I answered that I would buy it but I don't think I would find it rude just more a making it easy for myself. I'm ALLL about that. If it would make it easier for me to go buy a $30 booster and less headache for me. I would totally do it.

I would just buy an extra booster seat that I would loan to them to use during the school year.  I watch a friends little boy and they bought an extra carseat for my car since I pick him up a couple days a week.  But I also know that in March when I'm done watching him its theirs to take back (I really wouldn't want it its a horrible carseat).  I think it just saves you and her a lot of headache and it can't hurt to have an extra booster around if she goes with another friend somewhere or for an extra car.

Until I bought my sitter a car seat, I had to uninstall and install a car seat every single morning and evening.
I saved a little money up, and bought her a car seat to use in her car.  I consider it mine and that I'm loaning it to her.  Makes it easier on both of us.

ETA:  But, that was an over $100 car seat, for a $30 booster seat, I say just give it to them.  And tell them, this is to make both of our lives a little easier.

I think you should buy your daughter a second booster to use in their car, so you don't have to get it back every night.

Maria2 wrote:I think you should buy your daughter a second booster to use in their car, so you don't have to get it back every night.

 

Why not just leave it there during the school week (you could use your built-in if you go anywhere after school) and pick it up at the end of the week?

DP, BZ is being a pain tonight...

I would either swap it out all the time, or buy one for the other parent to use for my child.  who cares who owns it?  it will make your life easier, and probably hers too.  I wouldn't think she would be offended, I certainly wouldn't be.  IMO its not fair to expect her to buy a seat for your child (even to use in her car).

<julie> wrote: i'm certainly not going to ask them to get one, but i wonder if i am unreasonable in thinking that they should?

 
I think it is unreasonable to ask another family to buy a carseat for your child to use. My mom takes my 2yo once a week for "Nana School" and I bought them a carseat for use in their car. If you really don't like having to go get the booster every night then you should buy an extra for her to use when she picks up your child. I don't think they would be offended by it; it's just making life more convenient for you.

Honestly I think it's up to the parents of each child to provide car seats for their own child.  In your case, since you effectively have a "spare" I would kind of consider it a "bonus" for the other family in not having to buy the seat for their child.  I'd still feel obligated to buy the seat for my own child.  And if I were the person having to buy the seat and you didn't have to because I had a spare or a built-in, I wouldn't expect you to buy it for your vehicle.  But it would be nice if the person who doesn't have to pay would offer to split the cost with the person who did. 

Jade1234 wrote:

I think you should buy your daughter a second booster to use in their car, so you don't have to get it back every night.

 
Why not just leave it there during the school week (you could use your built-in if you go anywhere after school) and pick it up at the end of the week?

 

the built-in is a half seat in the middle, smooshed up against my son's huge infant seat.  also, my daughter often rides with other family members and other friends so we need to have something we can use in other vehicles.

Utah Peach wrote:

i'm certainly not going to ask them to get one, but i wonder if i am unreasonable in thinking that they should?

 
I think it is unreasonable to ask another family to buy a carseat for your child to use. My mom takes my 2yo once a week for "Nana School" and I bought them a carseat for use in their car. If you really don't like having to go get the booster every night then you should buy an extra for her to use when she picks up your child. I don't think they would be offended by it; it's just making life more convenient for you.

 
i don't want to give the impression that i have been dwelling on this or that it is a big issue for me, because it's not.  but when i think about it, it is very convenient for them, that they don't have to deal with swapping their seat in and out, because i am able to provide something for them.  i wish i were them lol.

It is my opinion that if a child is going to ride in another vehicle, it is the responsibility of that child's parent to provide an appropriate child restraint.  So, if your daughter is carpooling, it would be your responsibilty to purchase a seat for her to use in that car. It is your daughter's seat, so it would not be purchased for the other family or on loan. It is your daughters seat to be used in carpool situations. If she carpools frequently with this family, it would make sense for the seat to stay with that family for as long as your daughter carpools with them. At the end of carpooling, the seat belongs to you and your daughter. 

I don't think the other family should be responsible for purchasing a seat for your daughter.  One, I wouldn't trust anyone else to provide an appropriate seat--what if they get something from a garage sale or something that doesn't fit your daughter's height/weight?  

