advice please all other childminders

Lololola, I totally sympathise as I looked after a mindee who sometimes had convulsions - when she first had one it was really worrying and a lot to cope with when you've other little ones as well. Afterwards I was shaking but had to carry on as normal in front of the other kids. After that though I got a bit more used to it. I certainly did find myself thinking whether it was worth it for the money.
You say you work for less than your local going rate - why don't you put your fees up for all your mindees to reflect the responsibility of the job you are doing?

My advise, whatever it's worth. Get involved! Call your Childcare advisor, see what training is out there. Contact Health Care profesionals. In my experience they are more than willing to help and advise.

It is scary at first, but once armed with info and you get your routine in place you'll be fine. Just make sure you have some energy tablets in your pocket when you go on the school run.

I child I have minded for a long time was diagnosed as diabetic a while ago. I have to be honest, it initially frightened me to death that something would "happen" whilst he was in my care - but, obviously, his parents had exactly the same fears.

Talk to the parents about your fears, by all means, because they will have the same thoughts. His parents wondered whether I would want to keep minding him, but I certainly didn't even consider giving notice, I know this child really well and love him to pieces. It has not really impacted much on my day-to-day life, once I had got used to this new situation.

Once we had got past the first few weeks of sheer panic, everything settled down and everything became routine. It will for you too. You will be able to judge what is or isn't a problem once you are more "tuned in" to the things to look for.

I make sure that I take the "emergency box" when we are out and about, just in case it's needed!

I've come into this convo far too late, but I will add my peice anyway!

I'm a cm and last year, one of my mindees had to have a hip cast on. She was only 14 mths old. I was petrified! I really was very worried about how I was going to care for this mindee. So I researched her condition on the internet, asked on here and most importantly spoke to the parents. They obviously had more info on it than me, but not a lot. It was new to them too. We worked together and as soon as she was out of hospital with her cast on, I was round there like a shot, to watch and learn, what they had been told, only the day before. What I'm getting at, is that it's a learning curve for both of you and if you can try to get over your fears (the same fears that her parents have!), it will make you a valuable part of that little girls life. You can't expect more money, really you can't, but then I think that's just you fear talking! I bet that within a couple of days of caring for her, you will realise that actually, its not that different to caring for any of the others.

I think some of the posters have been a litle unfair on the OP.

Lolola, I can imagine how daunting and scary the thought of looking after a child with diabetes would be, especially as you've only been looking after her for a week since she was diagnosed. Would you be willing to talk things through with her diabetes nurse? Although, I think that once your more comfortable with the whole thing then you'll wonder what all the fuss was about in the beginning. (I look after a mindee with various special needs, it took me a while to get my head around it all and now the things I do for mindee and how I watch out for little things that trigger prtoblems have now become second nature)

Whilst I realise that extra responsibilty is part and parcel of diabetes you can't really expect extra payment. My mindees parents wanted to pay me extra. I had to decline on my own morals- never mind whay ofsted and ncma would think"!

TOTALLY agree with NiftyNanny - well said I think you're just scared, we all worry about the responsibility of other peoples children, it's only natural as we are caring human beings I think you're just more worried than usual and need a little time to get over the shock of what this means but you'll be fine! Sometimes things don't come across very well online, I've had it before where people read into a post totally the wrong way but they didn't know me and didn't see the whole picture. I also agree with whoever said that this is your chance to shine. The parents are probably very worried too as this is so new but if you are supportive and strong for them, they'll think even more so that you're the best childminder in the world

Keep us posted with how it all goes and agree, a little research may help to reassure you as having the knowledge usually helps.

LT x

lololola, i think you're just freaking out because it seems like a lot of responsibility. Let's face it though, you've already COPED with her for 2 years before this was diagnosed. She was showing symptoms - thirst, perhaps woozy? - and you coped.

You can do this, chick, you're just worried because it's a condition with a name and known risks. Don't be! Now you're better informed, better equipped and have the support of the parents, you can ask advice from them, doctors, other people on here with diabetic children.

Take a while, chill out about it and don't see it as extra responsibility. You are equally responsible for all the children's physical well being. This child has a condition that means you have to check a certain aspect of that regularly - let it serve as reassurance rather than extra stress.

As an anecdote - a friend of mine had diabetes all her life and sometimes slipped into a hypo at school. It's quite simple to deal with, she'd get herself some lucozade or a mars bar and within a little while would feel much better. Now you know the signs, you can check and pretty soon it'll be routine. You can make sure she's less likely to have swings in her blood sugar by planning meals with that in mind. Don't worry. You can do this. You know you can, but I think you're just a bit shocked by it all and worrying that you're going to do something wrong. Ask for support, but I wouldn't be tempted to throw your hands up and give this child notice, it's really not fair on her or her parents, it's discrimination and at the end of the day, once you are more used to the routines involved with her care I'm sure you'll settle into a more relaxed state anyway and will wonder why you panicked at first.

Good luck!

www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Living_with_diabetes/Caring_for_someone_with_diabetes/For_care rsofchildrenwithdiabetes/ this may be helpful as might the website as a whole.

I'm a nurse. The patients with diabetes are a real pain. I'm thinking of asking for a little extra in my wage packet to cover the extra work.

I'm a CM - the 4 yr old in my care is still in nappies. I'm thinking of charging extra for the extra responsibility.

I'm quite sad that you have had this little girl in your care for two year and yet have expressed no sadness at the fact that this little girl has been diagnosed with this life long condition which is not only extra responsibility for you but also her parents, and when she is older, herself.

Not 'but' should read AS

I don't know much about diabetes but most recent children with SN have been Global development delay & cystic fibrosis - but (from what I remember)well controlled diabetes is not a high risk situation (I could be wrong)

If ofsted won't allow it it is for good reason. It wouldn't ever cross my mind to offer extra money.

Ok practically - why was the little girl diagnosed? What led up to it? you need to ask her parents how well managed her diabetes is. The blood sugar should be a certain range, usually about 4 - 6mmols, or sometimes higher (like after a meal or snack, drink).

Regular healthy snacks and drinks should help make sure she does not go below this. Do you have to give her insulin with her lunch? If you are worried about the school run I would suggest doing one of the twice daily blood tests you need to do prior to leaving.

Chat to the parents & explain - if you really can't cope - but most childminder I know are eager to look after children with additional needs. I know I am, I am getting a name for being the C/Mer to phone if a child needs that bit extra

C/Mers are normally better able to deal with additional needs than nurseries due to the close relationships inolved

You are paid to look after the children in your care, if one were to choke on a grape and you had to rescue the situation, would you then charge the parents extra for that?
And yes, plenty of people in the world of commerce have to take on extra work without getting paid for it.

You are a professional childminder - you take the children as they come
There will be a few months as she settles into her diagnosis/medication - she is far less likely to have problems now it's diagnosed than before when she was undiagnosed

Be very careful if you give her notice because of her health you may be the one in trouble

You can pick & choose the children you care for but you can't just change your mind because of this - it would be classed as discrimination & could land you in court

Lololola, I'm sorry did I get the wrong end of the stick. This girls parents have to manage her just diagnosed diabetes and you want to charge them extra!

Sorry lololola - but I think you are completely wrong

You cannot discriminate against this child because she has a health problem - you cannot charge her parents more than the other children it would be wrong

OFSTED & NCMA would not allow it

The only way extra money would be appropriate is if you gave the other children notice and only looked after this LO - but the parents might not be prepared to pay for sole charge - AND they may not want this