Hi, sorry for long post in advance!
Its early days and want to give my sons childminder a chance, but just have 1 or 2 concerns and not sure if I am overthinking things or not! Or maybe I am just not used to being out of control when it comes to my son (10 months old) lol.
I started back at work a week ago and prior to this my son spent a month settling in with the childminder a few hours a week and thankfully settled in well. He seems to like it there and doesnt cry when i leave and smiles at her when he sees her. She got great references as well so we were glad to have found her.
My sons sleep hasnt been great since christmas with being unwell, then teething, then I think a bit of 8-10 month sleep regression. Now I think he may have some separation anxiety on top of being out of his usual nap routine. I always had him down for two naps a day. But since I have been back to work this has continued and maybe got a little worse now he is at childminders full time.
He is often harder to put down to bed (before he would self settle no problem mostly) and waking more frequently at night. I would go in and soothe him but the minute i leave the room he screams. He is sometimes waking for feeds too.
So the childminder said he is eating and drinking well during the day, but when I ask about his sleep there was one day where she said he only slept 10 mins!!! Other times its only 15-20 mins here and there. Most times since collecting him he will then pass out into a deep sleep in the car home and I have to wake him, otherwise worried he wouldnt go to bed usual time.
She minds other kids, does some school runs and does go out and about a lot to baby groups etc, so I understand she cant rigidly stick to his nap schedule.
However yesterday she said that she never worried when her own kids didnt sleep much during the day as it meant they slept better at night?! When we interviewed her she said she would put babies for naps in the cot but it seems my son and another little boy near his age only sleep in the pram or carseat when she is out.
I dont know whether to give it another few weeks and see how my sons sleep goes, maybe he will adjust? He is still in the Leap 7 stage with 6 days left, so could maybe wait until that is over and see how it goes?
Trying not to let it stress me out but just wondered what other peoples thoughts/experiences were on how childminders have affected their babys sleep. thank you.