On one hand I do agree with you ThreeBeans, but she buys the seat then she knows that the seat is in good working order, not expired, safely stored, etc.
Personally I would WANT to provide a seat for my sitter....
I would love for parents to provide a truely appropriate seat for their kids. But in reality, it doesn't happen.
3beans... there's a far cry between "appropriate" in a CPS Advocates eyes, and a parents eyes (many times. Not all the time.)
I had this "appropriate" clause initially, and had sisters, aged 3 & 5, weighing 35 and 33 lbs respectively, dropped off w/ the Cosco backless boosters. These boosters have no age limit, and their lower weight limit is 30 lbs. So, per the manual, they were appropriate. But OMG, I could not put the kids in them. I quickly re-wrote my contract and bought some Sceneras and a TB for the 5 yr old (she was too tall for the Scenera- this was before the Apex, and other "cheap" options.)
This is exactly the problems I had. I have had old OHS seats, really nasty boosters, etc.
By providing my own appropriate seats, I can assure that I am protecting all the kids in my care. This way, I can RF my small 18mo, and have my larger 5yo in a harnessed seat instead of a booster. One of my current families, has their 5.5yo (44 lbs) in a lbb, and she has apparently been in this seat since she was barely 3. Her 2yo is 35lbs, but very tall(about to outgrow her scenera) and she is arguing with me all the time about why she can't put her in a booster?!?!?! It doesn't help that a local policeman told her to just put her in a booster because she looks older and they don't carry a scale...
For now she is listening to me, but I don't know for how long. If she puts her into a booster, I would be without a seat if I were having her provide a seat.
Bottom line, I am willing to pay out the money because I know they are safer, and it cover me for liability when I transport them. It is part of the cost of operation. Just like the payments and commercial insurance on my 15 passenger van. I wish it were not the case and more parents would provide the seats that I want them to provide.
Besides...this way I don't have to re-install seats all the time. :2thumbsup: