To wonder if there is a different attitude towards childminders compared to nurseries?

[wellthatwaseasy]

I’m exploring different career paths and one possibility is childminding. When I mentioned this to friends I was really surprised because they seemed to think that most people used childminders because they didn’t want to / couldn’t afford to pay for nursery.

I was wondering if this was a widespread view or just my friends being a bit odd (in fairness they aren’t normally. So I’m wondering if this is a generally accepted viewpoint I’ve just not come across before!)

I chose a childminder because I wanted my (then 6month old) son in a more homely, smaller setting where I felt he’d form a closer bond to one person. Our childminder was an angel and he adored her, no regrets at all and the above reasons were not factored in

I never used either, but I would have preferred a childminder because I would assume that being around less other young children would result in less frequent and severe illnesses. I’d also have preferred the more homely feel, more 1:1 time and a calmer, quieter environment. My friend who is a police office preferred that they offered her greater flexibility with hours as well.

I've been a cm for 16 years, I think you get all sorts tbh! Most love the idea of us being out and about, small ratios, homely environment etc. And some visit you because you're a stop gap until a place come up in a nursery, you'll negotiate a super cheap price, they can get away with paying late, mucking you around etc etc. I don't tend to take the latter group on!

Ime people chose to be childminder to make money whilst at home,not a desire to be a childcare worker. It’s a money choice not a career choice . I’ve known women who were sahm chose to be childminder to make extra monies.,no particular interest or training in childcare, just wanted to be home and make some extra money
I use work base nursery as I don’t want my babies in someone house, fitting in around their routine.

Maybe you could change your statement to 'some' because that's a hugely insulting statement to the vast majority of childminders. It might have been true in the oast but these days the regulations and requirements we have to adhere to certainly don't make for easy pin money!

It is quite often suggested on here when someone complains their nursery is too expensive. And to be fair, I used a childminder up until 3 years ago for my daughter, it was £5.50 per hour so £55 for a 10 hour day. That now costs £102 for my son at nursery…yes costs have risen in 3 years but not almost doubled.

I preferred a childminder for my daughter because she was the only term time only option and the only one who’d do a half day for me. The fact she was cheaper per day was a bonus. I did like her and my daughter benefitted from the small setting, but I did move her to a school nursery for pre school year. My son is doing brilliantly at his nursery (we can only afford it because of the increase in funded hours) but I wouldn’t rule out a CM in the future if necessary.

No, I won’t change a post to suit your sensibilities. Frankly amused you asked

It is my direct v recent experience. I also hear it from other mums who’ve became childminders and mums looking for childcare who have met multiple childminders

God, none of the childminders round here are like that. 😳

Ah hearsay! Excellent data knowledge. Thankfully I know many many more childminders than you will and know it to be almost exclusively untrue. Yes there will always be some but they don't last long.

In the close group of 12 cms I work with, not one of us has our own child under 12 and we've all been working as cms for a decade or more. As I said, 16 years for myself and my own children are grown up now, certainly am not doing it to stay home with my children. I do it because I love it and am good at it.

You don't use a cm and your only evidence is 'people I've spoken to who have been to visit cms'. Sure.

I choose nursery as I didn't want the hassle of having to deal with let downs when the childminder was ill.
When we got to school age I went with a childminder rather than after school club for various logistical reasons and initially it was fab, but then we had lots of cancelled sessions due to her children's illness, last minute school events for her children etc. She was definitely a 'make money whilst being at home' style one. Then we started on multiple term time holidays, 2 weeks of which I had to pay 50% fees.
She now doesn't do school pick ups and we use after school club which makes life a lot easier.

Some childminders I know are amazing, some are definitely making a bit extra on the side whilst at home.

A childminder was a positive choice for me. Prefer smaller settings for young children, more 121 adult interactions and personalised care. There were also some disadvantages and ultimately switched to a nanny when had multiple DC, but I definitely preferred it to a nursery.

We never really considered a childminder. I always much preferred a nursery helped by the fact that we fell in love with DC's nursery when looking around.

I’m a grandmother but if I were choosing now I’d do what my grandchildren’s mothers have done and choose the structure and social opportunities that come from a nursery setting. Ours are thriving with many friends and have the chance to try activities that are unusual with a childminder.

And?well you would say that wouldn’t you. How very self serving You're spouting your own here say and anecdotes as if fact.

You’re probably going to regale me with anecdotes of how committed and well trained CM are. But Can’t definitively prove it. Cm is unregulated anyone can get registered, no prior experience reqd. Solo working. If you get registered you’re ready to work.

Same.

My daughter absolutely adored her childminder - she was like a second mum to her.

She had a couple of other mindees during the 4 years she went to her but my daughter was her only long term full time mindee.

I chose her over a nursery because I wanted quality childcare and none of the nurseries I saw even came close to her.

We loved her.

Ok I'll leave you to your cm bashing, it isn't unregulated though.

Have a good day.

I wanted the certainty & structure of a nursery. Don’t want my children in someone else house.Didn’t want a domestic setting or solo worker or mixed age setting

It's true for some parents but there are many other factors at play. Some kids love the large groups at nursery, others struggle and prefer a smaller setting. The compatibility of the hours is very important too.

The only time we made the conscious decision to put our child at nursery instead of CM was when our eldest was a baby. We didn't know any CM or nanny in the area, and I wasn't comfortable leaving my tiny baby with 1 single person I didn't know. At least at nursery there were always 2-3 adults in the room and it felt safer.

In my.experience the mix of nursery and CM is the best combo.

We chose nursery for our DC.
My, admittedly probably incorrect, perception is that nurseries are under more scrutiny in terms of health and safety and safeguarding than a childminder is.
I also didn't want the home from home setting and prefer the structure nursery gives.

But there is no way my DH would've entertained the idea a CM for our kids after being abused by one when he was a child. Obviously, I'm not saying that all CM are like this, but this personal experience of my DH has clearly shaped his viewpoint on the matter.

I don't think this is true at all! Certainly hasn't been my experience. My wonderful cm loved my kids and did so much for them. She still shows up to their shows now and they are teens.

Friends I had with kids in nursery found it was (understandably) just a job for the generally very low paid workers.

My guess is there's a mix of good and bad in both settings. I was clear I wanted a homely environment for my kids though.

I chose a CM because there were no nurseries near enough but it was actually brilliant.

She took both my boys from when one was a baby and one at preschool. She picked them up from preschool, then school. Had them in the school holidays. Took them on elections and inset days. She definitely made our working lives easier.

They’re teens now and they still talk fondly about her.

I kind of think both are true and that it would be a lie to say every childminder is amazing. A friend of mine does it and she is amazing. Kind, gentle, committed and the activities she does and the way she leads through play is inspiring. She has lovely warm relationships with the children and their families.

I do know some who just sit around at soft play (usually the shabbier ones) or toddler groups gossiping, usually about the parents of their mindees. Hopefully I’ll be like my friend if I decide to do it.

Exactly! You don’t think.Opinion, anecdote,experience . Not absolute fact.
Some CM are terrible. Some are not
We all make childcare choice based on preference & experience

I think there are different attitudes to them, yes. But imo the reality is more nuanced - there are good and bad examples of each. The excellent childminders I know, I'd probably rate above the excellent nurseries.

I don’t want my babies in someone’s house in a mixed age group. I didn’t want a domestic setting. Wanted a designated baby room with baby room ratio etc