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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

Setting up as a childminder - would these things put you off using me?

72 replies

Ladybird909 · 15/03/2018 18:20

My daughter started school last September and I'm thinking of setting up as a childminder before and after school only with drop off and pick up from her school.

Currently my partner and I split the school runs pretty much 50/50 and we would want to carry on doing that. How would you feel about your child going to a childminder where this happened? Would it matter? (For reference I am female and he is male.)

When the children are in our home, I would always be here apart from perhaps the odd occasion and we would both go through the training and get dbs checks.

The other thing is that we have a dog. It's a smallish and very friendly dog and I would always make sure it wasn't left unsupervised with the children. But it does unfortunately bark very loudly when someone comes to the door. Again, would this put you off using a childminder?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 16/03/2018 12:54

Although to be fair I am not sure why.

It’s because you are sexist. Hope that helps.

Fundays12 · 16/03/2018 19:52

Your hubby doing a drop off wouldn’t bother me at all as he will be registered. The dog is also fine aslong as I can see the dog has a safe space to go too and us kept separate from the children a lot. My CM has a Labrador and a cat but they can go to the livingroom and don’t go in the playroom. The dog is very well trained and good with the children but equally her owners understand she needs space away from them and the kids need to learn to be careful with her.

ShiftyMcGifty · 16/03/2018 20:42

“It’s because you are sexist. Hope that helps.”

Ubercornsdiscoball · 16/03/2018 22:03

I agree Shifty. I don’t think it’s sexism at all

NotAllTimsWearCapes · 16/03/2018 22:09

The dog would definitely put me off. Not the dog being there but the barking. If I arrived for an initial visit with you and was met with a dog barking I would immediately rule you out I’m afraid.

Your husband being there as a second childminder would be a plus point as it would mean two adults supervising, less chance of accidents, less chance of you not being able to collect my child due to your illness as there would be another person there to do it, support for you as childminding can be stressful.

If you managed to train your dog out of barking and guaranteed it wouldn’t be in the room with my child it would be fine.

Maryann1975 · 16/03/2018 22:12

It doesn’t. It is a bit odd, like she’s thinking childminding is doing exactly what she and husband are doing now, only with a few more kids to make some income. Childminding isn’t the same as looking after your own kids.
^ this^
There was a thread a couple of weeks ago where it seemed the cm had only gone in to being a childminder because she wanted to stay at home with he ds. This seems a bit the same, thinking that life will be the same, except a couple of extra children tagging along. Childminding really isn’t like that. Childminding is a responsible job and it sounds like you are thinking life will be just the same as it is now, but with a couple of extra children around.
Having a dog may or may not bother me. I’ve got friends who have dogs who are well behaved and I don’t mind my dc being around and know other dogs that we give a wide berth. I’m not keen on loud, bouncy or yappy dogs, but dogs who are calm, know not to jump up and are kept under good control are ok. I would want to know that there is a place in your house and garden that the dog can go where the children can’t, so they each have a safe place.

jannier · 17/03/2018 14:15

Most people who want after school care also want holiday and training day/school closures up t 14 weeks a year....in 25 years only a handful haven't how would this fit into your life?

Ive had a dog yes he barked if strangers came to the door unexpectedly but everyone who met him soon realised he was so soft even the scared changed their mind. He was introduced gradually to every new person at their pace, never alone with the children and very well trained as well as having a refuge place. But you have to have rules and risk assesments in place.

After school childcare is not easy hyper active children kept in class on wet plays, carrying over energy and frustrations to home time is not an easy ride and doesn't bring in much money over a week once you have fed entertained paid tax and NI unless you have a full quota which take a toll on your house energy and food cupboard...then the school may open up their own holiday club....have you researched demand?

Your husband would need to register as an assistant and take a first aid course after you have done the training and registration as well as paid health check dbs charges for all adults etc. But no it doesn't put most off and many cm's work with partners.

BangPippleGo · 17/03/2018 14:27

Our last CM had a dog and it didn't put us off. Our new CM splits school runs with her mum and sister, all are registered as assistants and DBS checked etc it wouldn't even cross my mind to be bothered by it.

TheMythicalChicken · 18/03/2018 06:17

It’s because you are sexist. Hope that helps.

Wow. I've never been called that before. How rude. Actually the reason I would object to the husband looking after the children is it's not his job and I wouldn't be happy about my CM palming my kids off on someone else. I would feel the same if it was her mother, sister, whatever. I wouldn't be happy about it.

junebirthdaygirl · 18/03/2018 06:29

The cm l used for afyer school had her dh there and my dc loved him. He walked to the school and walked back with dc which was great as they got that walk every day. But cm was at the house and always there. She would have a snack ready and then both would be there for the evening. I wouldn't have liked her not too be there as paying her except in an emergency where l would understand she had to leave.
I would hate if the dog was barking around my ankles when l arrived to collect dc as l don't like that. So would expect dog to have his own space.

