[AdoptAmiga]

I'm hoping for some feedback from this smart crowd. Our work schedules always allowed one of us to be home w/ the kids. Things may change in January where our schedules might overlap. Currently, the kids go to an afternoon preschool program - the 3 yr. old goes on Tues/Thurs. and the 4 yr old goes Tues - Friday. If our schedules do change, this means the kids will need childcare 2-3 days a week in the morning. We would be able to pick up the kids from preschool, but not take them there. The school is only a few blocks away and we walk it in nice weather. However, we live in a cold climate, so walking is not a good option for the winter months. So, the kids need to get to school by car. Is it wise to have someone drive the kids to school? Is this a big no-no? Please advise. TIA.

[dspakowsky]

Interesting. I don't know...

[DeeVee]

Well, of course it's going to depend on what you are comfortable with. We have a part-time nanny who picks up our son after school (pre-school) 3 days per week. She uses a car seat that I provided for her. She also takes him to storytime at the library, or on play dates or to the park, etc, on the days I am working.

We hired someone we trusted would be able to handle the various activities we would ask her to do, including taking our son places, so for us it works. But, I know that other parents don't feel comfortable with their kids being driven around by someone else.

[mama8]

My question to you is a big no no according to who? All that matters is what you are comfortable with - not what others "think." I have never liked my kids in a car with anyone but my husband and I - but quite frankly it is impossible to make this an ongoing situation - we have always had a nanny, grandparents or trusted friends help us with the driving. Make sure there is an appropriate car seat, etc.... but the decision is yours to make - it is what you are comfortable with. You have to make your life work for you and your family, sometimes this means you have to adjust.........just my .02!

[kacmom1]

I worry too about my kids going in cars with others. If I were in your situation and had a child care worker who would be transporting my kids somewhere, I would:
1. Make sure they have a safe car.
2. Make sure the car seat is installed properly.
3. Make sure that the babysitter knows that the baby MUST ALWAYS be in a carseat.
4. Check driving record.

Maybe I'm a little overprotective, but if something were to happen, I would never forgive myself if I didn't check out the above.

Good luck with your decision!

[BrandyHagz]

I didn't see someone mention insurance.

Make sure they not only have insurance - but insurance that covers them while they are working (driving the kids to school)...I was surprised to learn, a few years ago, that home owners and auto insurance (depending on the carrier and policy) would not cover injury/accidents that took place while the person was operating a business...meaning, if there was an accident in the home or in the car, it would not be covered.

This actually happened to me - I baby sat for a friend, but because I was compensated, it was considered a business and when her daughter was hurt in my home, I was horrified to discover that my homeowners was leaving me out in the cold because she paid me $20 a week to watch her daughter for 2 hours one day a week and that was considered a 'business'...so make sure you check!

[AdoptAmiga]

I appreciate all the replies. Since I'm new to childcare issues, I just wasn't sure if driving was even acceptable. Glad to hear that it can be an option. Thanks for all the advice. Now why didn't we purchase that house that was located right across the street from the school...??? I'd have one less potential problem!

[sak9645]

When I am working full time, I use a driving babysitter to pick my daughter up at school; I am able to drive her in the morning. She is in a private school in the next town, so walking is not an option, and there is no direct bus. Traffic is extremely heavy, especially on the Interstate that is the best route, during the morning commute.

I have always chosen mature women -- no high school or college students -- with clean driving records and safe cars. In all cases, they have been 30+, married, and working as a nanny or babysitter for more than 5 years. Foreign-born, they all spoke good English and were either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. These women have picked Becca up at school, brought her home, and stayed with her till I returned. If she had an activity or play date, they took Becca to it and brought her home. In some cases, they made her dinner or heated up what I had made previously. They supervised homework, played games with Becca, and so on.

Mature driving babysitters of this sort are not cheap in our area. In 2002, for example, the price was $12 per hour, minimum. I recently heard that the 2006 rate is at least $14 per hour.

They are also hard to find. An ad in the paper yields dozens and dozens of callers, but the vast majority haven't read the requirements and do not qualify. I interview fewer than 1/4 of the people in person, and yet still wind up ruling out most of them. I check references on two or three, and finally come up with the one I will hire.

But I will say that I have been very, very lucky. The people I have used have all been fabulous. They have been loving, have used excellent judgment, have made Becca part of their families and taught her about their cultures (Indian, Brazilian, Peruvian), and so on.

We currently live in a very Chinese neighborhood, and I would be thrilled if I could find a Chinese woman, this time around. My daughter, who is from China, has started attending Chinese school this year on Sunday afternoons, and could use some practice with speaking and writing. She also goes to a Jewish day school, where Hebrew is taught by immersion for 50% of each day, but I have never found any of the Israelis in the area to be interested in babysitting. That would REALLY be ideal, since her Hebrew reading and writing are excellent, but she lacks confidence about speaking.

Sharon