Didn't Like Car Seat Policy

[Josiegirl]

Did you point out to her the fact she could buy a car seat with the money saved from choosing your dc?
I agree that it is about control and if not this issue then there'll be another one.

[Country Kids]

You all have given me a lot to consider if this happens again. I only have one infant right now that uses a car seat that the mom brings in at pickup and drop off, and then takes with her when she leaves. I don't have a policy against this. I asked her a couple weeks ago if it would be easier if she took him out or put him in it while still in the car, and she said no it's easier to do it in the house. Now I'm wondering if I should have it in my policy that car seats remain in the vehicle. On one hand if they do it in my house I can make sure the child is restrained properly, but on the other hand what if it's not inserted back in properly and she gets in a wreck? Can I actually be held liable if it's not installed back in the right way? Maybe I can just say my insurance does not allow them in the house at all, even at drop off and pickup?

I don't think you could be held liable at all because any store, restaurant, church, school, etc that a parent takes a car seat into and leaves with wouldn't be held liable if something were to happen after they left and the car seat wasn't inserted back properly.

[happymom]

Stick to your guns. I don't understand why families with 2 vehicles don't have car seats in both cars.

[storybookending]

You all have given me a lot to consider if this happens again. I only have one infant right now that uses a car seat that the mom brings in at pickup and drop off, and then takes with her when she leaves. I don't have a policy against this. I asked her a couple weeks ago if it would be easier if she took him out or put him in it while still in the car, and she said no it's easier to do it in the house. Now I'm wondering if I should have it in my policy that car seats remain in the vehicle. On one hand if they do it in my house I can make sure the child is restrained properly, but on the other hand what if it's not inserted back in properly and she gets in a wreck? Can I actually be held liable if it's not installed back in the right way? Maybe I can just say my insurance does not allow them in the house at all, even at drop off and pickup?

You can do whatever you feel comfortable with. I personally allow infant seats to be left here as I keep a small group and would never have more than 2 that small at a time.. more than likely only 1 that small at a time is the goal. I also have an area in a hall that is blocked off to children where they are placed so no one is messing with them. The base is the part that is installed in the car. The parent is responsible for clicking it in properly and also making sure the base is secure as they do come loose at times. Do you check to make sure all seats are installed properly before a child leaves? To me it in one in the same. I have yet to see a case where a daycare provider was charged for a parent getting into an accident after leaving daycare. Not saying that it doesn’t happen but I imagine that one would have a hard time standing up if it ever made it as far as court.

[Blackcat31]

You all have given me a lot to consider if this happens again. I only have one infant right now that uses a car seat that the mom brings in at pickup and drop off, and then takes with her when she leaves. I don't have a policy against this. I asked her a couple weeks ago if it would be easier if she took him out or put him in it while still in the car, and she said no it's easier to do it in the house. Now I'm wondering if I should have it in my policy that car seats remain in the vehicle. On one hand if they do it in my house I can make sure the child is restrained properly, but on the other hand what if it's not inserted back in properly and she gets in a wreck? Can I actually be held liable if it's not installed back in the right way? Maybe I can just say my insurance does not allow them in the house at all, even at drop off and pickup?

I don't concern myself with that.... if I do then it becomes something I AM liable for and I don't want that responsibility.

As for can you be held liable if it's not installed correctly? I think you can. Just like bars are held responsible when an adult drinks too much, leaves and gets in an accident.

Do I agree with it? Nope but I still don't want to risk it so when it comes to car seats...I won't even discuss them other than resources for parents (for proper install etc) and an explanation of my policies.

Here is Tom Copeland's advice:

"There are also some additional rules you should follow when dealing with car seats. Don’t help the parent put the car seat in her car, or help buckle a child into a car seat. Whenever you touch the car seat you are increasing the risk of a lawsuit.

Why? Because if you didn’t properly install the car seat or properly buckle the child in, and the child is injured as a result of your actions, you face a bigger lawsuit for damages. Don’t give the parent your car seat, as it might be defective.

To protect yourself against all of these risks, you should adopt a transportation policy that will help keep children safe."

http://tomcopelandblog.com/creating-a-transportation-policy

[Blackcat31]

I have yet to see a case where a daycare provider was charged for a parent getting into an accident after leaving daycare. Not saying that it doesn’t happen but I imagine that one would have a hard time standing up if it ever made it as far as court.

