I am a CM who loves my job but would be very unsure about using a CM to care for my children

[happymindees]

I have been childminding for a few years and love it, the children I mind are well cared for and I am very attached to them.

However I do not think I would use a childminder if I returned to work (or for any other reason) for my pre-school age child although I would feel happier with considering this for my older DC.

My reasons are that I know I do my best for the DC in my care to keep them safe and happy but how could I be sure that someone else would do this. I know that my DH loves children is very good with them but what if there were people living in another childminder's house that were not? OR what if the CM allowed the children to come into contact with undesirable people?

I would almost certainly use a nursery.

I feel guilty for feeling like this as parent's trust me (rightly so) but I feel very wary of other CM's.

What do you think?

Are you going to find it difficult then in the future when your child is invited for playdates without you? My DD2 is being picked up from pre-school by another mother so that she can play with her daughter and i'll be picking her up this afternoon.
I've also picked up other mother's children to have a playdate for a couple of hours at my house.
These people are not CRB checked and they are by themselves mostly, but we as parents must make a balanced judgement on whether or not we allow our child to go.
Happymindees, it's up to you whether or not you use another childminder. Personally i would not either because a) I'm a childminder and my DD1 and DD2 are part of my ratio anyway and b)If i paid for a CM i would be giving away my profits! .
It's very hard trusting other people, but there comes a time, especially at Reception when your DC will want to go back home with a friend for tea or a sleepover when they are older.
Do what is right for you at this time, trust needs to build.

As a mere parent I can honestly say that I would never use a childminder.

Of all the cm's I have come across (and I have come across quite a few at school/preschool etc) I can honestly say that there is only one that I would trust with my ds.

I think the problem is that you don't really know what the cm is doing with your children. It's not about them coming into contact with undesirable people etc it's the unprofessional things they do. i.e. I knew of one cm who used to arrange with another child's mother to pick up her mindee from preschool (quite without this child's parents' consent), who used to drop her mindees off at preschool and leave her other mindees (1 year olds) in the car, out of site, around a corner, who lost one of her mindees because she was so busy chatting to friends that she wasn't actually watching them.

I know more people who are like this than aren't tbh and I think it's sad because I think there are some good childminders out there but I think they're in the minority.

I have an absolutely ab one for DS2, who is almost 3. She has him school hours for 3 days per week and is brilliant.
As an ex Nursery manager she is well up on all her procedures etc and she provides a stimulating environment, nutritious meals, homely atmosphere, love and cuddles and lots of great outings. My DS2 loves her and I trust her to look after him well.

I have met other CM's who I would be wary of, and I do know how lucky we are to our CM, she is very highly regarded in our area.

I hope to be one of the good CM's

Ripeberry - I have older children who do go on playdates, I know what your saying and as I mentioned I think I need to get to know more CMs and actually open my mind.

I was very worried when DS1 started going on playdates but I have accepted that I want this to be part of my DC's lives and have to just let them go (within reason).

OP I think you have made a valid point - I have seen CMs who ofsted consider great because they are great with paperwork but who I have seen talking to their charges like crap and sticking them in front of the tv all day with no interaction. I would horrified if my DCs had to endure that. Also I have some very good friends who are chilminders but who I wouldn't want to leave my kids with because of their lax attitude to car safety. Some of the loveliest people I know drive around with mindees in inappropriate car seats or ones that are se3cond hand or cheap argos non brabded ones. For some people thats fine - but for me - its got to be maxi cosi or britax - I research very carefully within those two brands and I also spend far too much time researching which cars are safe and which aren't! Thats just my own little foibles and thats why I only trust me to look after my children.

horses for courses at the end of the day isn't it.

excuse the typos - story of my life!

Yes, i understand that about the child seats. I did a lot of research with my DDs seats and our 9mth-3yr seat is a Brittax.
But i think for booster seats it's not that important for kids over 5yrs old (for them to be branded seats).
The equipment for some CMs does leave a lot to be desired as they have the same seats for years!