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Paid childcare

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Childminder ignoring baby

40 replies

Loonaandalf · 01/12/2025 20:47

Does anyone have or know of a child about 13-14 months called Mabel who has a nanny or childminder who was in a Greenwich soft play today? I saw awful neglect from her minder, as soon as she entered the soft play cafe, she plonked the baby down in a soft play area on her own, when other children were running around. There was beads and other toys that weren’t necessarily age appropriate in the soft play. She didn’t even look around to make sure it was safe or even to see if the child was ok with being left. The childminder sat outside the soft play area with her friend chatting with her back turned, there was no interaction (apart from one time when it was time for the girl to eat) the whole time we were there (30 mins) and the baby was just left there. I told the woman that there was beads in the soft play that looked like they’d fallen off a necklace but she just said ‘oh yeah, thanks’ she didn’t come in and supervise the child even after that. She then plonked the baby in a high chair with no straps on, it just all seemed very neglectful and I can’t stop thinking about it. I hope someone who knows Mabel sees this thread and tells the parents.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
jannier · 05/12/2025 21:17

Loonaandalf · 05/12/2025 10:20

Could be a nanny or childminder, does it matter? As I said above, I did pick up the beads but what’s that got to do with a childminder not doing her job?

Because if she's a nanny your bad mouthing a proffession unjustly. It would be very unlikely that a childminder has one child to care for even more unlikely that two childminders have only 2 child each...basically they would be paying more to get into soft play than they are earning per hour.

Nickyknackered · 05/12/2025 11:41

Loonaandalf · 05/12/2025 10:20

Could be a nanny or childminder, does it matter? As I said above, I did pick up the beads but what’s that got to do with a childminder not doing her job?

It matters to those of us doing these jobs to be wrongly lumped in with a post like this.

I've read enough 'all childminders are bad' posts to realise that some people make assumptions and don't care how they affect people's reputations.

Lillypoe · 05/12/2025 10:50

It's not unusual based on my experience taking dcs to soft play and toddler classes. It's an easy break for them - the child is too young to say anything and as long as they come back fed and changed the parent will be none the wiser.
I doubt you'll manage to track down the parents on such a big site but agree with trying more local groups.

Loonaandalf · 05/12/2025 10:20

jannier · 04/12/2025 17:03

But you said nanny that's not childminding....if they have only 1 child very unlikely to be a childminder.
Why didn't you report the beads to staff or pick them up?

Could be a nanny or childminder, does it matter? As I said above, I did pick up the beads but what’s that got to do with a childminder not doing her job?

OP posts:
jannier · 04/12/2025 17:03

Loonaandalf · 01/12/2025 21:07

I could hear them talking about childminding . I did pick up the beads.

But you said nanny that's not childminding....if they have only 1 child very unlikely to be a childminder.
Why didn't you report the beads to staff or pick them up?

Loonaandalf · 04/12/2025 05:25

Yeah I have done!

OP posts:
toomuchchocolate1 · 03/12/2025 20:52

I would post this in a local Facebook page group

Loonaandalf · 02/12/2025 09:40

Soontobe60 · 02/12/2025 07:46

If you felt you couldn’t confront the adult, then you should have notified the staff - especially regarding the beads.

I did

OP posts:
Loonaandalf · 02/12/2025 09:39

jetlag92 · 02/12/2025 07:44

I wouldn't have a left a baby with a choking hazzard in reach personally, but when you're paying someone to look after your child, assuming they will actually interact and look after that child is completely normal.

OP - There is no way that someone will find your thread based on it's title. You're better off posting on a local group or asking around.

Yeah I figured, I probably should have used a better title. Such a shame, I feel sorry for this kid.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 02/12/2025 07:46

If you felt you couldn’t confront the adult, then you should have notified the staff - especially regarding the beads.

jetlag92 · 02/12/2025 07:44

tripleginandtonic · 01/12/2025 21:16

My dc at that age would have been perfectly happy on their own in there. You haven't said she was upset, i think you're over reacting.

I wouldn't have a left a baby with a choking hazzard in reach personally, but when you're paying someone to look after your child, assuming they will actually interact and look after that child is completely normal.

OP - There is no way that someone will find your thread based on it's title. You're better off posting on a local group or asking around.

Loonaandalf · 02/12/2025 05:49

It wasn’t safe to leave a baby of that age there which is why I’m worried, if it was then i wouldn’t have batted an eyelid would I? The baby was falling all over the place and getting knocked down by bigger children, all other parents were in there with their small kids who also had to steer the baby out of the way of getting hurt by their own children and there were signs saying children should be supervised by adults, this child wasn’t being supervised. Also, the beads were a choking hazard.

OP posts:
tripleginandtonic · 01/12/2025 21:16

My dc at that age would have been perfectly happy on their own in there. You haven't said she was upset, i think you're over reacting.

Loonaandalf · 01/12/2025 21:07

Nickyknackered · 01/12/2025 20:53

How do you know she wasn't her mother/ aunt/ grandma/ sister / friend? Why are we assuming she is a childminder?

(And why didn't you pick up the broken necklace?)

I could hear them talking about childminding . I did pick up the beads.

OP posts:
Nickyknackered · 01/12/2025 20:53

How do you know she wasn't her mother/ aunt/ grandma/ sister / friend? Why are we assuming she is a childminder?

(And why didn't you pick up the broken necklace?)

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