Young friend's ride could be costly

DEAR AMY: I'm a sophomore in high school. I have a sophomore friend who has an 11-month-old baby. For the past month, she has been asking me for rides. This involves taking her from the school to the day care center, waiting about 10 minutes there to pick up the baby and then taking her to her house. By that time, it's almost 3:45. I don't always have time to do this every day of the week, and these past few weeks she's just kind of assuming that she has a ride. She doesn't even ask me anymore. On top of all that, there's a safety issue. She doesn't buckle him in when they ride in my car, and sometimes faces him toward the front! And I obviously don't own a car-seat holder. I don't want to get in trouble for this if anything happens. I don't know how to approach this situation. Please help!

--Unsure

DEAR UNSURE: You should never, under any circumstances, transport a baby in your car untethered. Even if the baby is in a bucket-style portable carrier with a handle, the baby should be properly and securely strapped into the car -- and always in the back seat.

If you are too young and timid to insist on this nonnegotiable when you are the driver, then you shouldn't be driving this little family around.

Take the safety issue as your primary reason to talk about this with your friend. I think it's absolutely great that you have been so helpful, and hope you can continue -- on a schedule that works for you.

She must make sure you have the appropriate baby carrier properly installed in your car. These are readily available secondhand, and the people at your local fire department will be happy to check it and help you install it securely.

And where, oh where, are your parents (yours and hers)? Your friend needs very basic parenting instruction, and you need help to assert yourself over what is a very important safety issue.