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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

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

33 replies

happymindees · 18/01/2009 22:11

I have been childminding for a few years and love it, the children I mind are well cared for and I am very attached to them.

However I do not think I would use a childminder if I returned to work (or for any other reason) for my pre-school age child although I would feel happier with considering this for my older DC.

My reasons are that I know I do my best for the DC in my care to keep them safe and happy but how could I be sure that someone else would do this. I know that my DH loves children is very good with them but what if there were people living in another childminder's house that were not? OR what if the CM allowed the children to come into contact with undesirable people?

I would almost certainly use a nursery.

I feel guilty for feeling like this as parent's trust me (rightly so) but I feel very wary of other CM's.

What do you think?

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Original poster
happymindees · 18/01/2009 22:29

I probably do need to get to know other childminders and prehaps that would reassure me?

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Original poster
happymindees · 18/01/2009 22:25

What is odd about my post? I am being honest and want to see if anyone else feels like this.

I know a couple of other childminders, one well enough to say I would NOT use her because of her practise and the other I do not know her well but I have not taken to her.

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glastocat · 18/01/2009 22:23

How peculiar.

I have had two wonderful childminders over the years. We were very sorry to leave the first one, but we moved away. We still exchange Xmas cards, even though we haven't seen her for five years. My current childminder an older lady with no children of her own. She is a total treasure who just adores my boy. When I was checking her references her previous employer was in tears because she had worked for her for 12 years and her kids adored her. She has been with us for over three years now, and hopefully a lot longer! J also went to nursery for six months or so before he started school. It was fine, but I prefer home care for smallies. Anyway, surely most people research their childcare options and find the one they are most comfortable with?

chloejessmeg · 18/01/2009 22:20

I felt like this about nurseries when I worked it one, and it did make me feel bad. I worked in one particular nursery for 3 years, but no way would I ever put my own DC there.

I think though with CM - you can get to know them etc first so you build up trust etc with them and get to know what they are like. So you would know (as much as anybody can know about any childcarer) if they are going to be good with your DC iyswim? Sorry not making much sence, but I know with me, from talking to other CM at toddler groups etc which ones I would want to interview etc if it was me looking for Childcare. You get to know their nature and the way they are with their mindees and own DC.

ramonaquimby · 18/01/2009 22:19

odd first post

Ebb · 18/01/2009 22:19

LOL! I completely understand. I'm a nanny with 8mth old Ds and I really wouldn't want to leave him with anyone. I'm a great nanny, I know lots of great nannies but what if they don't like my son? I couldn't bear the thought of someone not caring for him like I do. I obviously need to get out more and get over the 'pfb'ness of it but oh well!!!

Littlefish · 18/01/2009 22:18

To be honest, I think it's quite an odd thing to be thinking. Are you in contact with other childminders? What do you think of them? Do you ever leave your dc with babysitters?

Original poster
happymindees · 18/01/2009 22:14

BTW - I have mentioned this to a few friends and they seemed shocked that I would feel like this.{shock]

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