Would this put you off, or is it just me?

[SlimmingMumOf1]

Hi all.

So I am looking for a childminder at the moment to fit in with my working hours. I went to see one, and she is very lovely (only a small setting as she's on her own), showed me learning journals and what she does and how she interacts etc! Two things bugged me a bit though:

1. her little one is the same age as mine (2), and when my DS was playing, she hit him on the head! She was told that it isn't nice to do that to people by the childminder and said she gets a bit ratty when she's tired... my DS sometimes hits as well so I don't know why the hell I am bothered about it?

2. she has a dog.. however the dog didn't bark once when it was outside in the garden and he was licking the window and wagging its tail all excited etc, she said the risk assessment has been done already and she is always on the ball 24/7 if the dog is anywhere near the children

Would you get put off by that? Probably me! I am a dog lover, but I am petrified. My DS loves dogs, but I am scared he is going to get hurt... she has absolutely reassured me that she will not let anything happen and the dog is fully trained. She has good ofsted rating and good reviews on Facebook page as well as her childminding page. Am I being a bit too OTT?

Did the CM hit your DS or her daughter?

Sorry! that did not make sense! I meant the childminders DD who is the same age as DS, hit him on the head.

Oh in that case it wouldn't bother me if she dealt with it there and then. She sounds great but you've got to be 100% happy!

She sounds fine to be honest, although personally I prefer nurseries.

I was put off my a CM who had a dog. Mainly because she wouldn't let us see her garden. My DS loves being outdoors and I wouldn't want him somewhere he couldn't go out. After some digging with other local mums I found out she doesn't let kids in the garden because she lets her dog shit all over it. Glad I had a gut feeling about it. Trust your gut.

When I had a dog he was out of the room on the initial meeting then I asked the family if they wanted to meet him. I had a few parents who did not like dogs themselves but he one them over as he was calm and well trained. My rules were nobody touches the dog unless I say, The dog is out of room if there is food, if I need to be occupied doing things, if a child is crawling or new so not used to him, the dog had his own area and could take himself off if he wanted to. The dog was trained to go in certain areas of the garden so child free area. We had him 15 years all with mindees and never a problem and lots of benefits.
The hitting. as you say this age do sometimes hit she dealt with it your child will do it too.

Those two things wouldn’t put me off but I would strongly suggest going to see more than one childminder

Neither of those would put me off either.

Children hitting happens. As long as she manages this then not an issue.

A dog is not an issue to me either as long as well managed.

A dog per se would not put me off but I would definitely want to see how it reacted and behaved around DC before I left my child there. It's not enough to take her word about it and observe it from behind a window.

Also I don't care how good a childminder she is, but she won't be able to be on the ball every single second because distractions happen etc. I would want to know for example if the dog is separated off from the DC while she nips to the loo for example. I am an enthusiastic dog lover and owner btw.

I much prefer childminders tbh. But the dog would put me off. I don't like dogs so I wouldn't be happy.
Ds used to go to a lovely childminder, I like that they're more personal.
He's at nursery now, and loves it and I know it's good for him as it's better preparation for school. But I do miss his childminder at times.

My dd went to a childminder who had a dog (soft as butter cocker spaniel) and everything was fine. Dog was always kept separate from the kids when in the house and heavily supervised outside. We have a dog so I couldn't really argue with it...

The hitting issue, the cm dealt with it there and then so I can't see why it bothered you to be honest. Maybe a bit pfb?

My dd was repeatedly bitten by another child at the cms and she conveniently was "out of the room" every time it happened. When I asked her what she was doing to better manage the situation I was basically told it was tough and I could like it or leave. We left.

Go with your gut. Be sure that the issues you have raised here are not just your mind looking to explain an uneasy feeling you have.

the dog wouldn't put me off per se, but I would like to see the garden and how she keeps it clean and where the kids play. Does the dog have its own area? This summer I would have expected the dc to be out doors lots, and there to be outdoor space with shade and water play etc.

If the dog is allowed to roam in those areas, does it shit there?

It may not, ours much prefers to go when out on a walk, but he does occasionally go in the garden.

I personally wouldnt hire a childminder with a dog- and I know a childminder with a dog ( a lovely childminder and a lovely dog) but still no, I dont think any dog is 100 per cent safe to be around children.

OnlyFoolsnMothers -I would agree no dog is 100% safe that is why the owner must have stringent plans in place and why all children should be taught how to be around dogs so that when they are out if one runs up to them thy know to stand still quietly and not be waving arms around. I could walk my dog with children very calm and controlled and still have adults screaming and walking into the road with their children rather than teach them to wit calmly or carefully get out of the way if scared they have made their children targets for that human wants to play attention assuming the car doesn't hit them.

The hitting thing wouldn’t bother me. I think over the years, my own dc have been hit/bitten/scratched far more than they have done those things to others (which doesn’t make it right, but shows that it happens both ways and next week it might be your dc hitting the other child- it happens and is really common in all childcare settings. It was dealt with appropriately, which is important).
The dog. I personally wouldn’t want a dog in my setting, but I do know other cms who do. For me to use a cm with a dog, I’d want to know it had a completely separate area of house and garden where the dog could be left away from the children.
Also, does she walk the dog with the children (eg school runs)? And if so, how many dc would she have with her and the dog. Sometimes I walk home with over 6 children, (some over 8), no way could I cope with a dog as well as all the children.

Even the best trained dogs can act out of character. It is also not unimaginable that say a 2 year old at said childminder could go and hit the dog on its nose and the dog attacking back. I just think I wouldn't be happy with a childminder looking after my child having to be constantly aware of a dog at the same time.

I would never choose a childminder with a dog, too much of a risk for me.

Wouldn't bother me at all - my CM has a dog and my DD absolutely adores him, she loves going on long walks with CM and doggie....as for the smacking thing, its what kids do, the CM dealt with it, like you said it could just as easy being your child hitting another

i think at the end of the day you just have to go with your gut instinct and if you feel your child will be happy there, then go for it x