As a parent, would you find this too bossy?

[Snap8TheCat]

I'm a well established childminder and when a new family starts with me I provide them with a pack of my policies and procedures and all the forms I need completing.

I'm thinking of adding a page to iron out little niggles that invariably crop up. Things like, please name clothing, don't drop off early without prior arrangement, i prefer nappies instead of pull ups, no lace up shoes etc etc

It's all worded very friendly but firmly. I feel it's better to air these things before they become a problem and I have to find a way of bringing it up.

However I'm dithering over whether to include it or not. Parents, what do you think?

Wouldn't bother me. I think for most parents all of them bar the nappies bit would fall into the "well obviously" type category!

I think I'd be happier if you told me up front rather than have to tell me to change what I was doing. Go for it.

Could you write those things from a slightly different angle - kind of like Frequently Asked Questions ?

No advice but why do you prefer nappies to pull ups??

How old for no lace up shoes?

Depends when they can do them up themselves!

I'd maybe just have a think about the ones that are really important to you, so it doesn't read like a big rule book.

I'd go for the child angle

i really wish to take care of your child and their belongings - I would appreciate your help in naming items of clothing

Your child is important to me and I wish to help the succeed in all areas of developement for example - potty training is simpler then using nappies and preferred to pull-ups

I am happy to accept your child earlier than normal by prior arrangement only - A charge of £X will be payable for each 15 minuets that haven't been agreed

That's more of the format it's written in blondes. A welcome page 'I hope this answers any queries you may have but any further questions, do not hesitate to ask!'

Nappies because I can change them in 30 seconds flat, pull ups I have to arse around redressing the bottom half of the child. Even worse if they have shoes on.

Lace ups are fine for children who can tie laces. Not one year olds.

Why nappies instead of pull ups?

And why non laced shoes? Surely you dont have more than 3 kids at a time who cant di laces? Its hardly weaving the Bayeux Tapestry each time you want to go to the swings.

It's one A4 page, four sub headings!

Sounds good to me!

I would be a bit about some of it.

If a parent is wanting to do pull ups I think that's a valid choice. I want a childminder who says 'great, I'll work with you to make potty training work' not 'I can't be arsed to take his shoes off'

Potty training? I haven't mentioned potty training?

Naming clothes and early drop offs I would totally support you with. Lace ups are a bit of a grey area- I mean how long does it take to tie a double bow!?

Surely the point of pull ups is to ease potty training!?

There is a new wave of parents using pull ups for babies from 9 months plus! Not potty training!

Ok I would gently suggest to them that they are wasting their money then! Pull ups are more expensive.

But you can't say I can't be bothered to re dress your child without getting a reaction I don't think.

Some parents put children in pull ups so they can just pull them on and tear off for changing - nothing to do with potty training. In fact I'd argue using them for potty training makes even less sense!

OP - none of that would bother me because it's all common sense but I have heard stories which mean I understand not all parents have this common sense/etiquette/general decency!

I was one of the parents using pull ups from 9 months + - pigs would have flown before you managed to get a nappy on my DS
He hated it and used to bang his head repeatedly against whatever I was lying him on to change him, scream and kick. It was so much easier to whip off trousers, pull up, new pull up, do up vest again and put trousers back on, than to contend with the 15 minute battle that ensued at nappy time.
The rest sounds fine and obvious.

Sounds good to me. I would appreciate you being straight and up front.

I think you know what works in your setting OP, and so long as you are upfront parents can decide if it is the setting for them or not.

It's similar to what our nursery specifies, it wouldn't bother me.

And indeed that was the reason one of my parents told me she used them because he wouldn't lie down and she had to chase him. I have no such issues and he stays still beautifully for me. If I can do it quicker he can get back to playing!