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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

Is it typical for Childminders to take children out in their car?

30 replies

olivestree · 14/07/2012 12:11

I need to start looking for a childminder for my 9 month old DD for my return to work in October. I know I am being neurotic, but she is my first baby and I feel really nervous about it.
As I have been looking about I have noticed that some childminders take the children out on car trips. This is just a step too far for me just yet, and I would prefer my DD not to be taken out in a car with someone whose driving ability I know nothing about. Are trips with childminders commonplace? Am I going to struggle to find one who sticks to walking excursions which I should be just about able to deal with ?

This is so pathetic coming from someone who was a nanny for 10 years, but I can't help it... she is mine!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Sirzy · 14/07/2012 12:13

Yes that's pretty normal, if you don't want them going out in a car you will have to either look for one who doesn't drive (but may use buses instead then) or look for a nursery when trips will be on foot

MirandaWest · 14/07/2012 12:15

Quite a lot of childminders will take children in their car. Some will be taking and picking up older children from school as well as going to different places by car. If you want to have more control over what your DD is doing, it might be better to look for a nanny.

MirandaWest · 14/07/2012 12:15

Or a nursery, as Sirzy suggests.

Bonkerz · 14/07/2012 12:15

This is very normal. I have days where I don't use my car but would be completely stuck without it. Summer hols especially mean I'm out and about all the time to soft plays. Zoos. Farms. Parks. Woods etc

Dprince · 14/07/2012 12:18

Its the usual for CMs to take the kids out. I think a nanny or nursery may be worth thinking about if this is an issue for you.

An0therName · 14/07/2012 12:18

in my experience some do some don't
have you been to visit any childminders - I would do that first - then see how you feel.

my CM has taken my DS to a lovely toddler group and a trip to the farm in her car so it would be a shame for him to miss out - in my view once you are trusting someone with your child then the driving thing isn't a big deal - remember most childminders are older with children of their own so I think its different than say a young nanny or employee at nursery

Original poster

olivestree · 14/07/2012 12:18

Thanks for the speedy replies.

I never imagined I would feel so nervous about leaving her. I feel sick! I am going to need to man up or get a really big sling and strap her to my back until she is about 39!

OP posts:

Pancakeflipper · 14/07/2012 12:18

It is normal for childminders to use the car - to the park, to toddler groups, collecting children from school.

You will struggle to find a CM who doesn't use some form of transport.

Try to see the positives of your child experiencing the outside world and not stuck indoors all the time.

HolyCameraConfusionBatman · 14/07/2012 12:20

I think it probably depends where you are location wise. I've worked out in the country where all the childminders drove, because everything was too far away to walk to. I now work in London and I'd say the majority of childminders don't drive because traffic/parking is a nightmare, pretty much everything is in walking distance and stuff which isn't is easier to get to by bus/train.

The only way you'll really know though is to phone around local childminders and ask them.

ValiumQueen · 14/07/2012 12:23

The childminder will have age appropriate seats etc, and would have passed their test. This is one of the reasons mine go to nursery, as they can spend much of the day dropping off and collecting children, so either in pushchair or car.

BackforGood · 14/07/2012 12:34

I would consider it a big negative if a CM didn't drive. One of (several) advantages of using a CM over a #Nursery is that they do go out and about during the day, and aren't confined to the same 4 walls + garden.
I suppose it depends where you live though as to how much they would be in and out the car. My first CM used to walk a lot, but could do the school run, the park, the shops, the library all by walking, she just used the car occasionally when going somewhere further afield.

mopbucket · 14/07/2012 13:04

In term time i never use the car, dh uses it for work and we only have one but i am lucky enough to live in a area where there are 2 parks and seven churches (where they hold toddler groups) but in the hols i like to go to zoos, farms etc sometimes we use buses and trains but more often than not dh will get a lift and i will have the car.

During ofsted inspections some inspecters want to see the car or the paperwork for the car ie services to make sure everything is ok

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 14/07/2012 13:12

The only way to avoid it is to use a nursery ( and then not allow her to go on any trips that they may organise), or get a nanny and go out with them n the car many times to satisfy yourself of their ability to drive.

We have used one cm who didn't drive, though she was having lessons. It was pretty limiting for our ds's.

I personally prefer a good nursery to a childminder for young babies like yours. Mine were in good routines when I returned to work and they were able to continue their regular naps, snack times etc in the nursery that we chose. We have used a few different childminders since our ds's have started school. They have all done at least 3 school runs a day, and one did 4. I wouldn't have wanted that for our ds's when they were younger.

Original poster

olivestree · 14/07/2012 13:20

This is all really helpful. Thank you everyone. From what I have read I think I have decided that I would prefer my DD to be in a nursery. Although I am sure once I start to look into it a whole other can of worms will be opened to feed my paranoia.

OP posts:

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 14/07/2012 13:34

Look at a few would be my advice.

I found that it was a bit like buying a house. You just get that feeling when it's right.