FrostiesMum · 18/03/2018 06:38

I think your DH being involved would be a bonus for us. It’s hard for DS to get exposure to male careers. We have a dog so that wouldn’t put me off, provided it had a good temperment and wasn’t huge.

Chickenagain · 18/03/2018 07:08

Neither would put me off per se, but the barking would and you do not want a frightened, possibly crying child on the step with mum or dad.
Get a behaviourist in for the dog and give him his own private space - fingers crossed he won't Self Identify as a child and want access to the playroom & toys

Fannyfanakerpants · 18/03/2018 07:14

Our childminder had this set up and it's why we chose them. I wanted my dc in a family set up, offering things that I couldn't at the time. That included things like pets. If cm's are in demand in your area then it won't be a problem.

issaflame · 18/03/2018 07:56

Dog would put me off more

isupposeitsverynice · 18/03/2018 08:09

my childminder had a husband and two huge german shepherds. what i wanted to know was could she do wednesdays. i think choosing a cm is more about how they click with you and your child than their domestic arrangements as such - obviously some people might find the husband or dog off putting, but others will find them a great positive.

JulietteBrioche · 18/03/2018 09:21

I don't like the set up and the dynamic of the relation that he's your husband and a helper that its not consistent and shared minding. but i guess your clientele probably dont mind informal, relaxed arrangements.
the dog would put me off anyway.

JulietteBrioche · 18/03/2018 09:25

it doesnt sound professional or taken seriously tbh

bigHill · 18/03/2018 09:27

Dog would put me off and the fact the you might not sometimes be there and someone else would be stepping in. It doesn't matter to me if that person is male or female but I would find it off putting for me & child.

Whatisthewhatisthewhat · 18/03/2018 09:31

I’d be fine with your husband but I would be massively put off by your dog

ruleshelpcontrolthefun · 18/03/2018 09:36

Your DH helping would put me off as in the same way that a sister or daughter helping would. My DD is a bit delicate so I'd rather ONE person be there. It's bad enough that some mornings she'll have me, some her dad and some a cm without adding multiple cms to the mix. The not knowing who is taking her would be upsetting for her.

Also the dog would be a no.

Ki0612 · 18/03/2018 09:53

I have a small dog the dog wouldn't necessarily put me off if it calmed down quickly when visiting the house, the dog had a safe space and was good with children and would never be left in the room with them.
DH would and it would anytime you as the childminder weren't there. I would be the same if gran or someone sharing the school run. I'd want a sole carer, also holiday care offered.

NotAllTimsWearCapes · 18/03/2018 10:28

Actually the reason I would object to the husband looking after the children is it's not his job and I wouldn't be happy about my CM palming my kids off on someone else.

It is his job. Did you miss the part where he would be doing all the training OP does? They would be working together as childminders.

Forgottencoffee · 19/03/2018 12:24

Your arrangements seem to be the same as my childminder's so no, it wouldn't put me off. However, she keeps her dog completely separate from the children (eg. in the kitchen or hall when they're having lunch) which I prefer.

ShiftyMcGifty · 19/03/2018 13:27

“It is his job. Did you miss the part where he would be doing all the training OP does? They would be working together as childminders.”

I think you’re misreading, actually.
The OP never said her husband is going to be a childminder nor did she say he’d register as one and also be subject to an Ofsted inspection. She said they would go to the training together.

That could just mean required first aid course in order to be her assistant.

OlennasWimple · 19/03/2018 13:37

If you do go down this route, FGS make it clear to parents that your DH is working as your assistant and will be doing the school runs.

We briefly used a CM who had this set up but didn't tell us. I only found out when DS's lovely reception teacher told me one day that DS was upset some days when he was collected from school by the DH. Because I never knew that the DH would be doing this, when I dropped DS off I would tell him that either I would pick him up or the CM would pick him up (depending on the day), so he was surprised when the DH turned up instead.

It wasn't the only reason that we didn't continue to use that CM, but it was a huge breach of trust and I still today can't quite believe that she didn't think it worth mentioning to me. He was even there at her house when I came over to meet her initially, and we shook hands and said hello, but then he disappeared into another room. He was never there when I went to collect DS, so I had effectively been handing over DS to a complete stranger three times a week.

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