whats the difference between a nanny and a CM?

[spottyzebra]

hi just wondered what the diffeerence is ?

my cm was a nanny before she had a baby, he is about the same age as ds. that is a very good setup because basically ds is being treated the same as her own child, or at least having the same experiences

xenia are you still here ? i was going to ask you something ....

glad you liked my website, it was designed by a mumsnetter (I did the code, but I'm not great at graphic design).

Find a childminder who you feel able to chat with when needed, but who still operates on a business level. Someone business like, but approachable... kind and considerate, but who keeps things in prospective and takes care of all their clients needs, not just yours.

A sidenote: Do you cuddle your dd to sleep every night? If so, please can I advise against it... as your dd is of an age now where she should learn to settle herself to sleep at night. Cuddle while singing, reading stories etc. But aim to put dd in her cot while still awake. It's much easier doing this now, than when she gets to 3 years old.

CACHE = Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education Website
They are one of the large examination bodies for childcare related courses.

hi nick thanks again

yes i do cuddle dd to sleep, how could you tell lol fair point though

xenia, i work as an advisor, for a large pharmacy chain and i travel upto london.
i like my work but would prefer to set up my own business.
only problem is i have a large morgage and id need to earn alot of money, just wondered if you had any good ideas for a profitable easy to run business.

I've worked with people who import pharmaceuticals but you need to know what you're doing.
I was speaking to someone this morning who does pharma research as their business.
I suppose there are lots of things you can do in that field.
I think it's often best to keep the day job and try a new business in your spare time and then when it's working give up the day job.

oh its either than or win the lotto then, i thought you where going to tell me to become a childrens party entertainer or something

I am certainly going to take issue with the idea that nannies have had "more education and better training" !!! Just read through some of the threads in this childminding section to see just how much training CMs have to have, or choose to have. Some of us have higher education qualifications or degrees from our pre-childminding days.

Many CMs are parents themselves, so inherently understand and can deal with children - no amount of "training and education" can possibly outdo that!

If you don't know whether or not you want a childminder, you could visit a few to get a feel for what they offer. We all work very differently, so it might help you decide what sort of things you do or don't like. (I don't know enough about nannies, so can't really comment.)

Xenia - are you basing your "nannies are better educated than CM's" on ome evidence or your experience. My (admittedly limited) experience hasn't found there to be a significant difference. A friend had a succession of nannies for her DS when he was little and frankly all bar one of them I wouldn't have trusted with my cat. They were noticebly well-educated I have to say. I do admit that is a sweeping statement just not sure what you're basing your theory on.

Besides which (and I speak as one who would like to consider herself passably well educated) I'm not sure that education is the most important quality I'm looking for in a child carer. Unless I'm expecting her (or him of course!) to help junior with his maths GCSE homework.

They weren't ...

Although I don't think it's essential if someone is good with children our last few nannies had done an NNEB or whatever nanny qualification and you need certain exams to get on those courses and then me just comparing anecdotally the child miners I've known and the nannies there did seem to be a difference but you can't generalise and it would be better to have a good child minder who was there for the child for 10 years than young nannies however well trained leaving every 5 minutes.

I think the comment may have been in reference to the fact most qualified nannies have done a 2 year NNEB/DCE/BTEC but you can become a childminder with a 12 hour ICP and not have to do any more 'formal' training.

Having said that you can become a nanny with no qualifications whatsoever. Equally you may have an ex-primary school teacher for a CM.

Swings and roundabouts.

Yes I think swings and roundabouts is a good way of putting it.

I have been to university and would say I am well educated and am now a childminder. I have a friend who is also a childminder who left school after our A-levels and started a family early. she is one of the best childminders I know and most of that comes from having looked after her own family for a long time. She is now gaining further childcare qualifications which can lead to a degree.

I also know a lot of nannies who have either no, or very basic training and that started straight from school with no qualifications at all.

Qualifications are one thing, but childcare experience and a good head on your shoulders can outway that any day.

My CM has 18 years experience as a Mum. That's the best education you can have in order to look after my baby, IMHO...

I think more and more CMs these days keep on taking certificates and expanding the formal side of their qualifications, it is something Offsted encourages.