We never had any problems in the nearly 5 years that we used our nursery, but you do have to accept that not everything's going to be exactly as you might do it yourself.

By the way, as you'll be paying for childcare have you looked to see if your employer offers childcare vouchers? You can get £243 a month tax free to put towards the fees and your DH/DP can do the same too. It's a good saving to have if you can.

wishiwasonholiday · 14/07/2012 14:51

We have a 5 mile each way trip to school (rural area) so we have no choice but to use the car to go anywhere (I also live 2 miles away from town), I know of a childminder who looks after some children who the parents don't allow her to take them in the car and I don't know how she manages as she lives in a tiny village so must not do any trips at all. Depending where you live may make it more likely that you'll find one who doesn't use the car.

HSMM · 14/07/2012 15:19

I don't do school runs, but I use the car to get to parks, zoos, the seaside, toddler groups, etc.

One of my mindees came to see me as a baby, went to nursery because his mum didn't want him going out, then came to me full time age 1.5, when she changed her mind.

nannynick · 14/07/2012 15:21

Have you met any childmibders yet, visited any nurseries? As you say, you may be happier with nursery in regard to transportation but are other things going to be ok such as number of babies in one room. Visit some nurseries and then see how you feel.
As a nanny you know what the risks are and how most of the time things are fine. Did you drive as a nanny? Did you have any accidents and did children get injured. As a nanny I have had a car accident but the children did not get hurt. I do 3000 work miles a year, so in current job 1 non-fault accident in 4yrs, 12000 miles. Bad things do happen but avoiding all possibility of it happening will mean your dd not doing things that other children might. Not a problem now but in a few years it might be.

Original poster

olivestree · 14/07/2012 15:47

Thanks Nanny. I haven't seen anyone or any nurseries yet. I understand your point about risks and everyone else's regarding DD missing out on things, but that isn't really a concern for me at the moment as she will be starting with only 3 half days per week, so she will have plenty of time to get out with DH & me. My concern is only for her welfare at this point. I am going to go and see some nurseries this week and see what I think.

OP posts:

thebody · 14/07/2012 16:03

I wouldn't have accepted your child as a mindee as I couldn't possibly not drive as it would have made my setting very dull and boring for other mindees and impossible to do school runs etc.

But of course it's bloody hard to leave your child anywhere, totally understand.

Visit a few cms and nurseries though and get a feel for which setting suits you and dd.

You may be surprised.

januarysnowdrop · 14/07/2012 18:24

I think you just need to go and visit all the possible options in your local area and go on your gut instinct. I'm a non-driving cm, but I agree with whoever it was that said it depends on where you live - where I am it's easy to walk everywhere, and better for the children too. This wouldn't necessarily be the case in other parts of the country. You don't know what the options are until you explore them - you might find a fabulous non-driving cm with spaces available living just round the corner, then again you might not!

The issue you might have with only wanting half days is that you may end up paying over the odds - most nurseries and probably many cms would charge you for the full day as they'd be unlikely to fill the space otherwise. We had a shared nanny for 3 half days a week at one point when we were in your situation. She was fabulous (and didn't drive!) - and the great thing was that we paid her well, but because it was only for the hours when we actually needed childcare, it ended up being cheaper than any of the other alternatives.

Gluggy · 20/07/2012 08:25

I think that if you feel like this you should definitely be looking at a nursery. The most important thing about any form of childcare is the trust that is given to the childcare professional. This not only covers things like driving but any excursion or activity.If you don't trust someone to drive their car with your child in it, with all the correct car seats etc then how do you trust them to keep your baby safe in any other situation? I have been a childminder for 13 years and held a full driving licence for 26 years. Whilst i don't use the car for school runs ( I live within walking distance of school) I do like to get out and about with the children - it stimulates them, gets them mixing with other children and experiencing different environments. All the parents who I work for would hate it if I didn't get out and about and I would go stir crazy - working on your own can be lonely at times and other adult company is really needed.

I really hope that you find what you are looking for but to be honest I would find it very difficult to work with someone who placed such restrictions upon me.

Saphiesgirl · 20/07/2012 08:36

One more thing to consider is the possibility of accidents. Cms and nurseries will hold appropriate qualifications in first aid etc, but I like knowing that if something did happen, my son can be taken to a and e with minimal waiting or fuss. Thankfully it's never happened but a cm with a driving qualification reassures me. I understand you're worried about leaving your dc, no one does it lightly. Do whatever you feel most comfortable with.

Ripeberry · 20/07/2012 22:33

Yes stick you baby into a very noisy institution. Better not the big bad world out there get her...watch out for the trip there and back though. You can't wrap them up in cotton wool forever or you'll get neurotic!
Sheesh!

Ripeberry · 20/07/2012 22:35

Walking is not safe either! What about all those cars/buses that mount pavements and always seem to head straight for buggies and prams? I'd rather be in a tin box...a little bit more protection.

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