Attachment parenting childminder - is there a call for it?

[LittleWaveyLines]

I've just gone back to work and I am hating leaving my DD, as I feel she needs me.

I am very "attachment parenting" orientated, and could not easily find a childminder who is willing to have my DD in a sling etc, which I would like as it makes her feel secure, and she is a baby who needs to be carried a lot (which is a complete PITA without a sling when you have things to do!)

Anyway, I was thinking that maybe I could retrain as a childminder, specialising in attachment parenting. (Currently a secondary school teacher).

I can't hand in my notice until October half term to leave at Christmas anyway, so this is mere idle speculation - but do people think there is a call for a childminding like this?

yes was just coming on to say same as HSMM

poor DD, I wouldn't leave a baby to cry

I am so sorry, LWL

OP, there is definitely a call for childminders who are willing to carry small children in slings when necessary - at least, this has been my experience. Also, RealityWARREN has written some very encouraging posts, I think.

I am a sling-wearing, full-time breastfeeding mum who has trained as a childminder as a way of staying at home with my own DS (I used to be a playworker). I only have one full-time mindee plus occasional children of friends for odd days, so I don't earn much - but I have turned down parents who want a more regimented 'nursery-style' provision because I want to work in my own way.

One thing I have considered is minding older home-educated children during the day while their parents work part-time - this would bring in more money while allowing for carrying one or two small children about as much as they needed. I'm completely sure there is a demand for that (e.g. one parent told me her daughter would be home-educated if she had known I was going to train as a childminder), but I am about to go on maternity leave so haven't really looked into this yet.

Good luck to you!

Oops, I meant full term breastfeeding - I do not breastfeed full-time

Actually, on the subject of breastfeeding, I know that the parent of my full-time mindee really appreciates that I support her breastfeeding her 18 month old (e.g. when she arrives to collect him, I make us both a cup of tea and we chat for 20 mins or so about what he has done during the day while she gives him a quick feed).

Aww, that's lovely greenbananas!

This has made for very pertinent reading... I am about to be inspected by ofsted to register (next week) and provided that goes okay (fingers crossed) I intend to advertise myself as an attachment childminder. I practice attachment (natural/instinctive/traditional-
Whatever you want to call it!) parenting with my 16 month DS & I know there are plenty of parents nearby who would be keen to find a cm who follows the gentle/natural parenting approach... Really it will be orientated around baby led weaning, baby wearing, cloth nappy use, not ever, ever using CIO, gentle discipline, green living, nature-loving, free play & creativity & home- education, among other practices along these lines. It seems to me that there is definitely a demand for this sort of holistic care; it means having lower ratios so you can give children more individual care, but that's fine- excellent quality pays off, & one doesn't train to
be a cm to get rich.

I'm kind of banging on about it a bit but i'm very passionate about it... I have a friend who is about to embark on cm training who
Feels the same way, but we are both concerned there appears to be no network for this sort of childminding approach. So we've started a Facebook group to see what we can do.. If anyone would like to have a look/join, it's called Attachment childminding UK. Be great to hear from some of the lovely cm's on this thread. :-)
Thanks for reading....

Oooh fantastic! Thanks snorkmaidenuk :)

Can't find it :(

I think this is it www.facebook.com/groups/359158427485156/

Thank you rubirosa- I couldn't work out how to do a link from my iPhone, but yes, your link is indeed us! Just starting out but hoping to use the group as a forum for networking attachment childminding ideas. :-)

Hello all, this thread inspired me to start the FB discussion/support group for CMs but I had such overwhelmingly positive initial response that I have now made a FB page, where I hope parents can find CMs who are willing provide care consistent with AP principles. You can find it here: www.facebook.com/pages/Attachment-Childminders-UK/356922907696765

Absolutely - my DD is only at the childminders from 9am to 2pm 3 days a week..... term time only!

Perhaps there would be more demand for part-time. However, I do have a sling-carried, full-term breastfeeding mindee who is with me for over 37 hours each week. His mum would love to be at home with him instead of working full-time but sadly her financial circumstances force her to leave him with me instead. It isn't a case of making lifestyle choices... she already lives very frugally.

I think when mums who prefer an AP style of parenting do absolutely have to work full-time, it is even more important to them that they find a childminder who will provide a warm and nurturing home-from-home environment with plenty of cuddles.

AP style mums are also at an incredibly high risk of burnout. DS is wonderful, but demanding, and I find being a constant snack bar/pony tiring. Working gives me self-esteem and intellectual stimulation, DS gets time with someone who has tons of energy and ideas and a fresh perspective on life (and who looks after him in an AP way) and we all benefit. I'd consider using an AP childminder even if I didn't work for respite!

Disclaimer for the last bit - DS is going through a particularly demanding phase, his molars are agony, DH is away in a jungle somewhere and I think DS misses him...work is positively restful right now.

you need to go back to work to reconnect with rl
attachment parent is psychobabble mc angst
and cm is minimum wage no career path,why would you give up professional career to pursue quinoa munching AP

Scottishmummy, work isn't real life; real life starts when you clock off- unless you are fortunate enough to work at something you are obsessed with. And I consider the opportunity to stay at home with my dc infinitely more rewarding than a 'career' . Who gets to their deathbed and says 'I wish I'd spent more time at work'? Cm is a way to get to earn and pay your way whilst being with your child. Some like that, some don't. Lucky for humanity that it takes all sorts I suppose. But don't dismiss those who prefer to stay at home as quinoa-munching pshychobabblers please; seems troll-worthy.

presumably solvent enough to dismiss career?
career is good marker of attainment and vocational satisfaction
carrying your own or someone else kid in a sling isn't necessarily deep and
fulfilling or worth giving up an established career path for. unless you can afford to give up career as wage slave is loaded

I would snap you up in a second op.

cm is self employed business
commercial transaction
lets not pretend.its not someone else carryoing your wean in sling for ideological worth,it's the woman you pay doin her job