When parents are charged with their own child's death... I think providers will be next... NOT something I am willing to risk.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/louisiana-mother-charged-homicide-crash-killed-year-daughter/story?id=53437927

[Country Kids]

When parents are charged with their own child's death... I think providers will be next... NOT something I am willing to risk.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/louisiana-m...ry?id=53437927

This car seat wasn't even buckled into the car-it was wedged between the front seats on the console. I don't see how the parent wouldn't be totally responsible for this. Not sure how a provider would be charged with anything in this.

[storybookending]

When parents are charged with their own child's death... I think providers will be next... NOT something I am willing to risk.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/louisiana-m...ry?id=53437927

This was negligence in the parents case though. 4 adults and 4 children in a 5 passenger vehicle. Had they been leaving daycare and a provider saw this and didn’t report then sure as that’s part of being a mandated reporter.

[Blackcat31]

This car seat wasn't even buckled into the car-it was wedged between the front seats on the console. I don't see how the parent wouldn't be totally responsible for this. Not sure how a provider would be charged with anything in this.

This was negligence in the parents case though. 4 adults and 4 children in a 5 passenger vehicle. Had they been leaving daycare and a provider saw this and didn’t report then sure as that’s part of being a mandated reporter.

I'm not arguing the details...I'm making a point about liability and sharing what I know and the sometimes silly things it applies to.

If you (general you) want to risk certain liabilities that's totally up to you. It's whatever you feel comfortable doing

[daycarediva]

I feel like even offering for her to keep it on the porch broke your own policy and you should not have even offered that.. signed form or not. Either have the policy or don’t. Now if they accept they see that whining about things can get you to bend policy and I’m sure they will have push back on other things. Just my opinion.

YES!

Stick to your guns. I don't understand why families with 2 vehicles don't have car seats in both cars.

SERIOUSLY! I know your stance on car seat safety. You are NOT supposed to be reinstalling them constantly! Parents- GET A SECOND SEAT!

[hwichlaz]

YES!




SERIOUSLY! I know your stance on car seat safety. You are NOT supposed to be reinstalling them constantly! Parents- GET A SECOND SEAT!

Isn’t that the reason for a snap in base though? The only seats that get left here are infant seats. Both parents have bases in their cars.

[storybookending]

SERIOUSLY! I know your stance on car seat safety. You are NOT supposed to be reinstalling them constantly! Parents- GET A SECOND SEAT!

Just wanted to add I can see parents only wanting one infant seat as they aren’t in them for nearly as long as all other seats and they can just get two bases or just strap them in the car with ease. But I do not understand parents that want to leave anything other than infant seats and I have never had a parent ask once their child was out of the infant carriers. When installed correctly those ****ers are hard to put back in and take back out.

[Snowmom]

It's not a good idea to constantly be removing carseats.
Even infant seats.

Each time it's taken out, there's a greater likelihood it won't be reinstalled properly or as tightly.
Plus, car seats are largely made of plastics. Cracks and warps can happen with force and the elements. Think of how many parents bring in their carseat to the grocery store and plop them in carts. I've seen so much damage on the bottom of infant seats from shopping carts! One little piece of broken or wedged plastic can prevent that carseat from latching properly to it's base.

[happymom]

My current daycare center doesn't have a problem keeping carseats. EVERY DAY there are like 10 seats left in the lobby waiting to be switched to another car: boosters (with no covers even), convertibles, combination seats and bucket seats. Some I know to be expired.

I personally don't understand it, when I can buy a second seat for $10-40 and not have to deal with the mess of uninstalling and carrying a seat into the daycare each day.

BUT the daycare won't give "parenting advice" -- so unless the parents figure it out on their own, they will continue to have a "car seat parking" area in the daycare, .

[Homebody]

As for can you be held liable if it's not installed correctly? I think you can. Just like bars are held responsible when an adult drinks too much, leaves and gets in an accident.

This topic is raising a lot more questions for me. One of those is if there's a small chance I can be held liable for the carseat not being installed properly, then there would be the chance I could be held liable for them not being restrained properly (if done in the car) either.

It wouldn't surprise me if they passed regulations requiring dc providers to start checking if children are restrained and car seats properly installed. Just another class we would have to take.