Childminder left child in car with an 18yo girl we don’t know?

[BluLavender]

Both me and DH feel really uneasy about this and want to see what other people think. My DD (20 months) had her first full day with the childminder today. She’s a very chatty, friendly lady maybe a little over familiar sometimes.

She was saying how bright and funny DD is and how on the afternoon school run she had to hop out the car to go grab another child from school and was playing peek-a-boo with the 18 year old girl who was sat in the car with her. She quickly explained the 18yo as another child she’s looked after for years and years, she was talking so fast and it was such a whirlwind that I don’t think she really explained why the 18yo was there and has never mentioned this person before until today.

I’m not happy that DD was left with someone we don’t know, also not happy that there’s potentially a situation here where children are left in the car so other children can be picked up from the school? She said she carried her for the other school pick ups. Feel very strange about it all.

Are we overreacting?

It would bother me a bit, unless she was a registered assistant

assuming the 18yo is not her daughter or employee, seems a bit weird to have a random 18yo in the car?

however it would be a massive further step of worry if your child had been left in the car and I absolutely would not assume that the CM would have done this should the 18yo not have been present

I think reasonable to express your concerns, gently, and hope she doesn’t do it again

You do if it is a registered childminder leaving a minded child and not the parent leaving their own child. A childminder must stay within sight or sound of the children in their care unless they have an assistant who is registered - they will then have a DBS and a suitability letter.