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Paid childcare

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

Am I right to be unhappy with CM?

28 replies

Sairyuk · 01/05/2014 09:53

Morning all, this is my first ever post! My DD is 10mths and has been at her CM since January, everything seemed fine, she was recommended by a friend whose child is 4yrs. However, recently there seems to be more and more small things that I'm unhappy with. A few examples are: my DD only being taken to either the CM's MIL's house;
or to visit her Mother in a carehome;
or to the local supermarket

My CM told me recently that she has her grandchildren on a Wednesday so could I find someone to have my DD on a Wednesday (she goes 3 days a week) as she likes her Grandchildren to have all her attention.

Very often she will say when I pick up my DD there are no wipes/dummies packed - when they are always packed and clearly in her changing bag. I don't know if she is incapable of looking! But the straw that broke the camels back was 2 weeks ago when I was told I hadn't packed any water (even though it was in the changing bag area it's always in!) the CM was in a bad mood and was complaining that DD had just had her dinner then sicked it all back up again and she'd just changed her bum but it was dry (she'd had the nappy on for 4 hours!) I just wanted to scream SHE'S DEHYDRATED! That's why she'd been sick and had a dry nappy!!

I am now looking for a new CM, am I being too hasty?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Paddingtonthebear · 01/05/2014 10:02

She sounds incompetent. I would be concerned about the dehydration thing, and frankly quite pissed off about paying someone who was "complaining" to me about my own child. I would definitely look elsewhere. I don't agree with childminders taking their mindees on errands all the time, it's not what they are being paid for.

fancyanotherfez · 01/05/2014 10:01

No. I would find another childminder. Who doesn't give a child in heir care some water from their own house, if hey cant find a cup their parent has packed? And if you are paying someone to look after your child, then that is their job! They can't decide they want to look after someone else and leave you in the lurch.
My CM takes my DS to the supermarket sometimes, but that's what I would do if I was looking after him, and I wanted a home environment. She also takes him to softplay and playgroups every day, as I would do though! If her kids get something, my DS gets something. She's taking the piss, or doesn't want to do it anymore and is trying to get you to leave.

Chopsypie · 01/05/2014 09:56

I wouldn't be happy either.
I think good communication is essential with a childminder, an ours will always text/ring me if she can't find something or if something is wrong.
The one time I had forgotten to put a dummy in, she bought a new one and I paid her for it afterwards.

And what childminder doesn't have a cup to give a child a drink of water, regardless if you have packed one or not?