No Car Seats In Daycare?

[AnythingsPossible]

Thanks for explaining the various reasons. I do not have a rule on not bringing them in, however, I do encourage them to leave them in the car, by telling them it is not necessary to have them here as we do not transport.
While I realize there is a liability in placing the child in the carseat, I once watched a family whom I knew did not buckle the child in the seat. I certainly preferred to have the seat in my house, and I would buckle baby in before they left. It probably wasn't much help as she never buckled baby in the car, but I tried.

[Cat Herder]

The ONLY problem with professional installation is that sadly, a lot of the "professionals" even do it wrong. The sad truth is that there are so many different seats with different requirements, and so many different cars with different specifications, that many professionals are unable to know how to properly install every seat in every car. The simple answer is to read the manual, but the manuals are complicated and poorly written a lot of the time. Then when the states get in on the action with poorly phrased regulations that only confuse the issue further, it's almost hopeless unless you are REALLY on top of your game.

I feel much better knowing how to install (and USE!!!!) car seats safely myself, and have seriously considering becoming a CPST so that I have the piece of paper that tells parents that I KNOW what I'm doing and THEY are doing it WRONG. Plus, it seems like it might make a nice side business--doing car seat installations and trainings. I don't know how much of a market there is for that though.

I am a car seat tech...no pay, though It is free at every Police, Fire and EMS station. I don't tell the parents because I don't want the liability on my homeowners insurance. The County has more liquid income that I do.... hehe...

[momatheart]

WOW never thought of it but this is AMAZING I LOVE IT! I almost wish I did daycare at home instead of a center just so I could implement it. ::

[momatheart]

Found this. You may want to give this to parents after you give out your new rule.
Here are the top ten basics. Also there is other information on car seats from infant, to convertible car seats etc.



Kids 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat. This cuts their risk of death by 36%.


Kids should be in a carseat or booster until they can be seated properly in a seatbelt. For most kids, this is around 8 years old or 4' 9" tall, but proper seatbelt fit is the most important factor.


Never place a rear-facing carseat in the front seat when there is an active frontal airbag.


Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible. That can mean up to 35 or 40 pounds in most current convertible seats, unless they outgrow it by height first.


All current car seats pass government safety standards. Select the one that best fits your child, your vehicle and your budget. Some models do have different features; select one that has the features that will allow you to use it correctly EVERY trip.


Always read the owners manuals for your vehicle and carseat thoroughly. They often contain specific information about carseat installation that may not be obvious. Some models may vary from what you would expect.


Make sure that the harness fits snugly on your child, the carseat fits snugly in your vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.


When you buy a carseat, make sure you have a good return policy in case it doesn't fit or in case you find you don't like it. Have your seat inspected by a certified technician for free at a checkup event or fitting station.


Please be wary of used carseats, especially those over six years old, those with an unknown history that may have been in a crash, those that show any form of cracks or damage, and those with missing labels, model number, manufacturing date, instructions or parts.


Please give driving your complete, unimpaired attention and wear your own seatbelt all the time. These two simple steps are among these easiest ways you can protect yourself and your passengers from injury or death.
Also see our Frequently Asked Questions List for answers to other common carseat issues.

http://www.car-safety.org/basics.html

[jen]

Thanks for explaining the various reasons. I do not have a rule on not bringing them in, however, I do encourage them to leave them in the car, by telling them it is not necessary to have them here as we do not transport.
While I realize there is a liability in placing the child in the carseat, I once watched a family whom I knew did not buckle the child in the seat. I certainly preferred to have the seat in my house, and I would buckle baby in before they left. It probably wasn't much help as she never buckled baby in the car, but I tried.

I had a mom who let her 2.5 year old ride to daycare without a carseat...no buckle, front seat. I asked Mom why Miss S wasn't in her seat and Mom said, "oh, it's just a couple of blocks (true) and she doesn't WANT to ride in it here."

I told her I understood, but that S should really be in her seat, after all she could get hit pulling out of the driveway. Mom said, "I'm not worried about it."

So, I responsed: "I understand, but I'm a mandated reporter, I'm obligated to report, so I would appreciate it if you didn't put me in that position."

End of problem...

[AnythingsPossible]

I had a mom who let her 2.5 year old ride to daycare without a carseat...no buckle, front seat. I asked Mom why Miss S wasn't in her seat and Mom said, "oh, it's just a couple of blocks (true) and she doesn't WANT to ride in it here."

