I am not sure about my CM because:

if you have doubts then find a new cm or different childcare

I think your childminders communication skills are maybe not what they should be. As a childminder myself I would read your child's behaviour as that of most 10 month olds in a new environment. The fact that he sat on her lap to eat is a positive thing - he felt secure to do so and eat! Also he didn't cry all day, ok he wasn't full of smiles BUT he didn't cry all day!...again a more positve way to communicate with you about your little one! A suggestion I would make is has your little one a special comforter or is there a certain way he likes to be comforted - what routine does he have with you his mummy etc...? Hopefully all these questions were put to you before your little one started with your childminder.

The childminder said your little one is used to a lot of attention....well that's what good parents do & a little 10 month old will be learning & developing at great speed with positive attention!!

Maybe your childminder put the TV on at certain times to entertain the other children whilst settling your little boy - I'm not making excuses for her as there are other ways to occupy children but perhaps it suited the moment e.g the quickest or maybe the safest option?

It's very early days for all involved and as a childminder I have always found that good communication between childminder & parents is paramount in helping children feel happy, safe & secure...also whilst offering equal care to all the children, each child can have his/her individual needs met.

I would try to talk to your childminder about how you feel and if after that you still have that gut feeling then I would think again but do try to talk about how you feel... she may just not be a good communicator and will only learn from talking with you or if that fails you removing your little one from her care(she will know the reasons why!) Anyway I hope it all works out for you all!

Not read all the messages but I'd get a new childminder if I were you!! Seriously, I've had some awful awful times when baby just cries and cries no matter what I do yet I still be positive about it and talk about what we can do about it and never MOAN - that's soooo unprofessional. I still wouldn't do that now to families I work with and am very close to so if she's like that with a new person, I'd say this isn't the job for her!!! My god, to tell you she was 'dreading' it......it's one thing to feel that way but to say it to you like that is awful. Also, 2 hours tv is A LOT imo. I don't have the tv on as a rule but more recently have started putting it on for about 15 mins twice a day (when preparing meals) to calm the children down (because I have 4 aged young 2 and under and a lot are going through the snatching, hitting sort of phase so it's just safer to have a bit of tv on to chill them out before mealtime )

Sorry this person has made you feel like this

As a cm I think,its odd that your cm has forgoton that a 10month old is a 'baby' and as such cant be dreaded!!

Her responses to your child are simply not on - I would seriously look for another CM.

As a childminder, even I would say look for someone else. Where do you live? you might find a replacement on this site ;)

just thought I'd say that I do not charge anything for settling in sessions and have as many as the parent feels necessary until they and the child are comfortable.
I also ask parents to complete a VERY detailed registration form about their child.

I would probably expect a new child to be upset and out of sorts because they are leaving their mum and going to stay with a stranger for a day or several hours. I certainly wouldn't MOAN about this.
I would say he/she was adjusting well and then go on to more positives.

Some people have lost sight of why they are a childminder.

I mean 'pay' not owe - we are excellent at paying her! Oops!

DD1 started with CM aged 7 months and absolutely loves it. I would not be leaving her there if I was not comfortable about the care and attention she was given.

Yes, the TV is on sometimes but I do think the children switch it on. My DD tends to watch TV and do something else at the same time - here and there.

They do playgroups, parks, beach trips and so many other fun things that DD still goes twice a week even though I am on ML right now.

Looking forward - in a relative 'going back to work/leaving the baby' way - to DD2 starting there at the end of the summer. She already cuddles CM sometimes when we drop DD1 off int he morning and the other mindees are looking forward to having a baby around too.

I know CM's have to earn their money but mine works very hard and earns every penny we owe her (even though we will be paying huge amounts when i go back to work I would rather have her look after my DC than get a Nanny, which could work out cheaper!)

