Some advice from a CM please

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

Hello

I am thinking about using a Child Minder for my child while I work part time. He is 18 months and currently looked after by my mum. She is great, says he is no bother and they have a lovely time going for walks, visiting family etc but I am worried he will become too much for her as he gets a little older. She has spondylitis and gets very achy, plus she has a busy life outside of looking after him so I just want her to have a bit more free time.

I've been looking around and there are some very good a Child Minders local to me. One has a business page on Facebook and she seems to do lots of messy play and outings to local groups, the park, the beach. Another popped up in a google search in our local paper complaining about the government and what they are trying to do with childcare ratios. She sounded like just the kind of person I would like looking after my child.

Anyway after the waffle I just wanted to ask some possibly stupid questions:

what happens with child seats? I'm quite anxious around this issue so just wanted to know how it generally works.

What happens with naps? My son still has a morning nap but if a Child Minder has a range of ages how do outings happen?

Arrange to visit a few CMs to talk through their activities and days, because we are all different. Most will provide car seats and should be able to reassure you about safety. Routines can be difficult to accommodate (ie one morning sleeper and one afternoon sleeper), but can usually be worked around. The children and their routines change all the time. Are you worried if nap time is in a buggy for example? Get a list from your local authority, so you know you are talking to registered CMs.

Hi, cm here!
In my experience your little one will adapt to napping in the car on the way to one of these lovely outings, or in the pushchair.

With car seats I only go on outings once a week (I only work 3 days and we attend local groups other 2), so I borrow the parents own seats on these days. However all other minders I know who use the car everyday have purchased their own car seats for the age/stage of children they have

I provide car seats (I have 12!!) for all children.

I try to accommodate your current routine, though I do tend to find that mindees fall easily into our setting routine within a few weeks of being with us. We go out to groups in the morning and then the small ones have a nap after lunch. I have one morning sleeper at the moment, he has a short nap on the way to group and his proper sleep after lunch ( this was not pre planned, he just slipped onto our routine). So be prepared to be a bit flexible :)

I'm a cm and have car seats for children here. I found it's far easier than parents having to bring car seats every day and move them car to car. What makes you anxious about ca seats? A good childminder would be able to reassure you about your concerns.
I tend to find children kind of slot into our routine. Maybe your dc would have a quick nap on the way to the outing, then happily play while they were out, then have an afternoon nap after lunch.. This is what my little ones tend to do. Most of the groups in our area are in the morning, so it's the only way we can do it really.

Different cms work differently, so chat to a few to see which one can accommodate your dc and his needs best.

Hello thank you for your replies, they are really useful. There is one Child Minder in particular who looks great, lots of activities/crafts/changing themes and outings. She is also walking distance for me (albeit in the opposite direction of work).

It will be a matter of meeting her and any others who are Suitable and have vacancies. I work my days spread out through the week so hopefully it will work.