I told her I understood, but that S should really be in her seat, after all she could get hit pulling out of the driveway. Mom said, "I'm not worried about it."

So, I responsed: "I understand, but I'm a mandated reporter, I'm obligated to report, so I would appreciate it if you didn't put me in that position."

End of problem...

I called our DFS office when she repeatedly left without buckling him and they told me they wouldn't do anything in the situation, I would have to call the police department and report her as she left.
At the time, not having you child buckled was not a "pull over" offense, they would only pull her over if she did something to require them to pull her over, then they could ticket her for not having her child buckled.
I asked if they would atleast do extra patrols around my area during pick up times in hopes that would make mom think to buckle, but it didn't do any good.

[anabel]

I don't have a policy in place to stop parents bringing in car seats, but I would not allow them to do it. I have appropriate seats in my car, I know the history of my carseats, I know how well they have been looked after, I know they have had no little knocks and I know they fit in my car.

I would not have parents bringing in their carseats, I just know they would get little knocks on the car whilst being put in and taken out, and get knocked on my door frames whilst being carried in and out, they would be dumped on the floor getting more little knocks - then to top off all the little knocks and beginnings of stress fractures, I would then be responsible for their safety all day long, trying to keep all the little people out of them, stop people tripping over them, prevent them being knocked over etc.

They are safety equipment and the less they are moved, carried, knocked and jarred onto the floor the more secure their integrity. Car seats should be put in the car and left there, not got in and out and in and out and in and out. That's how I feel anyway.

[Unregistered]

Huh?

Thanks for explaining the various reasons. I do not have a rule on not bringing them in, however, I do encourage them to leave them in the car, by telling them it is not necessary to have them here as we do not transport.
While I realize there is a liability in placing the child in the carseat, I once watched a family whom I knew did not buckle the child in the seat. I certainly preferred to have the seat in my house, and I would buckle baby in before they left. It probably wasn't much help as she never buckled baby in the car, but I tried.

How can a parent NOT BUCKLE their child, especially an infant?
I swear....the stuff parents do/not do to their children is beyond me!

[Unregistered]

Leaving Car Seat

So--I'm a mom and was trying to do a little research. My day care REQUIRES that mom's and dad's leave the bucket seat at the day care. We are in Michigan, just for reference. The reasoning, the director states, is that it's part of the day care licensing requirements. And the reasoning behind that, is because if there is ever an emergency and child needs to be transported by ambulance, child can be safely transported in the bucket seat. They have quite a large infant room, they are almost at capacity and have about 19 infants. So yes, there are 19 car seats in front of the door on a busy day.

I've just never heard of this, and it logistically doesn't make much sense to me. How possibly could the state require that many car seats to be left at the day care? Are all 19 infants going to need to be transported by ambulance at the same time? Sounds like not enough ambulances.

It just irks me because my child is 20 pounds now, and I have repeatedly asked the director what the cut off is as far as car seats being left at the day care (how big does my kid have to be that I can stop bringing in the car seat?), but she never has a straight answer for me. So I've been online looking for an answer, but I can't find this licensing requirement anywhere. Can someone send me the link, if they know of it?

Maybe it's a township code, rather than state. I don't know. Anyway, I hate lugging that thing in every day and it literally especially when the sense behind it doesn't make sense at all.

Thanks!

[Leigh]

So--I'm a mom and was trying to do a little research. My day care REQUIRES that mom's and dad's leave the bucket seat at the day care. We are in Michigan, just for reference. The reasoning, the director states, is that it's part of the day care licensing requirements. And the reasoning behind that, is because if there is ever an emergency and child needs to be transported by ambulance, child can be safely transported in the bucket seat. They have quite a large infant room, they are almost at capacity and have about 19 infants. So yes, there are 19 car seats in front of the door on a busy day.

I've just never heard of this, and it logistically doesn't make much sense to me. How possibly could the state require that many car seats to be left at the day care? Are all 19 infants going to need to be transported by ambulance at the same time? Sounds like not enough ambulances.

It just irks me because my child is 20 pounds now, and I have repeatedly asked the director what the cut off is as far as car seats being left at the day care (how big does my kid have to be that I can stop bringing in the car seat?), but she never has a straight answer for me. So I've been online looking for an answer, but I can't find this licensing requirement anywhere. Can someone send me the link, if they know of it?

Maybe it's a township code, rather than state. I don't know. Anyway, I hate lugging that thing in every day and it literally especially when the sense behind it doesn't make sense at all.

