Benefits of childminder

[riab]

What do you think the benefits of a childminder are over nursery (if you think there are any) for a 1-2 yr old

1-2-1 attention
Small group setting
Loving, caring, involved carer
Possibly a more mature/experienced carer
Home environment
'Normal' daily activites
Time for rest/sleep
Probably going out every day
Chance to form a close, lasting relationship with carer/her family/other children

Need I go on?

All the above, and a more tailored routine to your child where as possibly a nursery the child would fit in their routine..

Can take them to toddler groups, and preschool groups, library visits..

For me, it was always the flexibility a childminder could provide plus a relaxed routine - or more geared to my own which is possible as they have less children. Now that I am a c/m I am doing all this!

Disclaimer: these are the reasons that I had for making the choice I made for my individual family. No disrespect to any other choice is intended. More than one version of parenthood is available.

Pluses for me are the one-to-one - always the same person. Under 2 I felt that was the top priority, way over stimulation or socialisation etc.
Slightly more homelike environment. But it matters that the home is one you would like to spend time in yourself.

Cuddles whenever you want them (can apply to parents too if necessary!!)

I am obviously totally biased as I'm a childminder.

Child becomes part of the community. My DD goes on buses, to the dentist, the post office etc with the CM.

When we are in the park and out and about people I don't know often recognise her from toddler groups etc. Makes me feel she is part of local life.

For me personally I didnt like the nurseries I visited.

They all had very young young girls working there and on one visit I was told to take a seat and I nearly did but realised on the sofa, at the back was a very small sleeping baby! I could have sat on him!!!![shocked]Staff said "Oh I forgot about Freddie!"

I visited another one (major chain) didnt like the fact that all LO had to sleep at a set time. During ths nap time they only had 1 staff member on duty as others were having a break. (during this break they were allowed to leave the building, which in itself isnt a problem except what if a child was taking ill during sleep time! or an emergency happened!

I visited several nurseries and after that I made the decision not to go back to work!

Cyril, how is a cm one-to-one care then?

I provide 1-1 care the baby in my care (because at the times I have him I only have him!)

I looked after a LO once whos parents paid extra so that I didnt take anyone else on until their baby was older and then they were happy for others to be around!

God,that'd be perfect, Busymum! Do many CM's do that?

Many childminders only take one child or one pre schooler dinny

For me the main advantage was forming a relationship with single carer rather than being cared for by any of a large pool of staff at nursery.

Also environment and activities more like normal family life - eg doing the school run with older children, eating lunch round the table, going to the park, normal furniture and room layouts.

My dd doesnt get one-to-one as CM has a few others but also more like normal family life to be around older and younger children rather than a mass of children the same age.

I visited 2 nurseries and hated the thought of my dd there. Most of the 1 year olds looked miserable and wandered around with no specific activities, the staff although they cuddled and tended to them did not interact with them verbally - eg pointing out and naming objects and actions. Meal time was the worst - 12 babies in a horseshoe of highchairs, many whinging and struggling to get out, being fed in turn spoonful at a time.

Benefits of a Childminder

so, how do you go about finding a childminder ? council?

Contact your local children's Information Service they will have a list of childminders

or you could ask at your local schools they usually no one of teo who can then put you in touch with others.

Health Vistors usually have a list

Playgroups

Social services

ask at toddler groups,

You can find your local Childrens Information Service via ChildcareLink . Via the ChildcareLink website you can also get a list of childminders in your area, though not all areas list every childminder and details may not be 100% accurate.

You can also locate childminders via the internet. There are several sites which list childminders. Though as always you need to check the childminders details, registration certificate, insurance, when you visit.

Try these places:
ukchildminder.co.uk
childminder-uk.co.uk
find-a-childminder.co.uk
childcareplaces.com

DS went to a lovely nursery, but I would consider a childminder for DD because:

continuity with one person
home environment - I think nursery can be over structured for littlies.
also, I think a very good childminder is going to be cheaper than a very good nursery.

Okay thanks all for your thoughts, I'd appreciate any helpful tips on what to do about our choices.
My options for DS (21 months) are:
CM - no local CM who would do 1-2-1 care all have at least one other child under 3
CM's I've spoken to don't provide space/room for naps
CM's do school pick ups so instead of having play time from 2.30-4pm DS would be stuck in a pram or car trudging up to one or two schools
from 4pm - 6pm DS would be one of up to 5 or 6 children and his teatime would happen around the edges of older children so I'm not sure how well the CM would have time to help him eat.
No CM i've seen yet would provide a 2 course cooked meal for him.
Is this normal?

