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

Better the devil you know? Which CM to choose.

5 replies

HoegaardenHappiness · 04/05/2011 09:31

I have returned to work part time after dc2. Dc2 is 10mths and my childminder has just given me notice (insert really rude words here). Anyway so I need to find another CM for dc2 (dc1 is at school).

After looking / asking around for a couple of weeks I have kind of two options. 1) Dc1's childminder and 2) Acquaintance's childminder.

Now the questions is, Dc1's childminder was good but I did have reservations about her by the end of her looking after dc1. They were that she didn't ever tell me what they did in the day beyond the vaguest details. She didn't seem to take dc1 out to the park unless I asked her to. I wasn't very clear about how many other children she had, and I think she did a lot of school runs. I collect dc1 a few times when she had a younger baby and the baby was crying. But Dc1's cm was never sick, very reliable and I didn't ever worry about dc1 when she had him. She'd have dc2 for three days a week 8-6pm.

She did love dc1 though and was a calm, no nonsense caring person. He was happy there until he got older and then he was bored.

The second option is an acquaintance's CM. She seems good but is a bit 'miserable' looking. The acquaintance and her sister both used her though and said they were v happy with her. I didn't really want to use her before I found the cm-who-quit-on-me.

I am torn. Do I go with the old cm, knowing the issues or start over with a new one?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
nannynick · 04/05/2011 09:39

Have you met the other CM, been to see the home? If not, then arrange to do that so you can make your own judgement - then you may be able to compare better between the two.

VentiPeppermintMochaWithWhip · 04/05/2011 09:48

Now might be a good time to ask CM1 all of those things you were unsure of... Saying something along the lines of...
"I forgot from last time, and I'm sure it's changed anyways, but how many children will be here along with DS2, how often are outings, what school runs do you do, etc"
Use baby brain as an excuse!!

A. x

HoegaardenHappiness · 04/05/2011 13:38

I haven't seen other cm's home, good point. Will arrange that. Problem is I see other cm a lot at school pick up so if I ask to see her home and she can do it, it'll be embarrassing if I don't go with her.

But I guess I am being weedy about that.

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 05/05/2011 17:36

Venti - you are needed here

Dlamis · 06/05/2011 08:38

It won't be embarrasing if you don't go with her. Most childminders expect that parents will visit several childminders when looking for childcare and know that just because a parent visits doesn't mean they will automatically choose them. :)

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