Childminder advice

[Peony2568]

Hello. I need some advice about a situation with the childminder. I'm stressed out and too close so I need some perspective please.

So in January I came off of maternity leave and sent DS to a childminder. Everything seemed fine until about a month in. She said he won't stop crying when he's there. She sent an email informing me that she will give him a month to see if he settles but if he doesn't then she will give me my notice. The following day she sends me another email saying she's giving me my notice now.

Since then she's been sending me videos of my DS crying but in the video there's nothing in front of him like toys ect.. when I'm working this is upsetting for me seeing him like that. Or she sends me voice notes of him crying.

I've picked him up and he's had a bruise or a cut in his face and she had no idea where it came from.

She told me I can't bring him in the following day as she hasn't received payment from me. Even though I sent her a screenshot of proof of payment. The following day after she knows I've started work she tells me payment was received and he can come in.

Today she rings me at work and asks me to pick him up as he's got diarrhoea. I pick him up and take him home. Looking at his clothes the poo is type 4 and looks like it's been squished in to the material. It was not watery and he's had nothing since. She is now telling me I have to wait 48h which I know is procedure but is telling me a specific time I'm allowed to bring him in. (Down to the minute)

There's so much else that's happened but I just feel like she's using every excuse not to look after him. Any advice is welcome. Thank you in advance. X

what advice do you need? It’s obvious that you need to find a new childcare provider

What @FuckoffARFID said.

the minute she couldn't explain injury to my child s face she'd have been finished looking after him.

You really need to find new child care, and ask her to waive any notice fee as she clearly doesn't want him there, poor babe!

She sounds absoloutley dreadful. I'd be reporting to ofsted the fact that she thinks it's acceptable to send you voice notes of your child crying whilst in her care. That's a fucking disgrace.

Agreed.

I get detailed injury reports that I have to read, sign and return if my son gets a cut or bruise in his childminder's care.

Did you not have settling in sessions?

My DD was unsettled ar first. But childminder worked with us to help her settle. We started with 1 hour and built up to 5 hours before her doing a full day. We adjusted it based on her needs. I did have to obviously plan this with work. I'm shocked a childminder was happy to take a child for a full day without some settling in sessions to know how they get on.

The injuries i'd be explaining to ofsted along with the lack of care an interaction. A video of a child crying is not acceptbale unless you asked for evidence. Even then i'd expect a video of them trying to settle the child.

She sounds awful. I'd be withdrawing my child and looking elsewhere asap!

You just need to find alternative child care. Too much has happened to improve on and it won't help you or your child to be there.

Definitely remove straight away. Do you have any nurseries close by?

I get that some children don't settle into childcare easily and if you have a child crying all day it impacts massively on the other children and the childminder's ability to do her job.

However, sending you voice notes and videos of your child crying is totally unprofessional. The unnoticed injury, if a one off, is understandable as children are always getting bruises (if mobile) but if it's more than once then that is not good. Even if she doesn't know how it happened she should still be filling out an accident form for you to sign.

You need to look for alternative childcare. Childminder has not necessarily done anything majorly wrong some children just don't settle at certain settings.