[Grammar] buying them(selves) time

[terry0236]

The parents urgently seeking child care could put their immediate efforts into convincing a friend or family member to help out for a week or two,
[buying] [them] time to look for permanent help.



What is a subject of "buying"? Is it parents? Then, I think, "them" should be "themselves".


Please help me.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'them' can simply be omitted.

 

[teechar]

Hello terry0236, and welcome to the forum.
Note that "childcare" is one word. When do you have to submit that task?