If you are not happy then I would move your DS somewhere that he enjoys going to and where they enjoy having him, even if he does need extra attention at times - don't they all and isn;t that what you are paying for?

think it would be best to change now as at 10 months your child is less likely to feel a move to new cm than later on. my cm is fabulous and would never put down my child's behaviour (even when she has been a little ...pickle) you are paying your cm (very well) for childminding not for plonking infront of the telly. good luck - lots of lovely cm out there - its just a case of finding the right one for you

I don't like the sound of that at all. My CM is brilliant - the TV may be on too much but I think DS1 actually is the one who turns it on, and his addiction to CBeebies is probably dp's fault! She takes him out lots as well. And I know from the way he watches TV at home that it's not an alternative to giving him attention, he will demand that as well.

While my CM clearly needs to earn a living, I think she's also taken up childminding because she's had her kids (5 of them), youngest is now 8 and she seems to really like having little ones around. DS1 started there at 10 months and he has been known not to want to leave.

Wow, 2 hours at £13, you'd be better off hiring a nanny at that rate!

What a horrible attitude she has, I wouldn't be leaving any children with her!! She was 'dreading it'? What a bizare thing to even think, let alone say to a Mum about her baby. Babies are lovely and if she doesn't think so, she shouldn't be minding them!

As for her TV policy, I wouldn't be leaving a child of any age with a CM whose policy is 2 hours (even if that's just the max guideline) per day, no way. Lo's around here are very 'lucky' if they see that much (at home) in a fortnight. (Don't want to start an arguement about TV though - each to their own!!)

agree she sounds dreadful. ds has been to 2 CMs in the 2 different places we lived. they were kind, positive, reassuring and took as long as it was needed to settle him in. he has been so happy in both his places.

what you're writing makes me feel sorry for your ds, particularly about the CM saying she thinks he's used to attention - ffs so he should be at 10mo, does she expect him to sit by himself all day and not bother her?

Please speak to your CM asap or find somewhere new for your little one. the tv policy is not good either.

I would love to have two hours off everyday while my charge watches telly, would feel too guilty though!

She sounds awful! Have you looked at anywhere else - or a nursery? I know there are lots of people who will throw up their hands in horror at a baby at nursery but I've had three children in them and have never had a bad experience - having picked carefully of course!

cant get over the 2 hours of television a day.. ridiculous.. some children are harder to settle with me than others but thats my job.. she sounds really lasy. go elsewhare..

Why not get a nanny SE22? Might help your son adjust to someone else aswel as being in his house that he is familiar with? Just a thought

if it does not feel right, then change.
better to do so quickly for the sake of your LO

I'm building a mental picture of a CM who's in it for easy money (hah!), rather than because she wants to take an active part in children's lives. Think the alarm bells are ringing for a reason...

Not a CM myself, but had a brilliant one and wouldn't settle for anything less. Best of luck.

If you don't feel comfortable with your little one being with this childminder then you should find someone else.

Good luck

I can't believe that her policy is for 2 hours tv a day I doubt the mindees we have watch as much as that in a term! not that I disagree with tv it has it's place, but I don't think it should be used as an alternative to care and attention and especially not for a young baby of 10months. All CM's have a bad day from time to time but being negative before your DC has even started is a bit has she been minding long?, perhaps she doesn't have a lot of experience. Most CM's would spend time getting to know your baby and reading up on the routine info you provided before the start date and making sure they have activities planned that you as a parent know your child enjoys, I would talk to your CM about tv, what the daily routine is and make your decision fairly quickly so as not to unsettle your baby any further.

I can't believe that her policy is for 2 hours tv a day I doubt the mindees we have watch as much as that in a term! not that I disagree with tv it has it's place, but I don't think it should be used as an alternative to care and attention and especially not for a young baby of 10months. All CM's have a bad day from time to time but being negative before your DC has even started is a bit has she been minding long?, perhaps she doesn't have a lot of experience. Most CM's would spend time getting to know your baby and reading up on the routine info you provided before the start date and making sure they have activities planned that you as a parent know your child enjoys, I would talk to your CM about tv, what the daily routine is and make your decision fairly quickly so as not to unsettle your baby any further.