Thanks!

I'm not familiar with your state's regs, but that sounds like BS to me. I'd be worried that they want them there because they're using them to keep the kids in when parents are not around. I, personally, HATE having car seats at my house! I have twins right now who are tube fed and eat in their car seats, and what a pain to have those things sitting around-they are always in the way!

[Blackcat31]

So--I'm a mom and was trying to do a little research. My day care REQUIRES that mom's and dad's leave the bucket seat at the day care. We are in Michigan, just for reference. The reasoning, the director states, is that it's part of the day care licensing requirements. And the reasoning behind that, is because if there is ever an emergency and child needs to be transported by ambulance, child can be safely transported in the bucket seat. They have quite a large infant room, they are almost at capacity and have about 19 infants. So yes, there are 19 car seats in front of the door on a busy day.

I've just never heard of this, and it logistically doesn't make much sense to me. How possibly could the state require that many car seats to be left at the day care? Are all 19 infants going to need to be transported by ambulance at the same time? Sounds like not enough ambulances.

It just irks me because my child is 20 pounds now, and I have repeatedly asked the director what the cut off is as far as car seats being left at the day care (how big does my kid have to be that I can stop bringing in the car seat?), but she never has a straight answer for me. So I've been online looking for an answer, but I can't find this licensing requirement anywhere. Can someone send me the link, if they know of it?

Maybe it's a township code, rather than state. I don't know. Anyway, I hate lugging that thing in every day and it literally especially when the sense behind it doesn't make sense at all.

Thanks!

If the director is telling you its a state regulation, instead of searching for it on-line, just ask the director directly to show you where it says that in the regulations. Most licensed child care homes AND centers are required to keep a copy of the state regulations on file and/or provide one to parents. I am in MN and we are required to provide a copy (or the link) to parents.

For what it's worth, I've never heard of any center anywhere that required that for those reasons. NOT saying it couldnt be true....just that I've never heard of one.

[LysesKids]

Most of my rules are because someone once did "something stupid"

Liability:

1. Once my neighbors cat sprayed it and the Mom felt I should replace it. I never gave her permission to leave it and did not know it was outside.

2. One Mother was in a wreck, minor fender bender, and was cited for not having an infant restrained. Baby was bucked into seat, but not car.She blamed it on the fact that she was in such a hurry to get out of my driveway for other parents since I "WONT stagger pick-ups". (my closing time is 6, so everyone waits until then, and this is my fault how?)

Space:

1. My Foyer is only 35 sq feet, my front deck is open to neighbor dogs/cats, and I am not a storage company.

Odor:

1. Ever had that 5 day old dried Urine/Diarrhea smell in your living room?

Filth:

1. Ever had someone Else's month old French fries, goldfish, cheerios, cigarette butts or something I pray was smooshed up fig newtons all over your entranceway?

I just chalk it up to Parent Responsibility. I knew when I had kids there may be an emergency situation where I may need someone to get my kids. DH, my Mom and I all had carseats in our vehicles at all times. I was invested in my children.....before they were born.

You forgot hitch hiking bugs... like roaches & lice, bedbugs & GERMS. Yep, I actually have this listed in my policies along with the above. Never had a parent complain. You never know where the parents have hauled that seat too ( Hotels, Gyms, Dr's office?)I personally don't have room for carseats in my home or on the deck we play on so that is the main reason, but I also state liability issues

[Blackcat31]

I'm not familiar with your state's regs, but that sounds like BS to me. I'd be worried that they want them there because they're using them to keep the kids in when parents are not around. I, personally, HATE having car seats at my house! I have twins right now who are tube fed and eat in their car seats, and what a pain to have those things sitting around-they are always in the way!

Also as a parent, I'd be concerned about other children and adults having access to my car seat.

I've seen some strange things happen

Also, car seats aren't meant to removed and re-installed daily. They are meant to be installed and left in place.

[Thriftylady]

I don't allow it due to liability and space issues. And for the same reasons I don't allow diaper bags, again space, and bugs and other grossness. When I was in KS a diaper bag was brought in and a roach crawled out. No thanks. We have cubbies and MY car seats stay in my van.

[NillaWafers]

I never really thought about this. I have a parent who will occasionally leave the car seat for her husband. It's seriously gross, so I make her leave it outside :-\ Maybe I should add that to my contract too! Sheesh! This thing is gonna be like 40 pages eventually haha.