Questions to ask a possible childminder?

[revellish]

I'm meeting a childminder this week, what sort of things should I ask her?

What things should I look out for at her house?

Any pointers would be helpful.

Thanks so much!

Not helpful, but IME you just either feel comfortable or you don't when it comes to a childcare provider. We walked into a local nursery (highly recommended by a good friend) and just hated it. Then walked into a local CM's house (again, highly recommended by a friend) and we just instantly felt comfortable.

I think the key thing that made the difference was how happy the children were and how much interest the staff took in DD. At the nursery, we didn't see a single smile and not one of the staff even asked what DD's name was/how old she was/expressed any interest at all. We couldn't wait to get out of there, it was really dark too and just... horrible! When we went to see the CM, she immediately took DD from me and cuddled her and talked to her, and when she sat down with DD on her knee, 2 other kids came and climbed up on the sofa next to her and talked us and to DD and asked what her name was etc. Then one of the kids put her arms round CM's neck and cuddled her - they obviously were really comfortable and happy with her. DD has been going there for just over a year now and is very happy there too.

A few thoughts... though it would help to know how old your DC is/are :)

• Food (see if her approach is the same as yours re types of food served (or if you provide your own)/snacks/baked beans/jam sandwiches/crisps).

• School runs (if she does them or not and how many - if you care!), but it can be a big chunk of the day for smaller ones sat in a pushchair.

• If you think you will still want to use her when yours go to school what schools she does drop offs/picks ups from.

• Does she have her own kids, what ages. Think about pros & cons of that.

• Planned activities v 'at home environment' - ie does she go to a lot of toddler groups, childminder meetups, do her supermarket shopping with the kids, does her Mum/Friend/Brother/Aunt come in for coffee

• How many kids she has in the school holidays - (friends CM has her 3, friends older DS (as well as friends baby) and another couple of kids, IMO it is far far too chaotic in a small house for her baby and he comes home stressed and wrecked in the holidays in particular. (He comes home very very tired as due to school & nursery runs he doesn't get a proper sleep in a cot and it's always very busy there).

• Where your DC would sleep (if appropriate) and what opportunity there will be for them to sleep.

• Do they have a garden, if not how often do they get to play outside, not just walk to stuff like school/nursery etc.

• How her fees work with regard to your holidays, her holidays, sick days etc.

• Does she have animals.

Just some thoughts from friends issues and other threads :) As I said, I don't think any of it is right or wrong, it's just a case of it being what you want :)

Thanks so much Chipping, that is really helpful. My DS just turned 1, my DD is 3. The childminder would primarily be for DS, who will be 17 months by the time that he would start 'properly' with childminder, although we might try to do an intro period before that.

DD is starting nursery in September, it is a full-time nursery from when the children are settled, so I don't know how long that will take my DD but I hope to try to hold that off until January if its manageable/ seems necessary. If she seems happy then it'll be full time (9am - 3pm) from whenever she is happy to stay the whole day. I work 20 hours ATM which I do over 2 days but once DD is in nursery I might split my hours over 3 days so I can do drop off/pick up etc. If DD is not happy and settling well then on 2 days she might join DS after the morning session at nursery. Do you think CM would be OK with that?

Thanks again!

If she has space available I am sure she would be - many CM's take or collect the older ones to/from some kind of nursery setting.

When are you going to meet her?