uncomfortable with childminder driving my dd about

hi i am a childminder , when i first started i did not drive and use to work everywhere or use public transport. i was taking lesson at the time and all the parent of the children were over the mooon when i past. we ussed to have to walk half an hour to a school then half an hour on the way back. then i a child started nursery there would have been no way i could have walked to mother and toddlers for half 9 leave at half 11 walk half an hour to get home make lunch then get the child to nursery for 12.45.
my now my day is even busyer and would not be possible to do without the car i have to get a child to school for 9 school is 2 mins in car but over half hour walk with kids, pick another child up before half9 take my daughter to playgroup for 9.45 which is in the next village go straight to mums and tots leave there half 11.30 and be bk at playgroup for 11.35. then got afternoon nursery kids at 2 dif nurserys starting at the sametime one finishing at 2.55 then picking up from school at 3 then the other nursery at 3.10 no way i could do it without car. plus during holidays we go on lots off outings as the children are not use to being in all day and would go mad stuck in. if a child came to me and was not to use my car then i would not take them on as i would not be able to carry out the rest of my job properly and accomodate the other children.

the childminder has to have your permission to take your child out in a car or taxi or bus or at least i have a permission form about transportation for parents to sign -
i think that you need to fully trust your childminder to look after your child and it sounds like you are just having a panic and focusing your anxiety on this aspect.
it is very hard to let someone else be responsible for your baby but she is a professional.

In answer to your question molly you go with your gut instinct. I have had some parents come to see me and I don't tryst them to pay on time/collect on time/have any consideration for anyone except themselves. So I don't take them and thats just based on how I feel about them during our meeting.

As I said you dont sound the sort of parent that feels comfortable with a CM and I think you would fair better with a nursery setting.

And no I would not buy a £200+ car seat because you wanted one as I have good quality car seats that all sit at the top of the which lost report and I am happy with them. In fact I don't think a single childminder I know would either, so if you want one you will need to provide it.

It's about forces and direction of travel (IIRC) if you are going forwards you need one type of car seat, if backwards another sort

Not sure tbh about multidirectional ones but I think due to the different fixings they are likely to be 'car travelling forward' specific

Bugger, it would be so great if they could,

What about cars that you can swivel the seats around, I looked at a delicia once (ugly car)that had seets you could turn around.

Shoshe I have a feeling (as my car is similar) that car seats aren't safe if they aren't facing the direction they are supposed to be in the car (iyswim)

Just thought, the middle seats in my car can all be reversed so they back onto the front seats (my car can be used as a camper van) does anyone know if I can have the seat belts moved as they would be in the wrong postion with the seats reversed, would be brilliant if they could as the children would be all facing each other with the under 4's permently reversed.

Maybe I should start a thread.

We dont do shopping and such trips, but do go out most days, to soft play drop in centre, feild trips and such.

Without my car (an 8 seater Mazda Bongo, to fit all the children in during holidays times) we would be confined to the Army Camp we live on I certainly wouldnt want to take 3 under 2.5 on our busses, all buggies have to be folded, and are very infrequent.

I used to do a school run in the car, but the children I look after now, all go to the Camp school which is within walking distance.

I supply all my car seats, I dont have any birth to 1 car seats, but have 3 that reverse and are birth to 3, although up to now I have used the reversed by the time they are 12 months, but it is something to look into.

My CM took my DD around so much, she got very carsick and sometimes had to be brought home before her due time.

DD then told me she had been in the car all morning, being driven from estate agent to post office, to bank, to house of friend of CM and back via the supermarket, getting bak to CM home for lunch at 1:30 (!).

I am sure it was within the law, but I did end that contract, as I was leld to believe my DD would be playing at her home with other children and watching telly etc.

So just ask her how much she plans to take DC out and about.

OP - I don't think you're unreasonable to have these concerns. Perhaps you would be happier for your child to attend a nursery, that was my preference for my DD.

You can always ask, but I think it's a bit much to expect the CM to shell out for a new, expensive seat when even you think it's a lot of money!

Has the OP fainted at the very idea ?

FWIW, I am a non-driving CM - because we're a one car family, not because I can't drive. Have prob only used the car twice in the last year.
However, we go on the bus weekly - how does the OP feel about public transport?

what brand was the carseat you saw? might be a good/ok brand you werent aware of?

Hi,

I think you should just speak with your CM and let her know how you feel (you sound like someone who generally prefers to walk and not a car fan) and maybe she can put your mind at ease?

I am a CM, my car is fully insured for Business Use and I only use MY car seats, I have a 7 seater car and only 3 little ones (one of which is my own), each child has their own car seat (purchased by me when they started) and have all been correctly fitted. I would not take any unneccessary risks with MY children and the same applies to all my minded children. I hope you manage to have your fears put at rest by your CM.

All the best.

Its perfectly Ok to be worried about differant things when leaving your child with any childcare. Just to reassure you, any OFSTED registered childminder who uses their car for business use, will have appropriate cover on their insureance - and it is reasonable for you to check this. OFSTED will expect the childminder to have appropriate resources for the children in their care, and this includes car seats that are the right size, correctly fitted and in good working order. The car should also be roadworthy.
I try to walk most of the time with the children i mind, but use the car on Holidays for day trips and if running late/ circumstances dictate. My car has scratches and is messy , manly due to the kids knocking bags, scooters and allsorts into it - I have 8 years no claims so i would like to think my drivings Ok?!

I would ask your CM how much car is used but it is not likely to be workable if you want to "ban" car use - what would you do in an emergency? either for you DD or other mindees? Cars have their place as part of the service you are requesting, you just need to reassure yourself all is ok

I can completely understand your concerns - one of the reason my DD didn't go to a childminder.

Could you find someone else that doesn't have a need to use the car ? ( certainly we walk to toddler group/school pick up, library/park)

Ask the childminder about how much she drives, how old her seats are, what made her choose the seats she has, whether she will accept a seat from you, etc and go from there.

As a CM I have to say I wouldn't touch you with a barge poll! I am not about to b dictated to by parent about whether I can use my car during business hours. You either trust your CM or you don't in which case you need to look at somebody else. TBH you sound more suited to a nursery setting where this sort of situation does not occur.

In addition I use my own car seats in my car for 2 reasons:

1. I know they fir correctly
2. I know their history 100% (ie bought from new and never been involved in a car crash.

My car has an encap 5 star safety rating and I drive my child about in it so I am happy it is safe and fit for use. If its good enough for my child its exactly the same for my minded children.

You need to speak to your childminder about this if you are planning to buy a carseat for her to use. My childminder bought a new carseat for my dd, because she wanted to be sure that the car seat would fit correctly in her car.