Childminders- how much of the day do you leave babies in your car with someone else?

[RedPencilPot]

I new to the world of childminders as I've just got one 11 month old ds.

The childminder is lovely a really nice lady. Her (much older, she's approx 70) sister is also registered as a childminder and does the cooking, however we pay the childminder and not the sister iykwim?!

However I've noticed many times recently when I've dropped off my ds that the actual childminder isn't there, just her sister. I've asked about where she was recently and sister says oh she's at after school club pick up with her twin boys, or she's doing homework with her daughter or she's elsewhere.

Is this normal? I totally understand that a childminder is a childminder as it fits in with their circumstances but I just expected that the childminder would be with my ds.

The childminder is probably there the majority of the time (I'm sure of it) and it's just unlucky when I've called that she hasn't been there.

I'm working FT and really appreciate a quick chat about his day etc when I pick up.

My dh and I were just discussing that maybe rather than drag ds out in the cold every time she has to go out it's maybe easier for her sis to look after the babies. I think she has a few babies and toddlers to look after along with my son.

I'm just worried that sister isn't really as physically able to look after ds as the childminder herself (she's around 45) so obviously much younger.

Please tell me I have nothing to worry about!

i don't know the answer to any of your questions, but would feel unhappy with the arrangements you outline, i would want the advertised person looking after my dc.

I'd be unhappy with this too - unless the sisters are registered together, and/or the CM 's sister acts as her assistant.

any my title should say in the care not the car!

I work alone so mine are never in the care of anyone else. In an ideal world I'd get my DH registered so that I wouldn't have to drag the little ones out on school runs on the odd occasion he's at home so I can totally understand why another childminder would arrange things like that.

Have a chat with your childminder to clarify how things are run. I don't think it's necessarily anything to worry about at all but I think you have a right to know who exactly is looking after your child and perhaps her communication about the situation could have been better. If the other childminder is more than just a cook then she should have been totally upfront about that in my opinion.

I work with DH who is also a registered CM. We make it clear to parents that their child could be with either one of us, but we usually work together.

I suspect this is the arrangement they have, but they have not communicated it clearly to you. You need to have a meeting, check both their insurance and registration, get a joint contract drawn up, etc.

Having 2 CMs working together can save children going out on unnecessary trips, such as school runs.

I'd love my sister to register as a CM so we could work together. But I would ask parents permission to leave the children with her whilst I did the school run. It'd be so much easier.

I think having to people around to play with and care fit your baby is a positive!

My PIL are close to 70 and are as fit as some 45 year olds!

But she should've Okayed things with you first.

My mum is a cm, as I am and sometimes I leave the children with her to run out and do the school run or if i have an appointment. The parents of my mindees know her and she does emergency and holiday for me as I do for her. It works well for both of us, having another cm on hand to help out.

I think the difference to your situation is that my cm parents know my mum and are aware this is happening and I always let them know when its going to happen, it's only right to they know who is caring for their dc at any point.