We are starting to look into childminder for our daughter who will be 11m when she starts.
Having never looked before it's all a bit overwhelming.
Does anyone have any recommendations on what to look for or ask? Besides the obvious- availability etc.
Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.
Childcare
Looking at childminders
Cuwins · 20/05/2022 20:34
RAINSh0wers · 20/05/2022 20:51
I used a nursery for DD1 but we moved and had to use a childminder for DD2. I never thought we’d use one but she was amazing, DD settled immediately. She’s moved to a nursery now (we changed areas again) but she still talks about the childminder and her friends there.
I’d recommend asking about
- meal times - what does the CM provide. for ours we provided packed lunch and snacks but the CM cooked an evening meal)
- naps - is there a routine or do they work around yours. Where do babies sleep?
- trips out - do they go to baby groups, parks, playgrounds etc. How do they get there? If it’s the car what car seats do they use.
- preschool - thinking ahead a bit, but do they do drop offs/pick up at preschools and the local schools.
The CM should also have references etc to share with you. I was fortunate that ours picked up some children in my older DDs class so I had people to speak to.
Hope that helps!
NatalieH2220 · 21/05/2022 07:56
-Look at all the areas they will be using
-Age range of other children that go
-What car seats they use (one I viewed had very old seats and didn't understand the importance of rear facing)
-do they do regular school pickups (are you ok with this if your child isn't at school)
-what's a typical days plan
We found we didn't really click with the childminders for DS1 and he went to nursery but DS2 uses a childminder and she's amazing, much more on our page so I'd get a feel for them as a person as much as a feel for the setting.
jannier · 21/05/2022 14:03
School pick ups are not a negative experience on ours we look at the environment.....birds nests, snails, spiders webs, road works, talk about the pipes and wiring under the road, do number, letter, shapes and colour hunts as well as talking about road saftey....and playing (in safe areas) the stop and go game that helps if a child were to run away from you....the non walkers get involved shouting stop, go stand on one leg jump etc. And are keen to start playing when they are walking .
I only take on families I feel can work with me we have chats about what they want for their child, their parenting style etc. You have to gel inorder to work together.
I want parents to ask questions like where does baby sleep, how many children attend on the days baby is there, food, my behaviour policy, look at training, references, to return to meet other children. Normal daily routine, activities. It generally takes two visits...one as a chat one to discuss business and details. Then a return to complete paperwork and another as a play date before we start settling in. The families meet the other children on the third visit.
00kitty · 14/06/2022 00:16
I’m also looking for a CM…as soon as I say she is 12 months I don’t hear back…do CM’s hate babies?! 😣
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