Talk to me about babies please (childminder needing advice) thanks

[MUM2BLESS]

I have been cm for over 5 yrs. Mainly children over 1 yr.

I have four kids of my own so I do have experience with babies but not a lot with childminding them. I know I can do it but just need to be up to date with what is expected.

1. Parents what would you look for in a cm looking after yr baby (under year old)
2. Childminders what equipment etc. have you got for babies. Do you still have baby stuff even though you have no babies at present.

Any advice/tips etc. welcomed

Got mum coming who is looking for care of under year old baby

Thanks

As a childminder I have, for babies under 1

• A circular cushion to help babies sitting up, and also they don't get 'bumped' by older children, I have this one
• A pushchair
• a highchair
• a box of small toys (wooden, plastic) that are washable so I can wash them regularly
• a nice playmat
• a nice quiet place for them to sleep (in a proper cot or travel cot, not in a pushchair
• a 'treasure basket' with objects of different shapes and materials so that they can explore
• training with ECAT (every child a talker)
• a sling
• a steriliser/sterilising tablets
• stuff for weaning - spoons, beakers, etc
• a lot of flexibility!

And other stuff that I buy/make up as I go.

oh yes and a car seat suitable for that age group

I've got a 6 week old baby who I have cared for since she was 3 weeks old for 3 long days a week-apart from the list above I have found that plenty of patience to cope with the hour long feeds every 3 hours has been the thing I have needed most! I could really do with a couple more hands,eyes in the back of my head and the ability to see round corners so I could see what the other 3 children are up to when it goes quiet.........

My DS went to a CM at 7m.I was really just looking for a kind person who liked babies and a homely environment.I chose someone who had children of her own (teenage girls who loved babies ) and had a warm, tidy ,well kept house with a nice garden.The living room was the playroom and was clean,carpeted and full of different toys.The back garden had a few Little Tikes things.They had a couple of IKEA highchairs,travel cots for naps and enough car seats for trips to soft play /drop-ins etc.
What swung it for me was the folder of letters and cards from previous parents full of lovely messages about how kind and reliable they had been.

Also,they had done the children's first aid course, hygiene course and were Ofsted registered and had got a good rating.I didn't really understand what it meant but thought that if an outside agency had inspected them and was happy it was all safe!

My DS went to a CM a couple of mornings a week from 9 mths. The CM only had school age children at the time but talked through what safety features she'd put in place by the time he started (stair gate etc), talked through the plans she had for the time he spent with her (a baby group one morning and then a walk and trip to the library for the other) and showed us where he'd sleep. The thing which we were most concerned about was the childminder herself. She was lovely. Really kind & sensible. And seemed to really listen to us when we were explaing DS' routine, what weaning stage he was at etc.
As far as equipment was concerned, our situation was slightly unusual as we knew DS would quite probably only be with her for a few months and that she didn't usually look after children of that age so we just dropped off the car seat and pushchair each time we dropped off DS. Drop off & pick up took a few seconds longer than they otherwise needed to but I didn't want this CM to spend most of the money she was making from us on equipment she might not use again. She still had a travel cot & booster seat. We took a bag of toys the first time DS went (we had a lot of toys so this really wasn't a problem) and they'd get some books & toys each time they went to the library. She also had some of the basics like blocks.
DS had a fantastic time with her and I am so glad that we chose her to look after him.

PS Another thing I thought she did really well was the settling sessions. The first session was just at her house. The second session was at the baby group and her other CM friends with similar aged children went so I got to meet them and the children who DS would be "playing" with & on the third we went on a walk around the area, to the library etc so that when his diary said he'd seen A or been to B, I knew who/what she meant. I realise you may not be able to do this if you're looking after other children at his settling sessions.

