Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

Original poster

Childminder with pets. What do you think?

21 replies

harverina · 12/02/2011 21:07

Hi there,
Sorry if there have been threads about this before. I am on my phone and its difficult to search. I am looking for a Childminder to care for my dd one or two days per week. I have visited a Childminder who has been recommended to me. The Childminder has three cats. I am an animal lover and grew up with cats and dogs but I am feeling a little uneasy about the cats...i'm not sure if I'm being stupid or not. My dh was asking tonight about cats sleeping on babies faces and this has worried me! My dd will be 13 months when I return to work. Just wondering what your thoughts are about this?

Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dobby2001 · 12/02/2011 21:19

Hi
The childminder should have a risk assesment in relation to her pets and how they may have contact with the minded children. Personally i would be less worried about cats sleeping on babies faces (probably not comfy for then ) and be more interested in if there was a cat litter tray that baby might want to play with!

I have no cats but 4 hens,a hamster and tropical fish - the children love them all but i have procedures in place to keep them safe whilst allowing their enjoyment

herhonesty · 12/02/2011 22:51

i hate cats so couldnt tolerate that but as long as they are hygienically kept i cant see it being an issue

Ripeberry · 13/02/2011 00:27

The CM has to have a Risk assesment for all her pets. I have two cats and during minding hours will 'lock' them out in the utility room.
They have access to the garden and food but don't interact with the children.
Some of the babies I have do like to pull their tails

Any sleeping babies are in a room with a closed door and with a monitor. I would be more worried about dogs than cats.

Scarfmaker · 13/02/2011 00:40

Risk assessment or not, my three cats have never been a problem when I've been childminding.

I know where my cats are during the working day and they would never go near a small child anyway.

They sleep in their own area. They know they will get their tail pulled or whatever. Mine tend to stay away from the children I look after and are only familiar around myself and my own three teenagers.

My cat litter tray is way out of the reach of any children.

I would be more worried if the childminder had three dogs (but that's just a bad experience with a dog I had when young).

MrsPW · 13/02/2011 00:42

You aren't being stupid, it's all about what you are comfortable with really :) I have two dogs, a cat, a fish and a hamster, the cat is outside for most of the time I am minding but the dogs are inside. They have crates that they can be put in if necessary and all contact with mindees is controlled and very much supervised(same with the cat)
Common sense tells me not to ever leave a minded child alone with one of my pets and I'm pretty sure the same will go for your potential minder.
Just to address point the "risk assesment" point, different areas have different rules(you don't say where you are based) I'm in N.Ireland and we don't have to have have written risk assesments, so depending on where you are, you may not be able to see one of these, you will have to just trust your instincts.
Best of luck with your childminder search, I'm sure you will find one that feels right sooon enough :)

HeadsUp · 13/02/2011 00:49

Go and visit have a chat and get a feel for the place and the minder, ask her about her pets and what cantact the children haqve and what precautions she takes. Its the only way to put your mind at rest or to know for sure its not for your DD

CointreauVersial · 13/02/2011 01:00

When I was looking for a childminder I have a preconceived idea that I didn't want one with pets.

I interviewed several childminders, but the one I really really clicked was the one who had a big hairy dog and two cats. The pet thing became a non-issue in the end because she was the one I wanted to look after my ds.

What I'm trying to say is - it's a factor, but it's not the most important one. Feeling comfortable with the carer is paramount, then you'll trust that she'll care for your child and keep them safe.

HSMM · 13/02/2011 08:50

I used to have a cat. He would come into the playroom when he was in the mood to be sat on and generally pulled about, sometimes he would get a good squeeze and a stroke. He did not have access to the sleeping areas.

Tanith · 13/02/2011 11:39

I thought that whole thing about cats sleeping on babies' faces was an urban myth, anyway.

Cats sleeping in cots while their little owners are elsewhere can be a problem, but only if they have access and I would imagine that most childminders are very strict about not allowing their pets anywhere near children's sleeping areas. I know I was when we had cats.

Original poster

harverina · 13/02/2011 13:12

Thanks for your replies. cointreau, your reply is really sensible - I am due to go back this week with my DH and we will see if we are sure about the CM in other ways, then we can discuss the issue with the cats. I am in Scotland BTW, so not sure what the policy is re: risk assessments here.

Thanks again.

OP posts:

SecretSlattern · 13/02/2011 13:15

My CM has 2 cats which I don't have a problem with but was recently looking into getting a dog which I was a bit about, one because I hate dogs and 2, DS isn't very good around them.

If she had got a dog, I would have withdrawn DS and DD2 from there tbh even though she is absolutely fantastic.

Original poster

harverina · 13/02/2011 13:19

What age is your DS Secret...I looked on google about cats lying on babies faces and alot of people are saying it started out as as an urban myth but that they can be nosy and like the heat...then again my DD will be over 1 so is more likely to nap in a buggy I think.

OP posts:

underpaidandoverworked · 13/02/2011 13:23

Most cats run a mile when there are little people around - I know because I have 3 of them! 2 just give the littlies a complete wide berth, the other is totally laid back and loves being stroked. They love her as well - it teaches them how to care for animals, especially as they have known them since they were born!

EBDteacher · 13/02/2011 17:37

My utterly fab CM has a dog and a rabbit and I'm very pleased about both. We have dogs and love animals and I love the fact DS spends his time in another house where animals are valued.

It's horses for courses isn't it? Depends how you feel about animal company and what you want your DS to grow up with.

exoticfruits · 13/02/2011 17:47

I would be pleased, mainly because I don't have any pets.

seb1 · 13/02/2011 18:53

I am a Scottish CM and yes if they have pets they should have risks assessments. I have no pets but was asked to consider risk of animals at parks etc. HTH.

RosieGirl · 14/02/2011 08:22

Several of my parents have commented that "its great you have pets, so we don't have to". It all works really well for me.

Original poster

harverina · 14/02/2011 18:16

Thanks for your replies. I love animals so not sure why I'm feeling a bit uncertain about it. I grew up with cats and dogs. My dd has some done allergies so I'm feeling a tad overprotective too probably.

OP posts:

seb1 · 04/03/2011 23:21

OP did you get sorted out with your childcare in the end?

NannyTreeSally · 05/03/2011 12:51

Personally i wouldn't mind cats as long as they were hygienically kept. I think that i would be wary of dogs though... Rabbits, hamster etc i think would be great if the little ones could learn about looking after them and how to handle them.

Original poster

harverina · 19/04/2011 22:46

SOrry seb1 had not noticed your post last month. Yes I have gone with the childminder with cats in the end. My DD has been going for settling in sessions and its going really well. Back to work next week :(

OP posts:

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread