What should I be asking our childminder?

[FoolishMortals]

My baby will be 9 months old when they start the childminder when I go back to work soon. I'm going to start a list of questions for our childminder when we meet next week.

Is there anything I should be asking? I already know about what happens if childminder is sick or if baby is sick etc. I know about her holidays etc.

I've got on my list about what happens with my babies 3pm feed when she will be doing the school run.

What else should I really be asking?

Well obviously you're going to need to be flexible and accept that the 3pm feed will need to be a little earlier or later.

Ask re their experience with child similar age to you
and what they would do if the child refused to eat/drink, was throwing up, fallen even a small fall EG rolled head off pillow or sat on carpet and fell sideways/backwards.

What they would do if known on door and the person wanted to read meter etc or leave parcel for someone at your place.

Make a list of wht you expect from them EG, washing up after their/child meal, cleaning or not, reading to child or not etc and other things you can think of and would they allow a friend or their family to come into your home when you were not there - basically what you want and dont but ask these question after you have asked them "how would you sell yourself as a nanny to me"?

Good luck

ps - goes without saying reference etc etc and you check them out as well

I'd ask how flexible she is on days when you might be late home from work.

And our CM was in a group with other local CMs who took kids out together. They all supported each other by having the kids if one CM was ill.

Ask if they have an up to date paediatric first aid qualification and who else will be entering/living in the house and whether or not they have a DBS check.

I used to be a childminder. Sensible questions are things like,

• what is their normal daily routine
• do they go out during the day to playgroups, libraries, parks etc and which ones do they regularly go to
• what are the ages of the other children that attend

More practical questions,

• do you provide your own food
• where will baby sleep

If she's on a school run at 3pm baby's feed will need to be a bit earlier or later. Babies do generally adapt really well and quickly to different routines when at a childminder's, even if you keep your usual routine on days when baby is at home.

If they're Ofsted registered Paediatric First Aid and DBS checks for all adults living in the house are a compulsory part of the registration.

My childminder is starting a 9 month old soon 😄 my son is 27 months and so excited about having another baby to play with (we have a 4 month old at home). If baby usually feeds at 3pm, s/he will probably just feed 30 mins either side. Same with naps: they will just shift slightly according to the schedule for the day.
I would ask:

• about types of activities
• what you need to supply (eg how many spare bottles/any frozen breastmilk for the freezer/clothes changes/lunch and snacks)
• about how you will communicate with her throughout the day - does she do text updates/photos at midday or other points, or just debrief at pick-up?
• what happens if she can’t get baby to sleep?
• what is the sleep environment like?

I don’t think you need to ask about what she would do if someone came to the door and so on… presumably she’s an experienced Ofsted registered childcare professional!

Good luck and enjoy. My childminder is outstanding and has become a good friend too. It’s a great option for those who don’t feel that nursery would work for their families.

Tbh most 9mth by the time they are 1 would have dropped 3pmmilk

so only be for a few months but will have earlier or later

Hi, I used to be a childminder. all important questions around care and your expectations should already been asked piror to selecting her and not only now your little one is about to start , what are you going to do if you don’t like her answers going forward? I meet up daily with other childminders I always told my families where we were playgroup or round xxxx today. It was great the children got to play with other toys, had ready made friends etc. Even though we all meet up daily and knew each other’s children we had no scope to take them for day if the other cm was ill or on holiday as we were all full ourselves. Also if there was sickness in one setting I would not want to knowing introduce into mine, I also would not then see that childminder if a child was in their setting with hfm etc. Any new children had to adapt to the routine already in place at setting so like others said the Feed at 3pm exactly won’t happen unless they can hold their own bottle and feed themselves, they would be feed before school run or after your little one will soon adapt to this change so nothing to worry about.

It's not milk at 3pm - it's a baby meal.

Thanks all for the very helpful suggestions! Plenty for my list!!

The op is asking about a childminder not a nanny. Childminders are ofsted registered and work from their home not yours. They are first aid trained amongst many other things and part of the safegaurding element of registration and inspection includes suitability checks references etc. They would not be registered if they and the adults in their house had any conviction or unsuitable past including their health.
Scenarios like strangers at doors are covered by their risk assessments.

Why is a 9mth having a very late lunch or a very early tea at 3pm
Milk I could understand but not a meal

To continue registration they must renew their first aid every 3 years....the certificate will be with other training documentation like safegaurding, child development, special educational needs etc.
In order to be registered all adults and the cm must be suitable people, ofsted monitor this anyone living or working on a childminding premises will be flagged up if stopped by or involved with the police and Ofsted are automatically notified. If they are no longer suitable registration is removed if an investigation potentially meaning suitability would be lost the cm ceases work until the investigation is complete....even if its suspected that the mindess abuse is parental or external.
A DBS is confidential containing information that could bd used for identity fraud no one has the right to see it just like they wouldn't be seen by parents using a nursery or school.

Id be careful asking this on z first meeting as it suggests your going to be late a lot as its worrying you....id put it that I think I will be able to get to you by x (making sure there is plenty of time for traffic etc) if its not working out is there scope to ammend the hours? No childminder wants to bd working late as a regular thing they work long hours starting before the first child arrives and finishing later especially if there is evening training or reports to do. Fitting in family life is difficult if parents are late.....meeting a cm is a two way interview you don't want to put them off.

I'd also be asking for longer term things for example how do they approach potty training, will there be any learning as they get older or is it all play (I know they learn as they play but you know what I mean), things like that.

@Blondeshavemorefun sorry but my thread is regarding questions for my child minder, not to discuss the timings around my childs meals. You don't need to know the reasons behind this, nor is it relevant to this thread.

Yes she is up to date with her first aid and I have read in the welcome pack that I am welcome to ask to see the certificate and documents anytime I wish.

She does mention toilet training and asks that we start it preferably at a weekend or any time off, and she will follow any routine we have and will work with us.

In terms of flexibility, my husband works from home so if I'm going to be late from work, he could go and collect baby, but definitely good one to ask her as inevitably my husband will end up back in the office.

Also, as baby isn't 9 months old (will be when she starts with childminder), so she's not at age for crawling just yet, but would you want to know if your child had started crawling/walking/first word in their care? I'm tempted to ask her not to tell me cause I'd be sad I missed the first moment lol!

Well unless this meal can be eaten in the go you are probably going to have to be flexible.
The other children will probably be sitting down to have a after school snack or high tea. It would be sensible to gradually change your routine at home to match the childminders routine before your child starts.

@ToastandJamandTea we are in the process of changing her routine slightly and this meal will be the one that changes. We want to work around the childminders routine so at least we have time now to gradually change things :)

How long have they been childminding?
Do they have their own children? (Unfortunately I had a negative experience with one who had only recently gone into minding due to wanting to be at home with her own young DC)

You beat me to it @ToastandJamandTea

it is relevant @FoolishMortals as if she does a school pick up there is no way your child will be having a meal at 3pm

so as above are you Flexible with this

@Blondeshavemorefun please read my last post.

@Animalcrossyroad yes, she has children of her own. She has been a child minder for many years and has a great reputation. I know people who have used her previously and were really happy with her.

Parents should be aware that first meeting are also for the childminder to 'interview' the parents. It is really important to be a good fit for both parties.