I've looked after quite a few babies under 1 and I don't really have much special equipment. I have a Baby Bjorn babysitter which gets a lot of use and I also have a supersized play mat. All the older mindees know that they are not allowed to walk over the baby mat so that helps to keep the little ones safe. I've also got some of the Lamaze toys that are suitable from birth. I normally ask mums to bring baby bottles and I have a microwave steriliser and bottle brush to clean then as I go. Other than that I don't really have anything specifically for babies. Obviously I have a highchair and buggy and lots of plastic toddler type toys but none of those are really specific to under ones.

I've had 2 of my current mindees since they were 8 & 9mths old. The only things I bought were a box of baby toys (all bought 2nd hand from school fayre/charity shop & now back up in the loft) a roller stairgate as I didn't want something obvious when not working & a travel cot. Until they were in forward facing car seat mum dropped off in their baby seats so I didn't have to buy one & they also provided bottles, weaning food & nappies.

blueberryupsidedown wow thank you so much. Very useful list of items there. I love the inflatable ring. I will check it out. Not driving at present.

fudgesmummyThank for your advice. if chosen by mum it will be 4 and half hours per day 3 days per week.

superzeroyou mentioned carpeted. My main room has flooring. We decided to have floor has its easier to keep clean. had years of spillages etc. I do have foam mats in a part of the room. I would provide a nice snug area for the baby to play in..

Coveredinweetabixlove the idea of of talking through the safety features and plans regarding the baby, great !! Love your settling session. I will give thought to this.

busyDaysthank you too.

Talk to me about sleeping arrangements. Does everyone have a cot or bed for little one to sleep in?

I find that its more piratical to put the older sleeping children ie 2yrs in the buggy, then if I need to go on the school run, if they are still asleep I do not need to wake them.

I would however invest in a travel cot. Where do you store your cots?

How do I put my childminding setting on your site

The CM had a travel cot for DS that she erected just before his sessions started but I'd told her I was more than happy for him to sleep in the pushchair if he fell asleep coming home from the baby group or something as, at home, there's no way I'd try and transfer him and risk waking him. I was happy to tell her to do this as I'd seen the pram and it was roomy with a lie flat option and a cosy foot muff and the CM showed me where he'd sleep in it in the house and the foot muff was one you could unzip the top off and pull down so he wouldn't get over warm.

DS started with his CM when he was 10mo, and she was brilliant at settling him in. I provided cups and weaning spoons etc as she didn't have any as he was the first baby she'd taken on. He naps in a travel cot (of hers) with a grobag that I provided. she has a booster seat high chair, a pushchair and an appropriate car seat for him. When he was still in his maxi cosi I used to send that with him. she has loads of toys and uses a toy library to borrow more of them. He loves it!

DD started when she was 8mo. A travel cot in another room with a monitor was a must for me, as she was still napping several times a day, not just that big after lunch nap the toddlers do, so I wanted the opportunity for her to be completely out of the way. I appreciated the need for the CM to do the school run and take toddlers to playgroups but I wanted her to talk to me about how she would manage a baby around that i.e. at boisterous toddlers groups, if she wanted to nap around the school run etc.

But most of all I just wanted a CM who was happy to have a baby - the main reason we chose our CM is because she was so warm and tactile and seemed over the moon to have a very little one again.

Thanks everyone for you helpful advice.

Got visit from a mother with her baby. All went well. Just waiting to hear if I am her choice. I know its not easy leaving your first child with someone else.

I find each parent is so so different in how they deal with a childminder. I have had mum who was very chilled about it all, mum who phone on numerous occasions, mum who asked me for two references,etc etc. At the end of the day all that matters is that they are pleased with the service I provide.

happykids13 would you need to email me with it? How do you do that via mumsnet, I know I have done something like this before, can anyone help with this? Thanks

overedinweetabix Thanks - I try to carry out the parents wishes regarding sleeping and food times as much as possible but sometimes its not always possible. For example doing the school run etc.

teacher 123 thanks. My settling in is very personal to each child and parent. I have an high chair. I am willing to get some baby equipment if I am chosen.