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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if this would put you off using the childminder?

212 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 02/10/2014 19:30

Me and DH are currently in the process of searching for a childminder ready for when I return after Maternity. Depending on when I go back DS will be 9 or 12 months of age.

I met two childminders last week and neither of them felt right and the idea of leaving DS with them made me feel quite anxious. I told my DH I didn't want to use either of them. There was nothing specific about them that I didn't like but my gut instinct was that they weren't right for DS.

Tonight we met a 3rd one (and her husband and children) and she was really lovely. I instantly warmed to her, the house was really child friendly and there were toys everywhere and lots of stimulating games and activities and I just felt really comfortable talking to her and being in her company, as did my DH.

However, before we left she mentioned she had 6 dogs Hmm There are two poodles, two shnausers (no idea how to spell it) a Doberman and a Bulldog. She showed me where they are kept and they have their own area which although is part of the house they are caged in so don't have access to the main house. It's a nice big space, lots of beds and underfloor heating and they have their own door that leads to their own fenced off and secure part of the garden - they are not able to access the main garden area.

Am I being unreasonable to feel uneasy about the dogs and not send DS to her because of them even though she is perfect in every other way?

My DH thinks I'm worrying too much and he'd have no problem sending DS there. But I just don't know.

OP posts:
divingoffthebalcony · 03/10/2014 15:39

Did you search via postcode OP? Some OFSTED reports for childminders are anonymised so only the address is displayed, not the CMs name. That might be why you can't find her. Either that, or she isn't registered.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 03/10/2014 15:40

Thanks for the tip, I will see if I have her postcode and try again...

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 03/10/2014 15:40

Thanks for the tip, I will see if I have her postcode and try again...

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 03/10/2014 15:44

No record of her via the postcode either.

I'm just feeding DS but when he's finished I'm going to get her profile booklet that she gave me last night and actually see if she says she is an Ofsted childminder.

The plot thickens...

OP posts:
WannaBe · 03/10/2014 15:44

I have never encountered the anti dog hysteria anywhere else other than on mn.

I would be a bit Hmm at someone who had six dogs, but more from a "how on earth do they manage to walk/afford/clear up after six dogs. I would not be thinking of six dogs in terms of their abilities to suddenly turn and viciously attack mine or anyone else's child.

It sounds as if this cm has a decent setup to keep the children and the dogs apart - for no other reason than that that many dogs and children together would be absolute chaos - but I wouldn't see dogs as being an issue in a childcare setting.

And no, I don't imagine that Ofsted would give a bad mark to someone with dogs - afaik having pets is pretty much viewed as normal and even positive in childminding settings.

But there are people who will react hysterically whether there is one puppy or ten dogs purely on the basis of their own reactions to dogs.

ChocolateWombat · 03/10/2014 15:51

Just so you know, all child minders have to be registered. It is not optional.

NickyEds · 03/10/2014 15:54

I think nowadays "registered childminder" would mean registered with Ofsted. It would reassure you that her EYFS, first aid certificates, PLI insurance etc are up to date.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 03/10/2014 15:58

I have found her on the website by using her unique childminder reference number but there's no link to her report for some reason Hmm

OP posts:
NickyEds · 03/10/2014 15:59

Just ring her and ask her how to access her report.

Floralnomad · 03/10/2014 16:03

There is probably a reason why such a nice person only has 2 mindees currently ,both of whom presumably go to school - it's because she has 6 dogs and that is not attractive to people with babies and toddlers !

shaska · 03/10/2014 16:06

I'm similar to WannaBe - anyone, CM or no, who didn't have an awful lot of land and had six dogs I would wonder about how they manage it.

I wouldn't worry any more about six dogs than one from a child safety perspective though - and would send my DC to a CM with a dog, as long safe practises were followed and I had met the dog.

