Trusting people to look after your children

[Daisy1906]

Hi everyone,

I'm probably one of the few people on here that isn't a parent, nor pregnant. I do however, have lots of friends who have young children and am aware of just how difficult affording childcare is for so many people. This has been at the back of my mind for sometime and I've come up with an idea for a business, which aims to solve (if not completely, then partially) this problem for lots of parents.

I've recently hit a bit of a stumbling block and wondered if any of you on here might be able to help me by answering the following:

When looking for Childminders/Nanny's/Babysitters (etc) (and assuming that you don't know them), what is it that would provide you with enough trust in them to leave them alone with you children?
Is it a good reference? A DBS check? Meeting them first in person? Recommendations from friends? All of the above? Some other things?

Perhaps a better question might be this:

If you went onto a website to choose someone to look after your child, what (if anything) would give you peace of mind that they will be safe?

If there are things that don't answer this question directly, but that you feel might be helpful or relevant in some way then please do say.

Any feedback this experienced community on Mumsnet is highly appreciated!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

D

Without being rude, what exactly do you hope to provide with this service?

Childminder / nursery - registered with authorities, good reports from care inspectorate, established, local, good reputation, able to access free childcare hours, opportunity to meet and ask questions, settling in visits.

Babysitter - would only use someone I personally know.

There is already a website where you can see reviews, details, whether they have DBS/insurance/training etc etc.

above all, it’s just not possible to give parents total satisfaction on whether a person is suitable or they trust them without meeting in person.

There is a website already I believe that lists DBS, first aid trained etc for childminders and nannies.

non starter OP

I do however, have lots of friends who have young children and am aware of just how difficult affording childcare is for so many people.

I suggest you talk to your friends then and they’ll know put you straight

I'd rather not say much more at the moment

Thank you

Thank you

How can you expect people to answer properly then?

OP?

I would just like answers to the question in my post. I don't think that the business itself is all that relevant at the moment.

I have spoken to my friends, but I'd like opinions from a wider community

And what was their stance. Did they blow smoke up your ass or tell you honesty

I look for

• registration - ofsted reviews
• safety checks - DBS
• meeting them in person is the only way to get a sense of whether they listen to your child and they’re tuned in to their needs. So booking 30-60mins when I’m in the house is ideal for me and my child to get to know a new sitter before I leave them.
• reviews from other parents/customers help.
• their experience - can only go on their say so, but to me it’s more reassuring to know if they’re a parent themselves or if they’ve worked in a childcare setting and you can get a sense of that when you meet them.

There’s already Bubble and other websites around that do all of this and check things like DBS for you. The problem I find is the lack of responses from available sitters when I post a job - there just doesn’t seem to be a lot of people out there looking for ad hoc work which is fair enough.

I'm a childminder and get most of my work from word of mouth. I think they need to feel like someone they trust has experienced the service. I've also found that people trust in the first meeting and whether you click with the person so it's far beyond anything you could advertise to be fair

OK well I'll answer from the other side...I'm a childminder and you'll need childcarers to sign up to your little business for it to work.

I'm registered with ofsted, they inspect me and make sure I and my family are police checked, my first aid and other documents and training are up to date, my home is safe and I am providing a high quality curriculum.

I have a childcare.co.uk gold account. They provide my insurance, training and advertising for their fee.

I use social media and word of mouth also.

I'm not interested in providing cheap childcare for parents. I work hard for my income and providing high quality provision for children is expensive. It's not my job to make that affordable, it's the government's. Nanny's equally are expensive because they are worth it.

If you want to help unregistered childcarers earn money and appear trustworthy to parents then go for it. But here lies trouble. There's been dozens of 'introduction' websites and they are no better than Facebook. You don't know what you're doing.

My personal instinct.

😂😂 good question..

Thanks so much! This is really useful.

Thank you

I personally wouldn’t leave my children with anyone other than family or close friends. My mum, 2 aunts and a friend babysat if required when ours were little.

I wouldn’t have left them with randoms off the internet no matter their qualifications or checks they had done.

We used a childminder. She was known to us through friends whose children had been minded by her. She came highly recommended from the school nursery staff where I worked. She was PVG'd. She had insurance. She had first aid qualifications. She had decades of experience. She was a Mum and Granny. She lived nearby to the school I taught in.

She only minded teachers' children... 😂

I would not trust anyone who I had not met in person/ who had not allowed me to visit the setting in person.

I had a baby during the pandemic. We did look at nurseries originally but none were doing tours/ face to face meetings and I just wasn’t prepared to hand my baby over to anyone in those circumstances.

We met a few childminders and the reason we chose the one we have is a combination of a) personal recommendation, b) Outstanding ofsted rating (and I read the report), c) checked all the paperwork and policies d) she’s also a qualified teacher and a mum herself - not sure why this reassured me but it did!

The biggest thing though was just seeing her house/ meeting her. Instinct if you want to call it that, I just knew it was the right choice.

I have heard some absolute horror stories recently, including one regarding a childminder we did consider and would have been my second choice. There was also a horrendous incident at a nursery that was recommended to me by lots of people, and that had a good oftsed rating and all the right paperwork - it has now been closed down and there is an ongoing criminal investigation. Those things have just really brought home to me how big a decision it is and how hard it is to really know.

It’s unfortunate that your op (op means original post or poster, depending on context, as you asked earlier) sounds like you’re looking for the best ways to lull parents into a false sense of security when seeking childcare!