Childminder - is this normal practice?

[JackGrealishsHair]

Just started looking round at childminders locally and it's the first time I've done this. A genuine AIBU to be surprised / shocked by these practices?

For context children are aged from 12 months up to 5 years.

• children sleep on a plastic crashmat on the floor all piled in together. No blankets, no cots for tiny ones, no curtains in the room. This room is also used for soft play. Is this normal practice?

• meals are always dahl and bread. Always vegetarian and lentil based, some variation on the dahl recipe. This is because so many children have different dietary requirements, so its easier. If parents wish child to eat something else eg chicken or vegetables they have to provide those already prepared.

• there are no high chairs available for very young children at meals. They eat in the floor or if they can manage sitting in a small chair.

• nap time is the same for every child regardless of age or routine at home.

• childminder says she will often tell children that they love them and this is healthy because of how close she is with the children.

AIBU to be surprised by these or is it normal?

I think this sounds horrendous. I’m surprised she hasn’t been reported.

@gingerlime

I think this sounds horrendous. I’m surprised she hasn’t been reported.

For what?

I know children sometimes fall asleep in unusual places, but if you were home with your own child/ren, would you say, “Right one o’clock, lie on that plastic mat with nothing. Go to sleep and see you at 2.30?”

[quote gingerlime]I know children sometimes fall asleep in unusual places, but if you were home with your own child/ren, would you say, “Right one o’clock, lie on that plastic mat with nothing. Go to sleep and see you at 2.30?”[/quote]
They're not at home though, they're in childcare.
Sleep mats are pretty common in childcare settings and not something Ofsted would have a problem with.
They are safe and hygienic.
Maybe not having a blanket is unusual but a clothed child in a warm room probably wouldn't need one.
Children often sleep better in childcare settings with all their peers napping at the same time than they do at home with parents fussing around them.

To be clear on a couple of points-

1. I don't think sandwiches everyday are acceptable either. I expect a childminder to provide a variety of really healthy home cooked meals. This is very important to us.

1. The mats weren't "sleeping mats", they were crash mats like I had in school PE lessons. There were a group of little boys jumping up and down on them when I visited.

@JackGrealishsHair

To be clear on a couple of points-

1. I don't think sandwiches everyday are acceptable either. I expect a childminder to provide a variety of really healthy home cooked meals. This is very important to us.

1. The mats weren't "sleeping mats", they were crash mats like I had in school PE lessons. There were a group of little boys jumping up and down on them when I visited.

That's what sleep mats are. Padded wipe clean mats.

If food is important to you, then this isn't the right setting for you. That's fine - there's nothing wrong with what this childminder is providing, it just doesn't suit your family.

@JackGrealishsHair

Just started looking round at childminders locally and it's the first time I've done this. A genuine AIBU to be surprised / shocked by these practices?

For context children are aged from 12 months up to 5 years.

• children sleep on a plastic crashmat on the floor all piled in together. No blankets, no cots for tiny ones, no curtains in the room. This room is also used for soft play. Is this normal practice?

• meals are always dahl and bread. Always vegetarian and lentil based, some variation on the dahl recipe. This is because so many children have different dietary requirements, so its easier. If parents wish child to eat something else eg chicken or vegetables they have to provide those already prepared.

• there are no high chairs available for very young children at meals. They eat in the floor or if they can manage sitting in a small chair.

• nap time is the same for every child regardless of age or routine at home.

• childminder says she will often tell children that they love them and this is healthy because of how close she is with the children.

AIBU to be surprised by these or is it normal?

WEIRD! Avoid! My son has a packed lunch. Sat at the table with a high chair and now a chair as he’s 3. Had access to a cot for sleeping in a dark room upstairs but sofa now if necessary but he doesn’t nap now. My CM loves my boy like her own, I’m sure of it but she wouldn’t tell him that… it’s a bit weird!!

If food is important to you, then this isn't the right setting for you.

Are there really parents who would say that the food their child eats isn't important to them??!

I can’t believe babies are expected to sleep on a mat on the floor, that’s horrible.

I can’t believe babies are expected to sleep on a mat on the floor, that’s horrible.

No, its just a waterproof mattress (useful in case of nappy leaks), they can't fall off them, and much easier to store than a bunch of cots.

Its normal. I mean, people use floor beds all the time.

I think it’s shocking!!! But I am comparing to a nursery... babies on the floor?! Really?!!!! Noooooo

@JackGrealishsHair

If food is important to you, then this isn't the right setting for you.

Are there really parents who would say that the food their child eats isn't important to them??!

What that means is different to different people, though. Some parents will find menus unacceptable because it’s not ‘familiar’ food so they’d prefer a setting where the CM does fish fingers, beans on toast and pasta on a rotation. They’d be OK with biscuits and fruit juice boxes.

Others would find anything convenience-based like above unacceptable and want home-made everything no exceptions and a very strict policy on sugar and treats, only water etc.

Some parents don’t want a setting that serves food at all etc.

I don’t think a variation on daal & accompaniments is at all unusual, really. I would say it fits the ‘really healthy home cooked meal’ brief, in fact, but yes if there’s not enough variety then fair enough.

