And the prize for the weirdest CM goes to .......

[WriggleJiggle]

I've just visited a whole caggle of CMs in order to find one for the dc. How weird some of them are.

CM 1 - During the 45 mins I was there spoke to her current mindee ONCE. Mindee played in furthest reaches of the room, spoke to me but wouldn't speak to CM.

CM 2 - Explained she didn't want to work in the holidays (thats fine), but expected to be paid 8 weeks at full cost during that time.

CM 3 - Cbeebies at full volume meant it was difficult to have a conversation with her.

CM 4 - Advertised one cost, when fees were discussed suddenly increased it by 30%

CM 5 - "Oh, some people are so scared of my dog" That's because it charges up the path barking at people.

CM 6 - Has a boy and a girl mindee, but "all the girls toys are up in the loft"

CM 7 - Current mindees don't sleep in cots, she prefers them to sleep in car seats so she can fasten them in and they don't fall out.

Perhaps we just have weird CMs around here? Or perhaps I still have PFB and PSB symptoms

She sounds bloody awful, I feel sorry for her mindees

oh dear
they do sound a bit odd

which one SC?!

What horrible luck you have had!! What are you going to do?

They were all weird! The one who didn't speak to the boy made me sad though. It was the fact that he spoke to me but not to her which made it worse.

Couldn't you look after them yourself, considering they're all so weird?

I think maybe you need to consider a nursery or nanny

What about local nurseries? Or, if you need them full time, you might find a live-in nanny (if you have the space) is cheaper than nursery for two.

Desi, run along a play nicely (elsewhere).

Had similar strange list when I first looked for CM. I think the problem is that unless you are very lucky, the good CMs are already taken and are passed on via recomemndations to friends and family. At least it is my experience. I have a friend who is a great CM and she is always fully booked.

Go with a nursery instead. More transparent.

You must be near me...............esp the one who wants mindees to sleep in car seats..........I bet she never told Ofsted that!

CM1 sounds the best. perhaps the mindee was just shy?

You don't happen to live in SW London do you Wriggle? I have vacancies! and I think I'm pretty normal!

So someone called "FruitynNutty" thinks she is pretty normal?

Wriggle I think you just wrote an advert for nurseries...

We aren't all odd honest

You just have to find the wonderful ones I don't do any of the above..we are a normal and happy house and we have a fantastic time.

Keep up the search or look into nurseries and nannies (lots of oddities to overcome with some of them too though!!)

Every childminder will have different ways of doing things and parents pick the CM who is most like them and sticks to the OFSTED rules an common sense!
Out of all of them i would say that CM1 and CM7 were the worst...avoid at all costs.
CM2...apart from the holiday pay was everything else ok? was she prepared to negotiate, maybe only pay at retainer?
CM3 Ok she was just plain rude, but was everything else ok?
CM4, maybe her adverts were out of date, did she mention it when you rang her...maybe she did not realise
CM5, should control that dog better, people are ok with dogs as long as they are trained.
CM6, what's her problem? Is she too big to get into the loft?
I think you should look around a bit more and always trust you instinct.
As a trainee chilminder (doing the ICP) i realise that i may have to change quite a few things in my house and may have to move my owls!
Yes i like owls (not stuffed) but any pictures or sculptures, but that may put other people off!
Good luck with your search!

Another thing i would like to ask..please!
Would you consider a newly trained CM? or would you only go with CMs already minding?
Just want to get an idea of what parents think.

As a childminder we get funnt parents too!!

My strangest was a few years ago, and basically, she was wanting a lactating C/M as she thought breast was best. Her DD was 3.

I apologised proffusely and said I was full!!

Full, as in NO spaces!

Sally

hahaha AtheneNoctua maybe my MN name isn't such a good advert but really, I am quite normal in real life

at BM

Aw... this kind of thing makes me want to start up being a CM (used to be a nanny) but not very practical when dh works from home pt.

This is exactly why DD is at a Nursery. Some of my friends have great CM but when I needed one I could not find a place for her I was happy with.

So she started Nursery and loves it: No worrying about sleeping in carseats or Cbeebees on all day. I don't have to send her with packed Lunches etc. She has lots of little friends. If her keyworker is off sick I don't have to take the day off as there is plenty of cover.
I am sure there are "cons" as well, the cost for one but having once said that I would never send her to one I am now so glad I did.

i was buying baby clothes incase i go into early labor and the saleswoman gave me her name/number incase i was interested in having her look after my babt.

so i have 2 questions.

1. is this 'dodgey'? she seemed nice...she told me she'd get me references from her church if i needed them...

and 2. she's in nw london if your interested?

It is dodgy. She should be offering you her registration.

No not dodgy at all, maybe she works as a Childminder too? Just make sure she's registered with Ofsted