I am a CM who loves my job but would be very unsure about using a CM to care for my children

Yes, i understand that about the child seats. I did a lot of research with my DDs seats and our 9mth-3yr seat is a Brittax.
But i think for booster seats it's not that important for kids over 5yrs old (for them to be branded seats).
The equipment for some CMs does leave a lot to be desired as they have the same seats for years!

excuse the typos - story of my life!

OP I think you have made a valid point - I have seen CMs who ofsted consider great because they are great with paperwork but who I have seen talking to their charges like crap and sticking them in front of the tv all day with no interaction. I would horrified if my DCs had to endure that. Also I have some very good friends who are chilminders but who I wouldn't want to leave my kids with because of their lax attitude to car safety. Some of the loveliest people I know drive around with mindees in inappropriate car seats or ones that are se3cond hand or cheap argos non brabded ones. For some people thats fine - but for me - its got to be maxi cosi or britax - I research very carefully within those two brands and I also spend far too much time researching which cars are safe and which aren't! Thats just my own little foibles and thats why I only trust me to look after my children.

horses for courses at the end of the day isn't it.

I hope to be one of the good CM's

I have an absolutely ab one for DS2, who is almost 3. She has him school hours for 3 days per week and is brilliant.
As an ex Nursery manager she is well up on all her procedures etc and she provides a stimulating environment, nutritious meals, homely atmosphere, love and cuddles and lots of great outings. My DS2 loves her and I trust her to look after him well.

I have met other CM's who I would be wary of, and I do know how lucky we are to our CM, she is very highly regarded in our area.

As a mere parent I can honestly say that I would never use a childminder.

Of all the cm's I have come across (and I have come across quite a few at school/preschool etc) I can honestly say that there is only one that I would trust with my ds.

I think the problem is that you don't really know what the cm is doing with your children. It's not about them coming into contact with undesirable people etc it's the unprofessional things they do. i.e. I knew of one cm who used to arrange with another child's mother to pick up her mindee from preschool (quite without this child's parents' consent), who used to drop her mindees off at preschool and leave her other mindees (1 year olds) in the car, out of site, around a corner, who lost one of her mindees because she was so busy chatting to friends that she wasn't actually watching them.

I know more people who are like this than aren't tbh and I think it's sad because I think there are some good childminders out there but I think they're in the minority.

Are you going to find it difficult then in the future when your child is invited for playdates without you? My DD2 is being picked up from pre-school by another mother so that she can play with her daughter and i'll be picking her up this afternoon.
I've also picked up other mother's children to have a playdate for a couple of hours at my house.
These people are not CRB checked and they are by themselves mostly, but we as parents must make a balanced judgement on whether or not we allow our child to go.
Happymindees, it's up to you whether or not you use another childminder. Personally i would not either because a) I'm a childminder and my DD1 and DD2 are part of my ratio anyway and b)If i paid for a CM i would be giving away my profits! .
It's very hard trusting other people, but there comes a time, especially at Reception when your DC will want to go back home with a friend for tea or a sleepover when they are older.
Do what is right for you at this time, trust needs to build.

I'm not a childminder. I agree with crace. The same issues are there with nurseries too - some would suit you and some wouldn't. I just think that saying "I wouldn't leave my child with a childminder", when you have said that you don't know any, and it is your chosen profession is rather odd. The professional standards and training are there for a reason. You follow them, others will too.

No, I don't feel that way at all. As the others have said there are good and bad c/ms and nurseries and both need to have you comfortable with them. I do find it odd that you wouldn't give a c/m the same chance, and just assume that nurseries are all good.

I am a CM and I would leave my DD with other CMs that I know well (and have done in the past), but there are a couple I would avoid .... but this is the same as when she is invited round to 'friends' houses - I go with my gut instinct on whether it is a safe place to go. There are good and bad CMs in the same way that there are good and bad nurseries.

This is why I don't use a CM. And I'm not slating CMs. I have a few friends who absolutely love their CMs and have formed great, lasting relationships with them. I just don't know if I could do it, personally. I never felt comfortable about it.

I teach piano, flute and recorder in schools. Ds will always learn at a teachers house. What you do to earn money and what you feel happiest doing with your own children is allowed to be different.

I understand what the OP is saying, and if she were "just a parent" expressing this view, then I would think it was entirely normal. All parents have concerns about leaving their child with someone, be they CM or nursery. What I think is odd is that the OP is a CM herself and is therefore, casting doubt on the CM profession as a valid childcare alternative.

I think it would be really good if you could get to know some other childminders happymindees. There will be some you click with, who share the same ethos as you, and there will be some who have different ideas. Hopefully this will reassure you that you are not the only childminder able to care for children in a safe, stimulating, caring and professional manner.

I'm a parent who uses a wonderful childminder. However, we just didn't click with our first childminder and agreed to part ways and we eventually found our current childminder. The principle of young children being cared for in a home environment, however, is one which I wholeheartedly support.

I know lots of childminders and there are some I would leave my DS with (as I do now every Thursday when I am on course) and there are some I would not leave a dust bunny with.

I do understand what OP is saying, in a way.

Nope, never use a nursery - as a c/m myself I know quite a few others that I have used in the past even and I know they are to be trusted. That's why you use references, meet them a few times, use your instinct, etc etc - I think it's very odd to feel that way.

Time to go out to childminding meetups.

I'm the total opposite of you. I've gone into CM because my CM to my DD1 and DD2 was so wonderfull and they made them so happy and taught them so much.
You must know another CM that you would trust with your own DC?
Instinct is very important when choosing a childminder. If you feel at ease straight away and connect with the CM then it will be OK

I don't think it's odd that you posted it. What it boils down to is that a CM works alone and isn't being observed by anyone else.

You are just raising concerns that a few CM's may not be as caring or diligent. A valid point imo.

glastocat - just wanted to say, you don't hire a CM, they are self employed and you would be a customer/using their service. They are not your emplyee and that would be why they also interview you. Sorry, don't want that to sound rude, just wanted to point it out as it seems to be a common misconception.

I often talk to CMs at toddler groups and think "she sounds like somebody I would trust with my DC" because they have similar ideas to me and seem to really care. I also know a CM I definatly would not use (who is actually very related to me) and ones I have not clicked with but haven't done anything particular to make me dislike them.

I still, without a doubt, would choose a CM over a nursery for my DC if needed

I guess it's the same with any childcare - it's a leap of faith to an extent!

Like chloejessmeg I have worked in private nurseries and thought I would never leave a child of my own there! Then again I have worked in a lovely children's centre that I would happily hand a baby over to. I have also met childminders at toddler groups, some who I thought were excellent and some who I wouldn't want caring for a child of mine - I guess the same could be said for nannies, though personally I've not come across a bad one yet.

interviewing us

Yes, but of course there will be minders you wouldn't use - thats why you interview people so you can find someone that will suit. We checked out loads, some were Ok, a couple absolutely not suitable at all, but we eventually found people that suited just fine. Actually maybe we were lucky as our childminder was also interviewing is - she had lots of people wanting to hire her but chose us. Obviously because my kid is so fantastic.