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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

potential CM's house smelling of cigarette smoke-deal-breaker?

84 replies

CatIsSleepy · 11/03/2011 13:40

my lovely childminder of the last 4 years has had to give me her notice this week for very sad personal reasons and I have to find a new CM for dd1 (nearly 5) and 2 (2 yrs) to start in 3 weeks.
It has thrown me into a bit of a panic. However the mum of one of dd1's classmates is a CM, and she has vacancies. I went to see her today and liked her a lot.
Only problem-her house smelt very smoky. She said her husband doesn't smoke when the children are around ie only in the evenings. FWIW it sounds like she would be doing activities out of teh house with dd2 most days so she wouldn't be in the house all the time. But i feel a bit uncomfortable about it. Dh, however is less bothered. I haven't had time to see anyone else yet or even get any names of more CMs to contact so she is the only person I have seen so far.

Would a smokey house be a deal-breaker for you? am very interested in other people's opinions on this.
Have to go and do a load of boring stuff now but I will be back
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 11/03/2011 14:14

Me too,sorry

sleeplessinseatle · 11/03/2011 14:13

Dealbreaker for me.

CatIsSleepy · 11/03/2011 14:10

yeah i do feel very uncomfortable about it

she was great in every other aspect

damn!!!

OP posts:
Booh · 11/03/2011 14:02

For me it would be a no.

I think the guidelines are that anyone who smokes and they wants to be around children (even their own kids!) should have a shower, wash their hair and change their clothes to stop any smoke being transferred!!!

nannyl · 11/03/2011 13:59

it would be a deal breaker for me

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 11/03/2011 13:50

Look for others.

If you find someone else that you prefer but doesn't have vacancies currently get on their waiting list and use this one as a short term solution (assuming there are no other solutions). It would be my ideal but unfortunately you've been put in a very tricky situation.

Don't know if yours does it, but our local council has a list of childminders on their website which was very useful when we were in a similar situation last year.

Good luck

ojmummy · 11/03/2011 13:46

It would be a deal breaker for me too.

NickNacks · 11/03/2011 13:46

I am a CM myself and i have to say I wouldn't be keen.

Maybe see some others and then decide. If she turns out to be the only one you like then you could maybe compromise on that issue but i wouldn't be saying yes just yet.

DamselInDisguise · 11/03/2011 13:45

A smokey house would definitely be a deal breaker for me. I find it very unpleasant and wouldn't want to subject my kids to it. And the lingering smell would probably pervade their clothes and hair. Yuck.