Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I compensate childminder for accident?

64 replies

Samwelly · 05/02/2016 08:24

My 2 year old DS knocked over a plant pot and broke it at childminder's house yesterday. I apologised obviously. Should I have offered to pay for her to get another one?

OP posts:
Rushyswife · 05/02/2016 08:26

I probably would, just as a gesture really. It's not really your responsibility but just shows that you care. I would maybe get my DS to draw a nice picture for her and explain that it's nice to show we are sorry, even when things are an accident.

StillDrSethHazlittMD · 05/02/2016 08:27

Yes.

Sparklycat · 05/02/2016 08:28

I'd buy her a new one

ScarletForYa · 05/02/2016 08:28

Yes, definitely!

CocktailQueen · 05/02/2016 08:28

Ooh. I'm not sure.

Was it in an area where the dc usually play, or was it in an area of the house that is out of bounds to dc?

I think it's up to the cm to make sure the area is safe for dc and there's nothing breakable or damageable there. Accidents happen.

I don't think I would offer to buy a new one, but I would apologise, as you have done. Unless my 2yo was being very silly, maybe, in which case I might buy her a new one... Sorry, that's no help, is it?

wonderpants · 05/02/2016 08:28

I think a sorry note is okay, but at 2 it was her job/ responsibility to supervise! At 2, he isn't responsible for his behaviour and I would be careful at setting a precedent! What happens if something bigger got broken?

TannhauserGate · 05/02/2016 08:31

No- surely she should have a child-friendly workspace? Imagine if he'd thrown a building block through a flatscreen television?

Crazycake · 05/02/2016 08:31

I'm a childminder and wouldn't expect you to pay for it. They shouldn't have anything too precious around the children anyway but if it was an expensive item she will be insured.

WhiteBlueDaisies · 05/02/2016 08:33

I'd say no personally. I think apologising was more than enough, unless your DC broke it deliberately.

NNalreadyinuse · 05/02/2016 08:33

Former cm here. I don't think you need to replace it. Different if you were at a friend's house and he broke it, but he was her responsibility when it happened. Her home is her work space so it is up to her to move anything particularly precious and to supervise.

OhWotIsItThisTime · 05/02/2016 08:35

I'd offer to pay. Ds1 puked on my chikdminder's doormat and I offered to buy her a new one. What it comes down to is she is left having to pay for something your DC damaged. Mine said not to worry, but I think the gesture was important.

WhiteBlueDaisies · 05/02/2016 08:37

And actually at 2, even braking something deliberately isn't really their fault.

Imagine if they dropped an iPad on the floor and broke it, would you pay for that? I think when you are looking after young children (for money) you don't give them access to things you don't want broken/ supervise sufficiently.

WeAllHaveWings · 05/02/2016 09:03

I think your are being lovely considering it, but apologising is enough. You have no control over the environment your dc is being minded in. It is her responsibility to ensure it is a safe environment for your dc and her belongings. How would you feel if he had cut himself when it broke?

Also you could set a precedent for paying up if next time a more expensive item in reach and he breaks it!!!

Collaborate · 05/02/2016 09:05

Your CM was responsible for your 2yr old, not you. Not sure even an apology is necessary, although it would act as a social lubricant.

Lweji · 05/02/2016 09:09

No.
And in fact I'd be asking her how it had happened and could he have been hurt because of it.
How do you know he knocked it?
Were you in charge at the time?

Original poster
Samwelly · 05/02/2016 09:09

Thank you all for your advice, it it much appreciated. I will probably won't offer to pay for the broken pot. I very much like the idea of DS doing a nice picture for the Childminder to "Say sorry". We will do that for sure.

OP posts:
IamCarcass · 05/02/2016 09:11

Don't pay, she is in charge of the environment and your child's behaviour whilst he is there, so not your responsibility. Any valuable breakages would be covered by insurance presumably. Otherwise where would your responsibility stop and what would stop a dodgy cm giving an item to break for an upgrade? (maybe I'm too cynical?)
I say all this as a child care professional, I'd have never expected payment in this situation.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 05/02/2016 09:11

Nope! She shouldn't have these stuff at easy reach of a 2yo... What if it fell on his head??
I'd have a good chat with her about being more careful!

SchnooSchnoo · 05/02/2016 09:31

No, I really wouldn't. It's not your fault, you weren't there and had no control over it. Two year olds have accidents, so surely it's part of the expenses of the job, or the cm does more to prevent them?

Do she tell you in a way that made her sound like she was annoyed about it?

Stumbletrip40 · 05/02/2016 09:46

if she's a lovely childminder that you trust and if she'd made noises about how it shouldn't have been there and been apologetic (because he could have hurt himself indeed), I'd offer to pay because childcare arrangements need a lot of goodwill on both sides. I can see why people say you've got no obligation to pay, of course I agree with that. How was it presented to you?

HSMMaCM · 05/02/2016 09:51

You certainly don't need to pay, but it would be a nice gesture to offer.

milkysmum · 05/02/2016 09:54

No you certainly shouldn't pay. Would you pay if your little one broke something in a nursery, no, it's the same, her home is her place of work when she is looking after children for money.

Only1scoop · 05/02/2016 09:56

I'd replace but that's just me.

Aworldofmyown · 05/02/2016 09:57

No, that is the risk of her job unfortunately. If it were a friends house then absolutely but not in this case.

Borninthe60s · 05/02/2016 09:58

As a former CM I would say no I wouldn't expect you to cover it. It shouldn't have been where it could get damaged anyway IMO.

Swipe left for the next trending thread