Childminder given notice - should I be worried?

[theresmoretolifethanmotherhood]

My son is just a year old. He had been with a childminder for two days a week for the last three weeks. He has been unsettled with her - I expected this because she is effectively a stranger. She is new to childminding.
She also has her own son, aged 18 months and another boy the same age as her son. Considering her son's tendency to bite other kids, I am not surprised that my son didn't like playing with him!
Today the childminder gave us notice. She offered four weeks, but we won't be taking it.
Am I right to feel cross? Should I be worried that my son won't ever settle anywhere? I can't help thinking that she didn't give it enough of a chance. She is a lovely lady but maybe I should be more wary of using an inexperienced childminder in the future.

what reasons did she give for giving you notice

I wouldnt give notice after 3 weeks, IMO there are three periods of settling in, first they settle as its all new and novelty, then we have tears and tantrums as they realise this is for real, and mum is not going to be there, then they realise that actually it is good fun.

3 weeks is really not long enough to go through the settling in.

Bit off that she gave no reason for giving you notice. It does sound like she hasn't given it enough of a chance, especially if she's new to it. I have a mindee 2 days a week and it has taken a long time to get her settled. Its bound to, its a long time between Tuesday and the following Monday, but I knew it would work out, because I've been doing it long enough to know.

I don't think you need to worry about him not settling ever, he's still very young. I really think she owes it to you to tell you why though. Bad practice imho!

thats awful. it can take several weeks to settle a child. poor thing, now you have to start all over again.

It sounds like she bit off more than she could chew. I've just started and there's no way I would take that combination. More experienced CMs would find it much easier. Sorry you've had a bad first experience.

3 weeks isn't long enought for a 2 day a week child to settle completely.

I wonder if she is just realising that it is too hard to deal with another the same age as her son.

I know she doens't legally have to give a reason but if I were you I know I would like one.

Its very unlikely to mean your son won't settle elsewhere though.

Good luck finding a better replacement

thanks for the words of comfort and advice - much appreciated. She said that, because my son was unsettled, it wasn't fair on her son and the other boy.
I think you're right that she bit off more than she can chew - maybe she thought he would sleep for most of the time (he was only with her for 6 hours a day). I also wonder if someone has requested full-time and she needs the space! But that is me just guessing.
Any advice on finding a new childminder? I found this one on the net.

Phone your local council and ask for the Early Years team, they'll be able to send you a list of local minders that have spaces.

Actually get the full list and call some of the full ones too and ask if they know of anyone with spaces if you are having problems finding one with a vacancy - don't know what it is like in your area but where I am a lot of vacancies are filled by word of mouth

www.childcarelink.gov.uk

that website was very helpful - thank you! We are going to visit a prospective new childminder next Tuesday

just catching up and guess what I was going to say either bitten off more than she can chew or she's mad enough to find a full timer!!

It's a shame new mindies feel they have to take their full numbers as this seems to happen a lot

Glad you've sorted something else out