DC Going to The Grocery Store

[momofboys]

Thanks for all the replies.

She is being very honest with me. I just found it difficult to imagine a provider taking several infants to the store at once.

Thanks for letting me know it's possible and not all that strange. And it's true that I'm generally uncomfortable with the idea and probably need to find another option for care.

She didn't say she was doing her whole shopping trip - only running in for a few items, correct? I don't see that as too odd - difficult maybe. I have 3-4 kids in my care each day & it is not that difficult to take them into the store for a few items. I don't do my whole weekly shopping trip but if Irun short on a few items I will go, not a daily thing more like once a week. Usually in & out of the store in 15 min.

[sly red cid]

grocery trips

Chaufuers(sp) license and commercial auto insurance required if driving anyone you are being paid to take care of.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I don't transport at all. For many reasons. Here the auto insurance is through the roof if you put so much as 1 daycare child in the car. Not to mention, there is nothing I need during hours of daycare that can't wait until later for me. It's easier for me though because I don't work on Fridays so I can do errands on that day. Bottom line, if you're not comfortable with it, then keep looking.

Same here, except I do work on Fridays.

[kelliott]

i recently had drama with a daycare that transports.... it was a big mess.. a lot of posters on this forum told me it was ridiculous that i felt so uncomfortable with it!..so before you read anything like that, i'll just tell you that i feel the same way and do not want my child transported..it's hard to trust other people on the road, the provider... it's just tough.

i did find another daycare though..i'm LOVING it..and there's no transportation..so no bad "gut feelings"


if you are not comfortable, even in the slightest!, keep looking

[Play Care]

Chaufuers(sp) license and commercial auto insurance required if driving anyone you are being paid to take care of.

That isn't true in every state. I know it's not in mine. And in some states where they say it's required, the law actually states that if the person is charging an *additional* amount for the transporting is when commercial license is required. Most providers do not fall into this category.

I am going to assume that a provider being upfront in an interview about her transportation policies is also aware of what she needs to do so legally.

[Play Care]

i recently had drama with a daycare that transports.... it was a big mess.. a lot of posters on this forum told me it was ridiculous that i felt so uncomfortable with it!..so before you read anything like that, i'll just tell you that i feel the same way and do not want my child transported..it's hard to trust other people on the road, the provider... it's just tough.

i did find another daycare though..i'm LOVING it..and there's no transportation..so no bad "gut feelings"


if you are not comfortable, even in the slightest!, keep looking

I don't think anyone said you shouldn't have reservations. If I recall correctly, it was that you went with a provider who transported knowing there might be a conflict. But you are right, if the provider is being upfront and honest about her policies and it doesn't mesh with you, then the onus is on you to go elsewhere.

[bgmeyers]

If you have a problem with her taking the kids out, by all means keep looking.
I take the kids out all the time.
They learn safety rules and how the everyday world works.
We will go to a grocery store, a bank, a bakery, a park, the library, whatever or wherever.
I'm very up front about this and all of my parents are great about it.
I get compliments all the time on how well behaved my group is. There are 6 of them from 4 years to 12 months right now.
I don't necessarily reward them, but they do get praised or reminded as the behavior warrents.

[DaisyMamma]

It sounds as if the provider is being very upfront and honest about the type of service she provides. I agree with the pp, some providers have a knack for taking kids out, especially after years of experience.
I think at the point the fact you have doubts tells me this would not be an ideal placement for you. She isn't going to change the way she does things for *one* clients (nor should she have to) so the onus is on you to find care you will be comfortable with.
Best of luck!

[crazydaycarelady]

Just wanted to add that when you are with 6-7 kids fulltime you become much more adept with them than someone who regularly only has one or two of their own. It just becomes second nature. Plus we have the advantage that the kids usually behave much better for us than for their parents.

[Michelle]

Just wanted to add that when you are with 6-7 kids fulltime you become much more adept with them than someone who regularly only has one or two of their own. It just becomes second nature. Plus we have the advantage that the kids usually behave much better for us than for their parents.

[AmyKidsCo]

If you have any reservation in your gut about leaving your child with a provider, find another one.

Yes, this.

You need a provider that you're comfortable with, and it sounds like you're not comfortable with this situation. It doesn't mean you're picky or that the provider is doing anything wrong, you're just not a good fit together.

