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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

What should I look for in a childminder

7 replies

AC14MUZ · 04/07/2017 17:36

Hi Everyone,

I am starting to see some prospective childminders this week. I am a first time mum and have no idea what I should be looking out for. Are there any tell tale signs of a good/bad childminder?

I will be going back to work full time so I need to make sure we pick the right person.

What has everyone else experiences been when looking for childminders??

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
NuffSaidSam · 04/07/2017 20:30

Childminders, like parents, will vary massively. You will find childminders who are equally 'good', but completely different. It's a very personal choice.

You need to think about what you want/what is important to you and work from there.

Food - do you need food provided? Would you prefer to bring your own? Does DC have allergies? Can the childminder cater to that? Does stuff need to be organic/particularly healthy?

Pets - yay or nay? What sort of pets would you be ok with? How would you want them to be handled e.g. contact with the children/no contact with the children.

Other kids - would you prefer other small children so that DC has children around the same age to play with or would you prefer mainly older children so your DC gets more attention from the childminder. What about the childminder's own children?

Driving - Do you need the childminder to drive? Do you want the childminder to drive? Who provides car seats?

Outings - is this important to you? What sort of outings? Would you be happy to pay more for playgroups/outings etc. or not?

Activities - is there anything that you would really value? An outdoorsy childminder? Sporty? Crafty? Very sociable?

House - is outside space important to you? Do you want a homely type environment or more of a nursery look?

The key is to know what you want from the childminder then you can judge if they're 'good' for you or not.

roamingespadrille · 04/07/2017 20:37

You might find it really obvious. I just gelled with one and not the others. A gentle approach was essential with my (then) baby. She was brilliant. I'm sure the others I saw were great for different families.

With the second childminder, after we moved house and had two children, it was obvious that she was perfect.

Either I have amazing intuition, or most people find it fairly easy to decide.

Dragonbait · 04/07/2017 20:47

Personally I've found that my best childminders have been older career childminders - those who have been working as a childminder for 10 years plus. After personal experience I would be wary of using a childminder who only started childminding recently so they can stay home with their own child - the exception being if they were working in childcare before having their own. Childminding should be a chosen vocation as it takes a special person to do it. My current childminder is 55, been doing it 30 years and is great!

marriednotdead · 04/07/2017 21:09

I agree with Dragon, it's a vocation rather than a job for a good minder.

I talked practicalities through with the one I had for DS. I still remember her response when I said I would need her for a particular day- 'brilliant, I can go back to xyz playgroup with him!' She was one in a million (and always had a long waiting list).

HSMMaCM · 04/07/2017 21:11

As others have said, you will know when you find the right one. Think about what is important to you.

thisgirlrides · 04/07/2017 23:14

I wouldn't dismiss a new childminder purely due to lack of experience - we all start somewhere & my ds was my childminder's first child (aside from her own!) and she was fantastic! I'm now a cm myself and would also add don't be put off by your child having to do a twice daily school run - my minders absolutely love going to get the bigger kids from schoolSmile

Borntobeamum · 06/07/2017 07:54

One thing to think of is do they have their own young children as in my opinion, they will be favoured over minded.
I've seen this at the toddler groups I've Been going to for many years!

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