Becoming a childminder

[bigkidatheart]

Hi, I have 2 ladies coming out to see me tomorrow about doing the LA childminding course. I have looked into this previously and have done a lot of research I just have a few questions - for childminders or mums out there.

I don't have a massive house but we have a living through dining room and planning to use this space for the childminding, will this be ample?

We have a small terrier who is very excitable when she first meets you, I tend to keep her in the kitchen when we have new visitors - would this put you off, she would not be spending time with any children in my care other than a quick hello - love dogs, would not trust one, however placid, near a child alone

My partner smokes (trying to get him to kick the habit) - the council when I first enquired said that's fine as long as he doesn't smoke in the house an hour before children arrive. He currently leaves for work at 6.30 anyway and does not get home until 5 but he would stick with this. Would this bother you, all windows would be open and I would encourage him to smoke outside on a morning anyway.

Can you make a liveable wage? Or what sort of prices are currently being charged? I was thinking of taking 2-3 under 5s and a few wrap around care - I have done my research and they are crying our for childminders in my area.

The dog uses the back garden and we keep it clean, however, we have a large lawn to the front next to the driveway (private) and we are located at the end of a cul de sac - there is a thick bush at the end of the garden so it's somewhat private, so I was thinking of using this space as an outdoor area - obviously the children would never be left unsupervised and there is space for toys, slide, etc

Any advise you have would be appreciated, I am looking at starting this from around April.

We live right next to a park and nature reserve so there would be a lot of time spent out and about, what would you say is a good ratio for indoors/outdoor time - are you happy for your children to be outside a lot of the time? There are also local play groups and a local library that does reading sessions, is this the sort of thing you would do with children

The biggest things that would put me off using you are the smoking and the front garden for playing. Unless it is properly walled in with a gate then it isn’t suitable for children to play in. I’d just use the back garden and be super careful to pick up after your dog tbh. You won’t be the only CM with a dog.

As for the smoking, I wouldn’t care how long before your H has smoked in the house, it will smell of smoke, all the time. And I wouldn’t want my DCs coming home from a CM smelling of smoke. You may not notice it as you live with him, but I guarantee you a non smoker will smell it the moment they walk in. My DP moved house in February and I can still smell the stale smoke in his new house from the previous owners.

Your H would need to start smoking outside all the time, then deep clean everything, carpets, sofas, etc although the smell will be on books and other furniture too tbh. Maybe he could try vaping as that at least doesn’t smell so dirty.

I use a childminder and they have a dog. Dog stays upstairs majority of the day. Sometimes husband takes it out and when he comes back he's in the garden and the kids love seeing him through the patio doors so the dog wouldn't put me off.

Unfortunately the smoking would. If I visited and the house smelt of smoke I would not choose you to look after my children. I wouldn't want them to smell of 2nd hand smoke if your partner smokes in the house.

I would prefer an enclosed garden. It only takes one child falling and hurting themselves for another to run off down the drive. So either use the back or be able to secure the front somehow.

In terms of space I did visit a childminder with only one big room downstairs. The smaller space didn't bother me. I would only ask if you have enough space for children to be able to nap quietly away from others if necessary.

Also just wanted to add - good luck! Definitely more childminders needed near us.

We love our childminder and my child looks forward to going there. Mine tends not to do so many outings but spends loads of time outside and in the garden, playdates with other childminders etc. I meet a couple of childminders at some playgroups I go to and on the school run and they always seen lovely.

Thank you - I think him smoking is going to be an issue. He has tried vaping (that's how I quit in April), I will have to try speaking to him - or building him a man cave in the garden with the dog 😂

I wouldn’t be leaving my dc due to the smoking and the dog, sorry.
Doesn’t make any difference to me whether he’s there smoking in their faces or has just had one in the house in the morning, the house will smell and my kid would be coming home with that smell stuck to them.
And the dog, I’m not anti dogs at all, don’t have one myself but don’t mind them. But if the dog is shut away most of the day I think it’s really unfair on the dog! It was the dogs house first. Some friends of mine are childminders and 2 have dogs that basically stay in their crates all day or are put in bedrooms and I think it’s bloody cruel to separate them, dogs are social animals and deserve human company not separation imo. I also just wouldn’t want my child to be around a dog at a childminders full stop though.
I do hope you can find a way to make it work, a good childminder is hard to find.

Thanks for your feedback. The dog would have the run of the garden and the kitchen. My older son comes home twice a day to walk her during the day. She will get to say hi to the children but she is also getting old and does spend a lot of her day in her bed.
And like i said in OP - i love dogs - but they are animals at the end of the day and I wouldn't trust one around a child - you see so many of these videos with children and babies crawling over their pet dogs and in their faces, and people wonder when they snap. I don't let her near my 2 grandchildren for that reason - they say hello when they come over and then she goes back to bed.

The dog would put me off because I don’t like them and I’d find the excitable hello every morning really annoying. Plus I’d want you looking after my child not a dog. But my kids love dogs so I’d consider it if there were good safety provisions.

The smoking would be an absolute no. I wouldn’t want my child breathing that in all day and coming home smelling of smoke.

I don’t understand how you can have children in a garden which isn’t secured. I’d use the back.

The house size wouldn’t bother me at all especially if you’re going out and about a lot.

Good luck!

Smoking in the home no way would I send my child there

Sure most will say the same

Your home smells. Sorry.

As a non smoker I walk into homes that smoke

And it's horrible.

A lingering smell that air spray and windows open don't make a difference

I hug them and I smell their smoke on their clothes

If I'm there for a few hours my hair /clothes smell of smoke

Garden needs to be enclosed so fenced off and no one able to pop in so a front garden would again be a no from me

Dogs. As long as a space they have that is their own and gated off and not in with the children then not an issue

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Until the dog and the DP go, it looks like a no for now

I know many childminders with dogs so that in itself is not a problem. You just need to make sure you manage the risks and ensure there is no dog poo where the children play.

What is a massive problem is your house smelling of smoke. It would also be a problem using your front garden as this would not be seen as secure. If the children can be seen from the road and strangers could gain access because there is no big fence/locked gate, it is likely Ofsted would not even pass your registration.

Dog not an issue @bigkidatheart

Dp smoking is

Do you have kids yourself ?

Don't you mind them inhaling smoke and them/you smelling of smoke