But I would maybe hesitate about this, if only because to me six dogs is an awful lot of dog, and possibly indicative of not brilliant judgement, harsh as that may seem? I would ask her how she ended up with six dogs. If it was 'well, I had the schanuzers, and then I married DH who had the doberman and the bulldog, and then my best friend had poodles and had to move away and they were going to go to the dogs home and I just couldn't say no' then I'd understand it and probably be ok with it. If it was 'I just keep getting more dogs' then I would have to have a think about it. If I really liked her though I'd probably still do it.

TooMuchCantBreath · 03/10/2014 18:43

A friend once said to me "if you don't know you don't have all the information you need" and I think that's very true. Given your concerns about dogs in general you must have been really impressed with her in other ways or you wouldn't be spending this much time and energy considering it. My feeling is that you need more input before you can decide. So find the ofsted report, talk to parents, visit her, visit others, talk to as many people as you can - whose opinions you value.

Let's face it, if you were looking for a solid get out the reactions on this thread have been more than enough, plus you're own concerns about dogs and children, yet you're still considering her. She must have really impressed you.

ChippingInLatteLover · 03/10/2014 20:37

There is probably a reason why such a nice person only has 2 mindees currently ,both of whom presumably go to school - it's because she has 6 dogs and that is not attractive to people with babies and toddlers

Or that's all the income she wants.
Or that she's been tied up with her own kids needs.
Or her other mindees have just gone up to school.
Or her other mindees have just moved away.
Or she has been caring for an ill relative.
Or about a billion other reasons...........

But no, it's MN, so it must be that she has dogs.

Hmm
GreenPetal94 · 03/10/2014 21:03

As long as no allergies to dogs I would say judge the childminder, don't count the animals. An advantage is that your child will grow up around dogs and so not become scared of dogs.

I was brought up in a rural community where everyone had dogs, including childminders and often people brought their dog into work.

bustrainwalkwalk · 03/10/2014 21:14

Complete no from me. I would never use a CM with a dog.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 03/10/2014 21:33

I think I have made the decision not to use her. It's a shame because her and her husband were really lovely and I'm sure would give DS lots of love and attention but I just don't think I can risk it. I've told DH (he was keen for us to use her) and he understands why I've come to the decision.

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 03/10/2014 21:34

I wouldn't use a childminder with a dog either.

SunshineAndShadows · 04/10/2014 03:16

Then good luck with finding a CM you're happy with. If you find a future CM, please don't your own discomforts put you off

ChocolateWombat · 04/10/2014 08:56

Glad you have decided.
I would be interested to know if you ever fing out it she had been inspected whilst having 6 dogs. It just seems so unlikely that such a setting could be deemed suitable in this age of risk assessments.

thisismypassword · 04/10/2014 08:58

Oh and the fact that she just 'mentioned' it JUST before you were leaving!!

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 04/10/2014 11:04

And she only mentioned it in response to something I said to her - I can't remember what it was I said though.

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 04/10/2014 11:04

And she only mentioned it in response to something I said to her - I can't remember what it was I said though.

OP posts:
hackmum · 04/10/2014 13:02

Wannabe: "I would not be thinking of six dogs in terms of their abilities to suddenly turn and viciously attack mine or anyone else's child."

You've probably never been attacked by a dog - I have. I was seven at the time and it's not an experience you forget easily.

This would be an absolute no-no for me. Six dogs? Why? I would also be worried by the fact that one of them was a doberman, which is a big dog - if it comes to a child v doberman situation, the child doesn't stand much of a chance.

Plus, either she's looking after the dogs properly by giving them the attention they need, in which case she's not going to be looking after the children properly; or she's not looking after the dogs properly, which means she's going to end up with some potentially frustrated, angry and bad-tempered dogs.

Crowen85 · 04/10/2014 13:46

Back in my nursery days one of my colleagues was an ex childminder, she had four dogs and two cats a various other animals.

I think it sounds like this childminder has thought it through properly and has created a safe environment.

Im sure if you had any concerns she would happily explain how much contact the kids come into with the dogs etc. This is her business I'm sure she's ready to answer any questions.

FuckOffFerret · 04/10/2014 14:35

Surely you mention dogs first in case a child has allergies?