Nursery, toddler room is 6 children and 2 staff, the staff are both over 21 and have been there at least a year.
They have breakfast, cooked lunch, afternoon tea (cooked meal) and fruit as snacks.
He has age appropriate toys in the room plus a large back garden to play in.
He has a nap after lucnh when the entire ground floor sleeps so its lovely and quiet, with lights turned low etc.

So do I send him to nursery or try and find a more suitbale CM?

why ask then? you are obviously happy with your choice

I know that you regard doing a school run as something negative, but think that I should say (in defence of childminders) that doing a school run can actually be a fun activity.

Going out for a walk means getting outside, and can involve other activities - collecting leaves, looking at things, even a trip via the park.

My younger mindees love collecting older children from school. They get excited when I tell them we need to get ready to leave, and love having them as extra playmates on our return. I also believe that having a mix of ages (including more than one child under 3 years) is more fun for each child.

If you are happy with the nursery and really can't find a minder you like, then you may well have decided already!

I don't think your experiences are normal, tbh.

What area are you in and how many childminders have you seen?

When you say they don't provide space for naps what exactly do you mean by that? If you mean they don't have a spare room exclusively for minded children to sleep in, that that varies. Some will, if their own children have left home, others won't. If you literally mean there is nowhere for children to sleep then I agree with gooseegg, that is very odd. You must have met some very unusual childminders!

Also, I don't think your comment about your ds being fed around the fringes of 5-6 older children is very accurate. Not many cms have 5-6 after school children plus a pre schooler

The reason i asked was to try and find out if it was worhtwhile continuing with the search for a Cm. I had heard so many people on mumsnet extolling the benefits of Cm over nursery and although the nursery we've foudn is good I was concerned I was missing something obvious.

All the CM's within walking distance of me are only registered for their downstairs rooms to be used. So they have one or two living / play rooms. I was expecting any CM for pre schoolers to have arrangments for naps ie one room designated a quieter room or mats or something for the kids but all 4 I have spoken to so far said 'oh no problem the little ones usually sleep in the pram/car on the school run'

For those CM's out there - what do you normally do for naptimes for little ones?

The school run was a concern for me because DS tends to get hungry between 3 and 4pm and thats spot on timing for the school run. At this time of year I wasn't happy with the idea of up to an hour in the pram in the cold.

I think my childminder is ace, and I'm not just saying that because I have to as she is an MNer!

What I vastly appreciate is:

• a 'normal' family environment (as ds is her only mindee, the other little ones are her own)
• her flexibility and willingness to help out. Obviously we have a business relationship but we also have a personal relationship too.

Having said that, ds goes for mornings only (or up to early afternoon, depending) and normally comes home for his nap and thus misses the afternoon school run as well. I think my concern about the school run hour would be a lot of to-ing and fro-ing for him that he's not used to. Whereas CM's own children are perfectly content with it and take it all on the chin - i.e. I am concerned about nothing, really!

It sounds like you've talked to some, ahem, unusual cm. A few thoughts ...:
would they cm realy be out from 2.30 to 4 - that sounds like wuite long pick up time to me...?
Why is 1-2-1 so important to you? My cm only has my two during the school day, but has other mindees after school - both ds (nearly 3) & dd (9 months) absolutely ADORE them - and they are wonderful extra big bros/sisters for them. I would have thought another preschooler would be a great playmate for your lo
My dd sleeps in my cm's daughters room in a travel cot - and also sometimes naps in the buggy between playdates etc - this was typical of all the cm I talked to
I think a guarenteed cooked 2 course meal might be hopeful (although my cm often does) - I don't manage that most days, so I wouldn't expect anyone else to!!

DS was in a nursery as a little one, b/cos I couldn't find a cm I was happy with. To be fair, I think that he had a good level of care in the babyroom - basically bcos the staff were excellent. But he and his sister are now with a cm - I made the move becasue just as he would settle into a room at nursery and form a real attachement to staff, it'd be time to move on.
BUT I do think you have to be prepared to be a bit more relaxed and trusting if you go with a cm - essentially bcos you are giving your child to one person rather than an 'institution' with set rules. I also think nurseries can (or at least can appear to) follow your routines and rules more than a cm, with other responsibilties, is sometimes able to. Although my cm has been wonderful about accomodating my preferences (eg my son didn't watch TV - she told her other mindees there was to be no TV on the days my kids were there ... very brave of her!!!)

In retrospect, I wasn't ready to pass responsibiltiy to a cm with my first child - every cm I looked at I found something not quite right - so I can understand where your coming from. But if you can find time to hunt out some more cms, I would do...

HTH

my mindees go into front living room and curl up on sofa with blanket and cushions for thier nap, mum suggested this, although we do have provisions for naptime upstairs its never needed apart from overnight care...the cm's youve spoken to are giving the rest of us a bad name, either that or you need to clarify what they actually meant or ask them spcifics about you child and what they would do, not what they have done with others