I already have 3 cars outfitted with seats for my kids (me, DH and my mom). Now MIL wants seats put in her car too. My mom lives in town and keeps or transports them on a regular basis, so it makes sense for her to have seats. MIL lives about about 45 minutes away. We see her fairly often. We've been just moving seats to her vehicle when she wants to take them home with her for the night (once every couple months). MIL is also constantly transporting her other grandkids, nieces and nephews. Most of these kids should still be in boosters or ride in the front seat when they shouldn't anyway .... but that's another story and I've tried to convince her otherwise. If I install 2 car seats and insist she leave them there, then the likelyhood of these other kids riding in the front seat are greater. She picks a 5 yr old and 7 yr old up from school a couple days a week, and an 11 and 12 year old stay with her on the weekends... all of these kids just ride in a seatbelt, and swap out riding in the front.
She's buying our 2006 Jeep Cherokee with the terrible headrests that don't move, so car seat options are limited. (That's why we're getting rid of it!) She currently drives a van, which makes much more sense with all the kids she drives around. I have a spare Scenera for my 2.5 year old, so I'm hoping that one will work in the Jeep. My 4.5 year old is in a Nautilus in the other vehicles, and I know it works in the Jeep. I hate to buy a 4th Nautilus. My 4.5 year old is tall and 43 lbs. Height-wise she's fine on the Maestro and has some growing room, I'm just concerned about the weight limit and if it's worth it to buy it for such a short time. If I only have 1 seat permanently installed in her vehicle and then I swap out the Nautilus when she takes them, then maybe one of the other kids will get to ride in the backseat more often. I think she's wanting to be more spontaneous and just let the my kids ride with her when she's here in town with us, or take them home with her more. I don't know if the Maestro will fit in the Jeep. But I could always trade it with one of the other Nautiluses we have though.
MIL was babysitting one day about 6 months ago and just put my kids in her backseat in seat belts and took off to the park (ages 4 and 2). The park was ONLY a short distance away, they weren't going very fast, etc. etc. My 4 year old told me about it when I got home. DH laid into her pretty good and she called and apologized later. She's not going to do that again.
She's currently got a broke foot (right foot) and is wearing one of those big boot things that goes up to her knee. So she's driving somehow with her left foot with her legs crossed.... and she wants to take our kids next week.
She's constantly on her cell phone in the car. I don't think she texts, but just the act of fumbling thru to dial a number is pretty much the same thing.
I guess I've always thought that by not giving her seats, we have more control over the kids and she can't just take them all the time. I already didn't really trust her before the park incident, and I know she apologized, but it's just hard to forget those type things. I know I've described her somewhat poorly here, but she really is a loving, fun grandma, and a great MIL. DH sees and understands most of these issues, but he wants us to get some seats for her.
Thoughts? Opinions?
She's buying our 2006 Jeep Cherokee with the terrible headrests that don't move, so car seat options are limited. (That's why we're getting rid of it!) She currently drives a van, which makes much more sense with all the kids she drives around. I have a spare Scenera for my 2.5 year old, so I'm hoping that one will work in the Jeep. My 4.5 year old is in a Nautilus in the other vehicles, and I know it works in the Jeep. I hate to buy a 4th Nautilus. My 4.5 year old is tall and 43 lbs. Height-wise she's fine on the Maestro and has some growing room, I'm just concerned about the weight limit and if it's worth it to buy it for such a short time. If I only have 1 seat permanently installed in her vehicle and then I swap out the Nautilus when she takes them, then maybe one of the other kids will get to ride in the backseat more often. I think she's wanting to be more spontaneous and just let the my kids ride with her when she's here in town with us, or take them home with her more. I don't know if the Maestro will fit in the Jeep. But I could always trade it with one of the other Nautiluses we have though.
MIL was babysitting one day about 6 months ago and just put my kids in her backseat in seat belts and took off to the park (ages 4 and 2). The park was ONLY a short distance away, they weren't going very fast, etc. etc. My 4 year old told me about it when I got home. DH laid into her pretty good and she called and apologized later. She's not going to do that again.
She's currently got a broke foot (right foot) and is wearing one of those big boot things that goes up to her knee. So she's driving somehow with her left foot with her legs crossed.... and she wants to take our kids next week.
She's constantly on her cell phone in the car. I don't think she texts, but just the act of fumbling thru to dial a number is pretty much the same thing.
I guess I've always thought that by not giving her seats, we have more control over the kids and she can't just take them all the time. I already didn't really trust her before the park incident, and I know she apologized, but it's just hard to forget those type things. I know I've described her somewhat poorly here, but she really is a loving, fun grandma, and a great MIL. DH sees and understands most of these issues, but he wants us to get some seats for her.
Thoughts? Opinions?