst but I'm friends with many and have done plenty of research and there definitely a few buckets that can get a smaller child past 1 yr. I have a 14 month old in care who hasn't passed the weight or height or 1" rule for his bucket yet.

We just went with a convertible from the start

[jenboo]

Oh, I get it but like I said your liability is worth far more than a couple hundred bucks.

....and a few hundred on a bucket seat and 2 bases?! Where are they shopping? ! A quick Amazon search and seats AND bases are pretty inexpensive unless they are buying really top of the line seats but in my experience those parents that buy top of the line are safety geeks and most of those types rarely mention cost in connection to safety.

I get it though....it's an added expense for parents but like I said, until we (general we) can rein in this outrageous idea of suing everyone for everything, MY liability outweighs ANY issue a parent has in regards to THEIR child.

I think most parents equate safety with price they all pass the same safety test...

I'm definitely going to stick with my rule then. I just wanted to make sure i wasn't being overy cautious...if that's a thing.