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Nope. This hasn't happened to us yet but if it's not family or super close friends, I'd decline politely! So far no one outside of family has driven my kids!

It’s commonplace at my daughter’s school (pre-k) for parents to carpool to drop off activities. It made/makes me nervous but do it provided I know the parent (not bffs but least enough to make small talk at pick up), my daughter is ok with it (she almost always is) and they have a car seat that works for us. A lot of kids my daughters age are using belted boosters buts she only weighs 34 lbs and is much too small. It works but we have a small school where we “know” almost everyone.

Awww... as you guys grow older there will be more carpool pick ups for playdates. We are 1st grade now, and I have grown to be pretty comfortable with it. Granted I did meet these moms before in different school social occasions and have been acquaintances for roughly a year, I know that they are not psychos and they have their life together (even more together than I do in most cases) . I am never really too worried.

That's how everyone does it when they grow older and carpool to soccer/ baseball/ birthday parties...etc. At birthday parties now I am surprised to see one mom dropping off/picking up 4 kids (from different families - sometimes I wonder how do they have so many carseats?!). At school carpool I often see some moms picking up a litter of kids lol. Granted I think the moms grew to be friends or are neighbors but it is going to be a norm as kids grow older.

I do have to admit, I was kinda surprised / on the fence when I was offered the very first time. I think it is with moms who have older children, they are so used to it they forgot it could be scary for first time moms

I wasn’t into it at first, but as the kids get older there are so many things to go to and it’s especially helpful when there a multiple things going on at the same time for my 2 kids. I gladly take carpool offers unless it’s snowing or something like that.

DS1 was invited to the movies with a friend for his birthday and the parents picked him up and dropped him off. We confirmed they had a car seat for him and I was ok with it. I've met them a few times.

We're actually looking to get a car with a 3rd row specifically so we can start carpooling. Given all of the activities that are starting, it just makes sense to start carpooling and helping each other out. Of course I wouldn't let him go with people I haven't met...

@Alba4: Listen to your gut. You have the best read of the situation. I've also been struggling with defining limits and independence with my 6 year old.

We recently let DD ride with people in certain situations. What 'broke the seal' for us was that her Kindergarten field trips (public school) happen in private cars with parent provided car seats. I was nervous about a parent installing 3 unfamiliar carseats and driving a gaggle of kids. I found out afterwards some parents went to the driver's house and installed the car seats themselves. In retrospect I probably would have done that. (Of course I could have signed up to be a driver but my gut said no to that one).

Now DD is in an after school program where a mom drives her around. We love the program so I've had to adjust to the driving aspect. This summer I'm hoping to set up carpools to the hodgepodge of summer camp locations we've set up. That will be stretching my comfort to a new level.

When DD does ride in someone else's car I do remind her that she must sit properly and not distract the driver.