Driving Children Around? Car Seat Safety Tips you Must Know!

Most nanny positions require you to transport children. This could be to a playdate, school, activities, the grocery store, or on other outings or errands. This means that most likely, you will need some sort of car safety seat for each child in your care. For this reason, it is good to know the current recommendations for how to safely transport the children in your, or your employers’ car.

First, you want to make sure you have the correct seat for each child. This means that seat is the appropriate choice for the height, weight, and age of the child and that the seat is not damaged or expired.

Next, if you are driving the children around in your car, you should discuss with your employers about having them get car safety seats for your car. Shuffling the seats back and forth each day or each week will just increase the likelihood of errors while installing.

Lastly, you’ll want to be sure you are following current recommendations. Current recommendations include rear-facing until the child reaches the maximum height OR weight limits of a rear-facing convertible, then moving to forward facing seat while harnessed, next to high back and backless boosters, and then eventually meeting all required steps to be able to graduate from a car safety seat. It is so important to read the full car safety seat manual, as well as the child safety seat sections in the manual of the car you are installing the seat in to be sure they are compatible. Once children outgrow car safety seats, you’ll want to be sure they continue to ride in the back seat of vehicle while properly fastened.

Getting the help of a local Child Passenger Safety Technician, or CPST, can be valuable. They can help you and your employers make sure you have the correct seats for each child, that they install well in each car and that you know how to install them, and you know how to properly harness each child. You can also become a CPST yourself. Not only will you have better knowledge on car seat safety, but it will be a great addition to your resume and you will be doing your part to keep the children in your care safe while you drive them around. You can find a local CPST or get information on becoming one yourself at safekids.org.

And remember, whether you are using your or your employers’ vehicle, you want to be sure you are properly insured, so be sure to check with your agent, or have your employer check their theirs, to ensure you are fully protected as a driver.

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