It goes both ways though--so if you don't want to use the built in seat in your car, the other family needs to provide a seat for their daughter for use in your car.

another thought - i always pretty much figured i needed a spare anyway, because i knew there would be play dates, sleep overs, and other times that i would need an option for a friend in the car.  is this not the norm?  most of my friends keep an extra seat for this kind of thing, but maybe we're oddballs lol.

Why do you have to retrieve your booster every night if you have a built in one you can use?
Are you going out every night?
Can they not  return the booster when they drop your daughter off at home, or if you aren't planning on using it that night, why not leave it with them until you do need to use it - then I imaging you would already be dressed  and ready to go out, and walking across the street wouldn't be so much of an issue.

If it's becoming an issue of inconvenience - I'd probably shell out for a booster seat for them to use for your daughter that you can leave with them during their carpool week. It's not their responsibility (IMO) to go out and get a car seat for your child - but by the same token, they shouldn't just expect that you give up your good car seat for their child to ride in. If they don't like the 'built in" car seat option- they should provide a seat for you, in the same manner that you provide one for them.

j.

I would by an extra seat and tell them its for your daughter for when she is in their car so you dont have to hall it back and forth. I don't think I would expect another family to buy a seat for my daughter to use.

mac3mom wrote:Why do you have to retrieve your booster every night if you have a built in one you can use?
Are you going out every night?

 
i'd say three nights out of five we end up running errands or going to dance class.
the built-in works, but not comfortably, as it is a half-seat that is right up against andrew's huge infant carrier.

mac3mom wrote:Can they not return the booster when they drop your daughter off at home,

 
the kids take the bus home, so i don't see the parents unless i walk over to their house.

mac3mom wrote:or if you aren't planning on using it that night, why not leave it with them until you do need to use it - then I imaging you would already be dressed and ready to go out, and walking across the street wouldn't be so much of an issue.

 
i've done that a couple times. the bad thing is if something comes up, we need to run somewhere, interrupting the neighbor's dinner or perhaps they aren't home.
right now it's even more of an issue, because my car is in the shop, so i don't have the benefit of the built-in.

<julie> wrote:another thought - i always pretty much figured i needed a spare anyway, because i knew there would be play dates, sleep overs, and other times that i would need an option for a friend in the car.  is this not the norm?  most of my friends keep an extra seat for this kind of thing, but maybe we're oddballs lol.

 
I like having an extra, and did buy a backless booster for that reason.  I've used it for family and friends.
 
I also bought two of the boosters with backs for use in my husband's truck and for the odd occasion they went somewhere else or my car was in the shop, etc. (they were still in 5 part harnesses in my vehicle and those seats aren't moving!)

Yes, I think it is unreasonable that you think they should buy a booster for your daughter.  Buy it yourself and tell them you want them to keep it as long as you're carpooling with them to make life a little easier for the both of you.

I would prefer to buy it bec I wouldnt want my kid in a cheap carseat...but then it is a loan bec it comes with the kid  )

i would totally buy one and i said loan it rather than give it to them not because it would be rude to give it to them but because it's always handy to have extras of these things around so why not get it back eventually in case you ever need an extra... you did buy it! 

I only answered the second q because I think the first is something that each carpooling relationship should work out - however it works for those involved. I don't think there is a right answer.
 
In your situation, since you do have the built-in, would it be possible to loan them your current seat for the year? Or at least just for the weeks when it's their turn, rather than on a day-to-day basis? Can your dd ride in the built-in for that whole week while they keep the seat? That might at least save some going back-and-forth.
 
If that doesn't work out for whatever reason, I voted that I'd buy it and loan it to them. There's presumably no reason they'd need an extra carseat after this carpool is over, right? So I'd consider it a loan - even though you'd have no need for it either. At least then you could sell it or give it away or have an extra for any other carpool you may need before she outgrows it. But I think it's probably worth the $30 if it's a big hassle for you. If I were the other family I might offer to get one, but I don't think it's necessary, esp if it wasn't part of the deal when you decided to carpool. (again, watever was agreed upon between both parties).