Paranoid first-timer not sure what to expect of my new Childminder!

[MrGrieves]

Hello, I'm a paranoid first-time Mum about to put my DD with a childminder who seems lovely but there are a couple of things I've suddenly got worried about and I'm just not sure what I should expect.

The first is that she looks after two children (that will include my DD), in addition to her own two boys, and has to do a total of three school runs a day. I'm guessing that this is quite normal and should be OK? I'm just a bit worried that DD's day will be mainly about going out in the buggy and back again, rather than more interesting things such as toddler drop-ins etc. Is it quite normal for CM's to do a lot of pick-ups etc? Or should I hold out for someone who doesn't have quite this schedule?

The other thing is that she does not have much space in her house and she does not have a garden. This also means that any child needing a nap normally goes down in the same room where the other kids may stil be playing. Is that normal?

My feeling is that none of the above will matter if DD is happy with her and likes her but other Mums in my area have rejected her for the reasons above. I am not sure if I should worry or just chill-out!

Hi MrGieves.

My dd is with a childminder. She's been with her since she was 1.

Dd absolutely loves the school run! She is greeted by name by the children in the childminder's children's class! She started off doing in the pushchair, but now happily walks. She used to be the cause of the third school run as she just did half days at nursery. They always found time to do toddler groups as well.

Re. sleeping - dd was used to sleeping on her own, in a darkened room. At the childminders, she used to sleep in a travel cot, in the dining room, while the childminder was in the sitting room with the other child. I'm not sure she would have been able to sleep in a room where the other child was playing, but I suppose it depends what your dd is used to.

Sorry - MrGrieves

Hi Littlefish! Thanks so much for responding, that's comforting. I think it probably is absolutely fine, and my DD also loves going out in the buggy so will probably think it's great! I know I am being rather paranoid. I think re: the sleeping thing, I could ask the CM to put up a different cot in her bedroom or out of the way so that might be work. Thank you!

My DS's CM takes two kids to school in the morning and picks them up, I think DS often accompanies her to do so and it's a very short walk from her house. I think it's probably quite fun for him, and lots of toddler groups are on at times to fit around school runs so it doesn't preclude them.

She doesn't have lots of space or a garden. DS often manages quite a good nap, but he seems to sleep better with people around him than on his own for some reason (at home or out and about with us too).

Getting out: in the summer they went to the park a lot. Now he goes to at least two dropins most weeks, as did the other toddler who was with CM until recently. Other toddler is now being looked after by a relative, his brother and sister still with CM before and after school, and I think that's probably a financial decision rather than the very good care which is our perception.

My childminder wasn't registered to have minded children upstairs which is why dd was in the dining room.

If your dd can't go upstairs, even the kitchen might work!

Is she registered to use upstair's rooms - she may put DC up there for sleeps?

As far as the garden issue - we don't use our outside space much as it rains so much!

I do a school run in the morning, lunch time and afternoon. This is a concern for some parents, who decide not to use my services for that reason. In the morning, I still have time to take the children to toddler groups. We are at home in the afternoon when the little ones have a nap. I am fortunate that I have a separate room where they can nap and a large garden, but not all childminders do.

Hello! She lives in a flat so no need to be registered to use the upstairs rooms.

HSMM - it does seem that some people don't go for childminders who have school runs, but the way I was looking at it (before I got all paranoid!) was that it's no different from being in a big family really, as then she'd be just as likely to be doing the school run thing. How do your mindees get on with it? I guess they're absolutely fine?

Just one other thing, I can't imagine how she's going to manage all four children at once in the holidays when they are at home, going to the park etc. But I guess that most childminders manage this number of children and it's OK?

Thanks everyone for reassuring me!

My childminder has a double buggy for the school run and then the older children walk along side. If she has another younger one, then one of the young ones is on reins (used to be my dd).

I completely agree with you about the big family thing. The reason I wanted my dd to go to a childminder was so that she would be in a home environment, and the school run is just part of that lovely family feel.

Thanks Littlefish. I've managed to speak to one of the Mum's of the other mindees and she's totally happy with her DD's care, so I'm feeling a lot better! In fact, secretly a bit excited about getting back to work!

The children are all fine about the school run. They get familiar with the confidence the older children show when they go into school. They see the younger children coming out of pre school, armed with paintings, etc and really excited about what they have done. They have books in the car and we have regular sing-a-longs. The older children read to the younger children and they read to themselves. It is a really positive atmosphere and a good learning experience for the little ones.

HI, just to clarify re the 'upstairs' bit..your cm needs to be reg to use certain room for use when working so wether upstairs or down if she sues a bedroom, she needs to be reg to use this

Thanks PinkChick, I'll check that out!