Aurezalia
Well-known member
The family I usually nanny for happens to be in Japan at the moment (1 year old usually ERF'ing in my car in a Radian.) Luckily it happened to be right now, as we have family friends with 2 kids, a boy, C, that just turned 6 and girl, M, that is about to turn 8. The kids were supposed to be at a camp this week that ended up getting canceled last minute, so they called me in a panic. I've had them this week from 7am - 9pm, Monday through tomorrow.
When I asked about seats - last time I had them for a whole day they provided the boosters for both kids, but I hadn't seen hide nor hair of them this time. Mom explained that apparently M has been out of a booster for awhile, and they had just moved C out of the booster a week or so before. Mmm... Ok. She must have seen the way my face contorted, as she jumped in with a "But if the belt isn't fitting him right, I'll leave the booster out for you just in case." Ok... sounds good. She's worried about belt fit! As the conversation continues I realize that belt fit only means checking to see if the shoulder belt hits them in the face. I kept throwing in "Oh, I thought they should be in a booster until 8 and 80 pounds," but she just plowed right past it. Unfortunately the law in AZ only says 50 pounds, from what I've seen, so I didn't have a legal foot to stand on, and as I have sort of a little-sister relationship with them, any booster advice given by me would not be taken seriously.
We get in the car and I check belt fit on both the kids. As I thought, no way were they anywhere near passing the 5-step test. I made C - with a little convincing - sit in the booster again. After the initial fight he was fine with it. I wanted to put M back in a booster as well - she was very resistant, and then it turns out they had already gotten rid of the one she was using, so I had nothing (I plan on going and picking up a booster this weekend to have for situations like this from now on!) She a very small girl - slightly smaller than her brother in both weight and height - and the belt was high up on her stomach. I also had to keep nagging C to sit up straight in his seat, and I could tell he was frustrated. He's been diagnosed with some disorder - I want to say ODD, but I don't think that's it - so I can't push things *too* far without risking an explosion that I can't manage while driving.
When we went to my house on Tuesday for swimming, I tried both kids in the Radian to check fit - mostly because I was curious, but also because I had a plan brewing in the back of my head. C was not interested in the slightest, but M actually chilled in there for awhile and was enthusing about how comfortable it was. Of course, when I offered to put it in the car for her to ride in, she firmly refused. There was NO way to talk C into riding in the Radian so M could have the booster.
I didn't feel comfortable driving to BRU/target to pick up a booster without having a booster for M, as it was a long drive and I didn't want to risk taking them in the car to get something to make them safer in the car! Circular problem, unfortunately.
End result: We only did things within walking distance (Which isn't very far, in this heat!) as I simply wasn't comfortable with the seat situation for the kids, and didn't want to be driving them around like that. WWYD?
When I asked about seats - last time I had them for a whole day they provided the boosters for both kids, but I hadn't seen hide nor hair of them this time. Mom explained that apparently M has been out of a booster for awhile, and they had just moved C out of the booster a week or so before. Mmm... Ok. She must have seen the way my face contorted, as she jumped in with a "But if the belt isn't fitting him right, I'll leave the booster out for you just in case." Ok... sounds good. She's worried about belt fit! As the conversation continues I realize that belt fit only means checking to see if the shoulder belt hits them in the face. I kept throwing in "Oh, I thought they should be in a booster until 8 and 80 pounds," but she just plowed right past it. Unfortunately the law in AZ only says 50 pounds, from what I've seen, so I didn't have a legal foot to stand on, and as I have sort of a little-sister relationship with them, any booster advice given by me would not be taken seriously.
We get in the car and I check belt fit on both the kids. As I thought, no way were they anywhere near passing the 5-step test. I made C - with a little convincing - sit in the booster again. After the initial fight he was fine with it. I wanted to put M back in a booster as well - she was very resistant, and then it turns out they had already gotten rid of the one she was using, so I had nothing (I plan on going and picking up a booster this weekend to have for situations like this from now on!) She a very small girl - slightly smaller than her brother in both weight and height - and the belt was high up on her stomach. I also had to keep nagging C to sit up straight in his seat, and I could tell he was frustrated. He's been diagnosed with some disorder - I want to say ODD, but I don't think that's it - so I can't push things *too* far without risking an explosion that I can't manage while driving.
When we went to my house on Tuesday for swimming, I tried both kids in the Radian to check fit - mostly because I was curious, but also because I had a plan brewing in the back of my head. C was not interested in the slightest, but M actually chilled in there for awhile and was enthusing about how comfortable it was. Of course, when I offered to put it in the car for her to ride in, she firmly refused. There was NO way to talk C into riding in the Radian so M could have the booster.
I didn't feel comfortable driving to BRU/target to pick up a booster without having a booster for M, as it was a long drive and I didn't want to risk taking them in the car to get something to make them safer in the car! Circular problem, unfortunately.
End result: We only did things within walking distance (Which isn't very far, in this heat!) as I simply wasn't comfortable with the seat situation for the kids, and didn't want to be driving them around like that. WWYD?