My first CM was somewhere in between - often a bit less ‘ideal’ than I’d have liked but nothing to worry about. My second CM did no food and that was actually a major PITA but she was great for other reasons.

DS sleeps in a big old fashioned pram outside at nursery or in a cot. Or his key worker

@JackGrealishsHair

Just started looking round at childminders locally and it's the first time I've done this. A genuine AIBU to be surprised / shocked by these practices?

For context children are aged from 12 months up to 5 years.

• children sleep on a plastic crashmat on the floor all piled in together. No blankets, no cots for tiny ones, no curtains in the room. This room is also used for soft play. Is this normal practice?

• meals are always dahl and bread. Always vegetarian and lentil based, some variation on the dahl recipe. This is because so many children have different dietary requirements, so its easier. If parents wish child to eat something else eg chicken or vegetables they have to provide those already prepared.

• there are no high chairs available for very young children at meals. They eat in the floor or if they can manage sitting in a small chair.

• nap time is the same for every child regardless of age or routine at home.

• childminder says she will often tell children that they love them and this is healthy because of how close she is with the children.

AIBU to be surprised by these or is it normal?

I would use a nursery

@JackGrealishsHair

If food is important to you, then this isn't the right setting for you.

Are there really parents who would say that the food their child eats isn't important to them??!

Yes, for lots of people it's not their top priority or they're quite happy to do a packed lunch. Most childminders where I live don't provide food at all, some do oven pizza/fish fingers and chips meals.

@Workinghardeveryday

I think it’s shocking!!! But I am comparing to a nursery... babies on the floor?! Really?!!!! Noooooo

Very common in nurseries for 12 months plus. www.earlyyearsresources.co.uk/nursery-equipment-c100/cots-and-mats-c101/black-and-white-animal-print-sleep-mat-p83486

www.cheapdisabilityaids.co.uk/essential-sleep-mats-pk-6-225899-p.asp

Childminders will often get single Ikea gym mats as they don't need so many.

What? No.
My DD(2) goes with two similarly aged children. When altogether they each have their own travel cot in a different room of the house. They have their own sleeping bags and even their own cuddlies that they keep there.
For dinner I frequently am envious of the meals that are prepared. At least one meal will be meat and veg type dinner, always freshly prepared, variety of fruit and snacks throughout the day.
The children nap when they're tired but do need to do it between school pick ups
My childminder does say she loves my daughter and they hug and kiss because she is genuinely like part of our family.

I think the food sounds really healthy. My childminder does a lot of fish fingers chips and beans style meals, so I would love it if he had healthier options. She's lovely though so we stick with her.

Floor mats wouldn't worry me either, but I would expect a childminder to adapt to a child's personal routine, if they need more naps for example. I personally think for small children it's about choosing someone you click with and trust who listens to your concerns and is kind and loving.
I know of childminders who tick a hundred boxes but are less engaged and loving with the children, and others who are a bit disorganised and not great at cooking but are great with the kids. It really is just personal preference.

I might be wrong about this (and apologies if I am) but I thought the EYFS guidelines required nurseries and childminders to have a separate sleeping area for under-2s (which is why so many nurseries have ‘baby rooms’ although that isn’t a strict requirement). One year olds sleeping on a big crash mat with 5 year olds doesn’t sound that safe to me.

Apologies, I am wrong - I think that requirement doesn’t apply to childminders, just nurseries.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf

Paragraph 3.60:

Sleeping children must be frequently checked to ensure that they are safe. Being safe includes ensuring that cots/bedding are in good condition and suited to the age of the child, and that infants are placed down to sleep safely in line with latest government safety guidance. Except in childminding settings, there should be a separate baby room for children under the age of two. However, providers must ensure that children in a baby room have contact with older children and are moved into the older age group when appropriate.

@YouMeandtheSpew Childminders aren't expected to have separate under 2s areas. They work from a normal home.

@Suspicioussam How would you imagine childminding would work with children all on different routines? If one child naps 11-1 and another child naps 1-3, when is the childminder supposed to go out to groups or do school runs?
Children need to nap at the same time unless they are little babies who can nap on the go in buggies.

Sleeping mats = common
All kids in one room asleep at same time - normal. This works fine, younger babies simply have an extra morning nap. Most children between 1& 3 sleep between 12.30 & 2.30 in my experience.

The dahl thing - weird/crap.

The sleeping arrangements wouldn't bother me too much, nor would telling the dc you love them. Always feeding the same meal is a bit wierd though.

Also lack of high chairs I would consider a bit odd. I would expect some sort of booster or pod seat for the children age 1-2.

Saying they loved them I wouldnt consider odd. This person is with these children long hours every day, i would bloody well hope they have a loving bond with them and are affectionate towards the children.

How many children are sleeping on the mats at once? A single CM can usually only have I think 5 under 5s, and many 3,4 & 5 year olds won't nap, it may only in reality be one 1 year old and a couple of 2 year olds actually napping for eg.

Dhal is a type of food that can vary. It's not just the same meal over and over. I have a whole cookbook that has dozens of different dhal recipes.

A lot of posters are coming across as very monocultural.