[Nickarolaberry]

Hi mamas,

I p****d people off tonight.

Long story short, my 3 year old is starting preschool this year. She's going five mornings a week. I joined up with 4 other moms to do carpool. Idea being that each of us would do one day.

However I neglected to think through the carseat issue. Or rather, I assumed (DUH!) that everyone else would be as conscientious about carseat safety as I would. That is, find out what kind of carseat the kids all need (i.e. belt positioning booster or harnessed seat) and either ask the moms for one or provide one. I currently have 2 harnessed seats in the van, and one booster, and have an extra harnessed seat and booster in my basement.

I should mention my 3 year old is not even 26 pounds, soaking wet.

Apparently however the other moms just intended to use low boosters (not even the high backed kind) for all the kids save their own.

I called up the organizer and she was royally aggravated at me, saying she had already turned others away because I had been there first, etc. and that this was really going to make people mad.

I said, well, of course I don't want to have people upset with me, but it's illegal and unsafe to put a 26 lb. 3 year old in a belt-positioning booster; she belongs in a harnessed seat.

So I haven't heard back what the final result will be, but I feel like I"m in the twilight zone. Clearly I should have thought of this sooner, but I just didn't think others would be cavalier about such a thing.

Sigh.

 

[KimProbable]

Well, you "oopsed" by not thinking of the carseat issue earlier, but you did the right thing in backing out. As much as it can be difficult upsetting people, I know I'd tick off everyone I know before putting my kids in an unsafe situation like that. Kudos to you for having the backbone to do what's right.

 

[stormchaser_al]

Actually I would be @@@@ off myself. That is one of the first things I would think that moms would take into consideration. Carseats and the children riding in their vehicle saftey. I wouldn't worry that you made me people mad. Maybe they need a dose of reality and that carseats are mandatory. I don't know where you live but a three year old in our state must be in a carseat and not a booster seat. Four year old I believe they can be a booster with the high back and five for a booster seat without the back. It is a new law that they just passed here. Check the laws out and if your laws support the carseats bring that up. If they don't I would find someone else to carpool with that uses more common sense. I know that is easier said than done though.

 

[Ruthla]

Sounds like another reason to homeschool everybody this year!

 

[mata]

are they nuts? a 26 lb child should not be in a booster seat! Be glad you got out of it.

 

[mommy68]

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. If they get pissed off at you for wanting your child to be safe first and foremost then poo on them. You don't need em!

And for the record, I've had two children in preschool and never heard of carpooling at such a young age anyway?

 

[Nickarolaberry]

Yes, I clearly should have thought of it. In my defense, at the time I signed her up for school -- which I hadn't been planning on -- I had just taken on the commitment to teach part time, had (have) a MIL on her deathbed (literally), and have been trying to sell my house as well as a dh recently in a major occupational transition (i.e. job change).

So for sure I am totally responsible for messing everyone up but honestly it never did occur to me that others would not think of this. I mean, yeah, for 4 or 5 year olds I could see where I might have to argue everyone into using booster seats, but these are 3 year olds! If I could do it, I wouldn't even send her *at all* but right now as things stand, this is the way things have to be. At least until I start homeschooling, which might be soon. Or not. Depending on circumstances.

anyway. Haven't heard back today but we shall see. I'll keep you all updated.

 

[chel]

does everyone even have room for 5 booster, let alone 5 carseats. Most of the time when I ride with friends in mini-vans the back seat can only fit 2 carseats even though it has 3 belts, though some only have a lap belt in the middle where one would need a 5pt harness seat .
Worse comes to worse and they kick you out, maybe you could team up with one of the other parents that were turned down and do an every other day carpool. You might find someone closer.

 

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Well, if they have turned people away then they can just call them back and find out if they are still interested as a spot has opened up. No need for your to worry about it. But you might point out that the booster seat plan is probably against the law and in some states preschool teachers are mandatory reporters. You might also alert the preschool so they can increase their carseat requirements education -- I know ours does a lot of that sort of thing in their newsletter.

In all honesty, having one kid done with 3 years of preschool and another on year 2, I wouldn't ever want to carpool anyway. The goodbyes are hard sometimes, but I wouldn't want to NOT be there if DD needed an extra hug or for me to find someone to help her make the transition each day. At least for the first year, I would really want to be there each morning.

 

[thepeach80]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chel does everyone even have room for 5 booster, let alone 5 carseats. Most of the time when I ride with friends in mini-vans the back seat can only fit 2 carseats even though it has 3 belts, though some only have a lap belt in the middle where one would need a 5pt harness seat .

It's really not as hard as some people think to fit 3 across. I'm pretty sure I could do it in my 3rd row w/ the right seats. I had 3 across in my Taurus.

Good for you! Those kids would've hated riding w/ me b/c they would've all been harnessed in nice and tight and it would've taken a long time to get in and out. lol Maybe that's why no one asks me to take their kids anywhere...