[LK5kids]

I have been a certified car seat tech for 14 years. In those 14 years I have seen 2 or 3 rear-facing seats properly installed. I have installed hundreds of seats. Tightness of the seat installation, angle of recline, harness tightened properly with no slack, chest clip on the chest/armpit area are all issues I have encountered, along with proper harness height-no gap between shoulder and where the harness slot is. Also, does the seat accommodate height/weight of the infant?

Very often forward seats have issues also. Seats are not to move more than an inch in any direction when pushed back and forth. The harness needs to be tightened properly with no slack. The chest clip needs to be at armpit height. Seats need to be tethered if there is a tether location on the vehicle. Also proper harness height. Has the child outgrown the weight limit on the seat and needs to be in a booster, etc.

Car seats expire after 6 years. Now if this provider has had the seats in her vehicle checked by a cert. tech and leaves them in place and makes sure to check them for little movement, places each child in a seat that is not expired,
makes sure each harness is the proper height, tightens each harness with no slack, etc, etc, etc, the kids would be safely restrained.

I have on many, many occasions had to work on a seat for 30 to 60 minutes to get it installed properly. ESPECIALLY rear-facing sets. If she is installing these seats each day or taking them out on the weekends etc., I would be really concerned. It would be an overwhelming task to properly install six/seven seats safely on a regular basis......and the children have to be retrained safely each time.


This is definitely something to think about!

[Unregistered]

I have been a certified car seat tech for 14 years. In those 14 years I have seen 2 or 3 rear-facing seats properly installed. I have installed hundreds of seats. Tightness of the seat installation, angle of recline, harness tightened properly with no slack, chest clip on the chest/armpit area are all issues I have encountered, along with proper harness height-no gap between shoulder and where the harness slot is. Also, does the seat accommodate height/weight of the infant?

Very often forward seats have issues also. Seats are not to move more than an inch in any direction when pushed back and forth. The harness needs to be tightened properly with no slack. The chest clip needs to be at armpit height. Seats need to be tethered if there is a tether location on the vehicle. Also proper harness height. Has the child outgrown the weight limit on the seat and needs to be in a booster, etc.

Car seats expire after 6 years. Now if this provider has had the seats in her vehicle checked by a cert. tech and leaves them in place and makes sure to check them for little movement, places each child in a seat that is not expired,
makes sure each harness is the proper height, tightens each harness with no slack, etc, etc, etc, the kids would be safely restrained.

I have on many, many occasions had to work on a seat for 30 to 60 minutes to get it installed properly. ESPECIALLY rear-facing sets. If she is installing these seats each day or taking them out on the weekends etc., I would be really concerned. It would be an overwhelming task to properly install six/seven seats safely on a regular basis......and the children have to be retrained safely each time.


This is definitely something to think about!

I never took the seats out and I had 2 built-in ones. It would be insanely difficult to do that every day.

[cheerfuldom]

another thing to consider, just a thought, you said she had several infants plus older kids. I would double check that you know how many kids AND of what ages are allowed to follow state guidelines. here it is generally, two kids under two depending on how your licensed and assuming there is one provider. anyway, its good for you to know what is and is not allowed by the state. just because a provider is transporting or has a certain number of kids, doesnt mean that they are supposed to be doing that.

but yeah, agree with everyone else. follow your gut with this one. if you dont feel right about the situation, just keep looking. there is nothing wrong with saying that she is not the right fit for your child.

[Unregistered]

another thing to consider, just a thought, you said she had several infants plus older kids. I would double check that you know how many kids AND of what ages are allowed to follow state guidelines. here it is generally, two kids under two depending on how your licensed and assuming there is one provider. anyway, its good for you to know what is and is not allowed by the state. just because a provider is transporting or has a certain number of kids, doesnt mean that they are supposed to be doing that.

but yeah, agree with everyone else. follow your gut with this one. if you dont feel right about the situation, just keep looking. there is nothing wrong with saying that she is not the right fit for your child.

That is so true! I knew a woman who took way more kids than she should AND stuffed them in her SIX passenger car. And what's worse? When we called (me, and someone else evidently) the state didn't even do a cease and desist order nor did she get into any trouble!