CM holiday question

[autumn51]

I love my cm, ds 2yo has been going for eight months now. Cm works alone, but has a lot of help from her two lovely nieces who live down the road from her (they come to cm house after school, in the holidays etc).

Last week, before I went on holiday, cm mentioned that she plans to take a week off in November for a friends wedding. I was surprised as cm only has one week paid holiday left this year and assumed she wanted to take it at Christmas. I said I'd take leave from work or dh would (as we usually do when she's on holiday). She volunteered that her elder niece (16 yo) would be happy to look after ds in her place.

I was very grateful as her niece is lovely and it saves me taking unpaid leave from work. Her niece has also babysat a couple of times when ds is in bed in the evening. However, dh has said he's unhappy as a sixteen year old is too young to look after a toddler all day, she's not qualified etc and legally and safety wise it is not a good idea.

I realise now that though cm and niece are lovely and I trust both, it wouldn't be fair on ds or niece to put them in that position for eleven hours a day for four days. Are we right in thinking a minor can't legally be left with a toddler? As I like the CM, how do I get out of this whilst avoiding offending/upsetting her or niece? I think she was being kind in making the offer.

If it happens at your own home then its not illegal but you will have to ensure you are happy with the arrangement. Personally I think that's a very long day for a 16 year old to have full responsibility. Could you and dh maybe take it in turns to work part days that week??????

As for the childminder. Remember she is self employed and therefore can have as many holidays as she wants subject to contract. My contracts state no minimum or max amount of hols that will be taken only that 6 weeks notice will be given. I don't charge for my holidays though!

Niece at 16 years is not an adult but a child in law. So you would be the responsible adult if an accident occurred. Leaving them alone (in your home I assume) while you are at work could count as neglect. You could in theory be prosecuted. Unlikely unless something happened.
And yes 11 hours is IMO to long for a 16 year old to care for a child.
As this holiday is extra to contract; am I right in thinking you will not need to pay the childminder? Why don't you look for another childminder, for emergency care for that week. Another alternative would be to have an adult relative stay and ask the niece to come around and help them.

Ask your CM if she knows any other CMs who could cover.

I would just say to the CM that it's lovely for her to offer but the niece is only 16 and you feel this would be a bit too much for her for 11 hours a day 4 days in a trot. I would also ask if she has any CM friends she could recommend. I as a childminder would not take any offence to this.
BTW if you're using tax credits or childcare vouchers to help you with childcare cost legally you would not be able to pay the niece using these.

I'd only consider it if I could work from home that week and so be around if the niece/toddler needed anything. And I'd pay the niece directly, not the CM.

I do not see a problem with this really. Your ds is obviously very familiar with her and vice versa, she clearly has a lot of experience helping out with her auntie and it is only for a week. Provided it is in your house and you give plenty of activities to do to keep them occupied then it is fine. People saying 'it's too long for the 16 yo' are being a bit ridiculous, lots of 16 year olds will have left school and be working a full time job, many 16 year olds will move out and lots will have their own children. She is old enough.

My first question would be , why is the niece not in school that week ,as far as I know schools have no holidays scheduled at that time

I wouldn't leave my 16 year old in charge of my own little one for a fu ll day never mind my mindees. a couple of hours babysitting yes but not a full day.
saying that, some 16yr olds are parents :)

Depends on the 16 yo. My current 16yo would be perfectly able to, Her sister was at 16, in fact she has looked after her little sister for several hours at that age. DS, not so much. In fact I still wouldn't really trust him to look after her and he's 20 now.