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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

childminders Club- Help!

17 replies

ladbrokegrove · 11/01/2006 11:05

Hi Ladies,
How do you think I should play this one?
Baby is nearly 17 weeks. Mum arrived on Monday and announced she'd started weaning. My gut feeling was that the baby is too young. However, not my child etc. When she arrived this morning she said baby had been given breakfast (baby rice) and would be having this in addition to veg for tea. Now, she hasn't asked me to feed him, so maybr I should but out. But part of me wants to say "Hey! Put the spoon down !". I also think that mum (who's 16) has been heavily influenced by Grandma, who raised her children when early weaning was more common. I've always wanted to say this on Mumsnet- "Am I being unreasonable?"

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Redtartanlass · 11/01/2006 11:39

ladbrokegrove, I think you would do more harm than good offering any advice. I would be very upse/angry if a professional I trusted to look after my child hinted that I was not doing the right thing.

I'm a 40 year old woman with 3 kids and I suspect a young 16 year old will take it much more to heart. As you mentioned the baby isn't yours and she hasn't asked you to do it.

I suppose in your occupation you sometimes have to know when to bite your tongue

oops · 11/01/2006 11:49

Message withdrawn

Original poster

ladbrokegrove · 11/01/2006 11:50

am biting as we speak- more wondered that I would be negligent ignoring it as weaning advice seems much stricter now than it used to be?

OP posts:

Original poster

ladbrokegrove · 11/01/2006 11:52

Thanks Ooops- that's why I posted as I new someone would have a tactful way round this. Will go get some leaflets off hv.

OP posts:

babydales · 11/01/2006 12:27

Could HV not have a gentle word with mum? Just a thought. I too would feel negligent if I didn't at least enquire whether this was OK or not.

Original poster

ladbrokegrove · 11/01/2006 14:31

Bty, mums hv and mine are different. what do you think about having a word with Grandma?

OP posts:

babydales · 11/01/2006 14:51

Do you have the name of the childs HV. Maybe you could ask them anyway and then tell mum that you had seeked(if thats the right word)advice as you were not sure if you were able to feed babys that young. Then at least you had tried to do something, just for your own piece of mind.

Original poster

ladbrokegrove · 11/01/2006 15:15

not sure Babydales- feels a bit too much like going behind mum's back.

bty, Grandma just colldected him and I mentioned I'd put a leaflet in his bag, and did she know the advice had changed- she had no idea and said his hv hadn't mentioned it. So maybe Grandma will step in!

OP posts:

kkey21 · 11/01/2006 18:50

Hi! I'm a Mum myself to my DS who is 21wks, also a nanny(childcare variety!) and soon to be childminder!! I read your post with interest and would just like to add that weaning is now they say best left until 6mths, but some Hv's i have met say 17wks is ok.
When my son turned 17wks i had a chat with my HV and she said as long as my baby was still sleeping through the night, not unhappy, then leave it...low and behold 1 week and few days later he started waking hourly and crying... so i introduced rice, then we've gone on from there adding breakfast afetr 1week rice, then carrot after 5 days, potato after 5 days etc.....Now he's sleeping properly again!
Maybe the mum has been advised to do it by HV??

joanna4 · 11/01/2006 18:55

My own 2 were bigger babies hard to fill and as a result i was advised at 16 weeks to start weaning for us it was good advice maybe your mum has been advised same.

alibubbles · 11/01/2006 19:27

Message withdrawn

oops · 11/01/2006 19:31

Message withdrawn

LoveMyGirls · 11/01/2006 19:43

i have a 15 week old dd and my HV told me that 17 weeks is the recommended age for weaning, to be honest i think it depends on the baby and no matter what the mothers age i would leave her to it, mothers follow their gut feelings and know their children best imo.
i was 17 when i had my dd and hated it when people told me how to raise my baby. we all have to learn no matter what our age. i doubt she is doing the baby any harm, it sounds like she's starting the baby on the right things so i wouldnt worry.
I dont agree with the old fashioned way of doing things either, take my dad for example - gave my dd (then 8wks) tea on her dummy when he took her to visit my grandma, i only knew because she had tea on her bib and my MIL too - we were talking about weaning my dd the other day and she announced my dd liked bean juice and gravy!
im 24 and dd is my 2nd child and im about to become a registered CM, when will people learn to let me get on with it - rant over

oops · 11/01/2006 19:55

Message withdrawn

oops · 11/01/2006 19:57

Message withdrawn

Original poster

ladbrokegrove · 11/01/2006 21:30

it's Ok Oops feel free to hijack!
like I said I have talked to grandma and she seems pretty freaked out by the HV's advice to wait, but I hope they do manage to hold out. However, my part is done now it is up to them. the stupid thing is whrn she asked me how old I weaned my daughter (2.2) I couldn't remember! I'm guessing about 5 months.

OP posts:

LoveMyGirls · 11/01/2006 22:22

sorry wasnt trying to start a debate

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