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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

childminders who don't drive ....

57 replies

nappyaddict · 03/05/2008 22:54

i am looking at a childminder for ds but she doesn't drive. i don't have a problem with that but she will have a 5 year old, a 2 year old, a 14 month old and a newborn and am worried it might be a bit stressful for her getting on buses and stuff. does anyone else not drive and have 3 of similar ages?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

FromGirders · 03/05/2008 23:32

Honest Katy, I'm not an echo, only a slow typer.

KatyMac · 03/05/2008 23:33

Personally I think you are stalking me

Original poster

nappyaddict · 03/05/2008 23:34

yes for the swimming she'll only have 2 but i'm talking about other times when she might use the bus.

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 03/05/2008 23:34

I actually found it much easier, when I had my full quota of mindees to use public transport or walk. By the time you've got everyone in a car, strapped them all in and done it in reserve at your destination, its quicker by foot or bus!

Never had to fold my buggy on the bus either.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 03/05/2008 23:34

MaureenMLove - what ages of children and how many did you used to take on the bus.

OP posts:

FromGirders · 03/05/2008 23:35

Umm . .
(mutters something about imitaion and flattery)

KatyMac · 03/05/2008 23:36

Great minds....or fools seldom?

FromGirders · 03/05/2008 23:36

Or even imitation

Ellbell · 03/05/2008 23:37

Soz! I stand (sit, actually ) corrected! Must've just had a stringent pool when my 2 were little.

How often would she take all 4 of them on the bus? My cm does take her mindees out on the bus sometimes, but very rarely (e.g. during half-term, when not rushing back for school pick-up).

Do you like the cm otherwise, nappyaddict? If so, I'd just ask her straight how she thinks she'll cope on public transport, and see how you feel about her answer....

FromGirders · 03/05/2008 23:37

We're CM's - of course our minds are great!

MaureenMLove · 03/05/2008 23:40

2 in the double buggy under 3 years and 2 pre-school walkers. We have the little hopper buses and generally saw the same people on it week in, week out, so there was always a friendly face to help out if need be. Generally though, I found that mindees are much better behaved with their minders, than with their parents!

Original poster

nappyaddict · 03/05/2008 23:41

i have only spoken to her on the phone as of yet but we have a meeting next week so i will ask her then. if she hasn't thought about it would that be a bad sign?

OP posts:

FromGirders · 03/05/2008 23:46

I'm sure she'll have thought of it if she's planning to use the buses. You'll feel much better once you've met her properly and had a good chat. And read her policies of course .

MaureenMLove · 03/05/2008 23:48

Which one of the 4 she'll have is your lo, Nappy?

Original poster

nappyaddict · 04/05/2008 00:06

mine's the 2 year old.

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 04/05/2008 00:38

She probably realises. TBH, one more 2 year old won't make a whole lot of difference to her. The 5 year old will be at school most of the day, don't forget, so most of the time it will be 2 in a buggy and yours on a buggy board or walking. Easy. A walk in the park, as they say on Top Gun!

Original poster

nappyaddict · 04/05/2008 01:17

gosh i hadn't even thought that ds wouldn't be able to go in a buggy. can i insist she uses a sling ... don't suppose i can really! argh back to the drawing board. she was the only one who had an immediate space aswell ... typical!!

OP posts:

southernbelle77 · 04/05/2008 06:13

What is wrong with your dc not going in a buggy? Both the almost 2 year olds that I mind much prefer walking if possible.

shoshe · 04/05/2008 06:22

I very rarely have a two year old in a buggy, in fact the present two year old would refuse point blank to get in one.

SofiaAmes · 04/05/2008 07:04

The childminder that cared for my children didn't drive. She was absolutely lovely and frankly I was happy that the kids walked places instead of always getting in a car. Not to mention that ds got terrible car sickness and couldn't go 5 minutes in a car without vomiting. We were in West London and everything was in walking distance. She generally only looked after younger kids so that the school/nursery run was not an issue. Ds would have quite happily gone in a buggy until he was 5 or 6 if we had let him....so just as well it wasn't an option for him when dd came along (ds was 22 mo), he had to stand on the back of the buggy.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 04/05/2008 11:31

he only started walking a few weeks ago so he can only walk short distances atm - he still falls and trips over a lot.

OP posts:

Original poster

nappyaddict · 04/05/2008 11:32

he also still sleeps 4 hours in the day time.

OP posts:

pointydog · 04/05/2008 11:42

Ask the cm how she gets around. If it's not a problem for her, then why rule her out.

How long has she been cminding? In my experience, they have very good routines re getting children to synchronise naps.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 04/05/2008 11:48

Ds would be her first mindee - she finished the course in january i think. well technically her second cos she looks after her niece too. this is why i have obvious concerns, but i don't want to rule her out just because she's new to this. everyone's new at some point aren't they!

OP posts:

pointydog · 04/05/2008 11:51

ah right, ok.

Then I'd think of questions to ask her re nap routines, getting out and about, where they will go etc. If she hasn't thought this through and can't answer them confidently, then you might want to look around for other options.

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