I really like my childminder, BUT...

[bohemianbint]

I have a few worries.

DS is 13 months and has been going twice a week since I started work part time last month. She doesn't really ever take them out I don't think, they just play in the house or the garden. And the tv is on ALL DAY. She feeds DS in a push chair and tries to get him to sleep in it. And he won't, because he's never been able to sleep unless he's in a quiet room by himself. She tried this the other week but said it didn't work.

I overlooked all of this because she's absolutely lovely, she thinks the world of DS and he loves going there. I'm totally happy about leaving him with her, she feeds him home cooked meals and is very affectionate and lovely with him, and I thought that this shoudl count for more.

But the lack of sleep he gets there concerns me. He's awake from 7am-7pm with no sleep and it's too much for him. And whilst I don't think he really watches the TV I wish it wasn't on all the time.

Am I being silly? What can I do?

hi there, i would speak to her about outings, i live near town busy roads etc but im out every single day, wether walk(with buggies) to park, shops, library anything that will help stimulate them.
re naps, i have two children that each come once a weeka dn they always sleep in the buggy!, parents told me this is how they do it, so as i have lay back one, thats were they sleep unles we have a cuddle and they drop off on me..i did have a travel cot and never once opend it!

t.v..i have mine on if they come very early(6-7am start), we occasionally put it on for 1/2 hour after lunch(quiet time) or read etc, then if theyre here late, after dinner we put it on or read a book to calm them down before parent comes, so on a normal day about 1/2 hour, if long day 1 hour, never on in background unless we have music chanel on.

read her t&c if you have it and check her ofsted certificate reg ratios.good luck

Are you sure she doesn't take them out? If they play in the garden that's okay. Perhaps she will go out places when the weather is bad (library or other indoor place).
As for the TV on all day. Maybe it's just background noise. Does she have children's programmes on? Lots of ifs and maybes. I don't think having the TV on is a problem and unless you are there all day with her how do you know she has it on all day anyway?
I think you need to ask her to give you a run-down of a typical day.
You think she is lovely, you say your ds is happy there. I'm not sure what the problem is, or is that the problem that you just feel uneasy about something?

It's the Cbeebies channel I think, it's on from 8am onwards and she's told me they have it on all day. I've certainly never seen it off.

juuule, my worry is that he hasn't been out of the house with her in the 3 weeks he's been going. He hasn't slept there longer than 30 minutes, and that only happened once. I'm worried about the fact that he's expected to sleep in a pushchair surrounded by 3 other kids and the tv on. I don't think he's ever even played in the garden, if he has she certainly hasn't told me.

These are fairly big things as far as I'm concerned. He doesn't watch tv at home because we're generally out doing something, or he's playing. And if he ends up going 5 days a week, he won't get enough sleep and he really needs it.

I think, then, that if these are big things to you that you really do have to speak to her about them.
With the sleeping, I am a bit surprised because I've found that if a young child or baby is tired, then there is nothing that would keep them awake. Much the same as when they don't want to go to sleep, not much will make them. All of my children have slept well in their pushchair during the day at some point or other. Usually, outside so getting some fresh air at the same time.
I do think you need to speak to her and find out how the day normally runs. You obviously aren't happy with things as they are.

I'm a childminder and these are my thoughts:

1. Does she do a daily diary? I and many childminders do for children under the age of 5 (Ofsted actually want us to aswell)? My diaries detail food eaten, bottles taken, nappies (wet or dirty), sleep (time and how long), activities, where we've been etc etc.

2. TV - all day and she tells you! Glad she's honest but my god, I'm very surprised about that!!! I'm not anti tv and in fact think my ds has learnt a lot from select programs on children's tv however having it on all day is a bit much imo! I allow up to 30 mins whilst I prepare lunch (chills them out ready to play plus it helps me keep an eye on them) and up to 30 mins when I prepare dinner for the same reasons.

3. Feeding in pushchair - WHY??? Can't she afford a highchair? . I fed my 8 month old mindee in the pram today for the first time as we were having a picnic at the park. IMO it's ok for me to do that once in a while but I'd never dream of doing it all the time. Not hygienic and can't be good position for eating all the time?

4. Naps - I have always managed to do what parents want in over 2 yrs of minding. I'm sure there will get to a point where I need to decide what I want to do and then some parents may not choose me but so far it's all worked out fine. IF a parent asked me to let them nap in a pushchair, I would consider it (with some thought) HOWEVER I would NEVER expect parents to be happy with me choosing for them to nap in a buggy!! All my kids have had naps in travel cots in a dark quiet room. Yes, it's a pain having a whole room filled with cots but that's MY problem! Sorry, just don't think I'd put up with that personally. Oh, and if she's saying she's tried......it's not been long enough if only 2 days x 3 weeks.

5. No you are not being silly. What can you do??.............do you have email contact with her? Most of my parents choose to discuss things on email but luckily I've never had anything negative. I just really hope that if anyone was, they'd talk it through with me.

I'm sorry you are having to go through all this as it's harder because she's nice but sorry, I don't think nice is enough. My main concern here is your lo's lack of sleep. That is a very long day and he may suffer with learning etc as a result??

Good luck

p.s. as for her numbers....deffo check these! I'm allowed 4 under 5's in total (certificate says 3 as ds reduces the numbers) but OFSTED gave me a variation for that. It won't be on her certificate unless they've agreed. I'm actually having 5 under 5's next week but the extra one on top of the 4 allowed is attending 10 sessions a week and is therefore classed as an over 5 iyswim.