Advice wanted on finding a good childminder

[happynewmummy]

Hi everyone,

I am returning to work in September and am starting to look for a CM to look after my DS, who will be nearly 10 month when I go back to work. I have looked at the local authority site and been a bit bamboozled with the long list of CM's in my area. Where do I start? I know you should go from recommendation but we have no contact with anyone using a CM at present. Do you 'interview'? What questions would I need to ask? Would I offend a CM if we decided not to go with her/him? As I am a teacher could anyone advise me on what happens re. pay for CM during hols?

One of my staff has recommended her sister who has just started CM. Not sure about this as she has just started CM (I know this doesn't neccessarily follow - I realise everybody needs to start somewhere! - but worry about it being with my DS!)and also worry about relationship with member of staff if things don't work out/if I have 'issues' with CM, with it being her sister. I'm probably over complicating things?!

I am so sorry this is a rambling post with lots of muddled up questions. Obviously it is an important decision and I want to make sure I get it right and find a good CM. Basically any advice on finding a childminder would be great
Thankyou

You really need to go and see a few. Think in advance about the things that make your ds happy (and make you feel sure he is safe), and that are important to you. E.g.

stairgates,
no television,
how many shcool runs,
policy on holiday pay,
is food included in the price
what sort of food does she provide
what groups do they attend
where do the babies/children sleep
What is the outside space like
What happens about car seats (if she uses a car)

Dd's second childminder had only just qualified (we were her first clients). She has always been absolutely wonderful.

However, she just didn't "click with the first child minder she went to. After 3 months, we all sat down and agreed it wasn't working. No animosity or nastiness at all. We just agreed to finish a month later and we found another childminder (the wonderful one).

Good luck. FWIW - I think that childminders are fanstasic, and definitely the way to go with young children!

We met our brilliant CM at a 'Meet a Childminder' event at the library run by the local childminding network. Worth checking with your local Childrens Information Service to see if there's something similar near you as it's a great way to meet a few at once and get a feel for what's out there. I also think it's a good sign that they're professional and conscientious if a CM is part of such a network and is willing to give up their time for an event like that so it's a way of whittling down that long list for a start. Also it makes a big difference if they're close by so that's another way to whittle. Hope it goes well.

Should add that I followed up by visiting her home after the event to make sure I was happy with it - as Littlefish says above. But apart from all the concrete details around safety etc., the most important thing is that indefinable click you have with someone that means you trust them with your dc.

Pinkdelight, that sounds like a great event. Have never heard of that before!

It's a shame if they aren't a standard thing everywhere. I remember seeing the poster for it in the baby clinic at our health centre and being so relieved that I could go along to that instead of finding my own way through the system.

Before you go anywhere sit down with DH/DP and decide whats important to you - and that you agree on what things are deal breakers and which aren't.

This would be my personal list and you should obviously do one of your own based on your own principles/beliefs/views

I would expect a period of "quiet time" factored into the day - preferably after lunch to allow digestion and to just recharge batteries - too many CMs I think feel they have to be "on the go" 10 hours a day - I want my children to have time for quiet and peace. If thats 20 mins of tv fine - although any longer I'd be dubious...

Car seats - I am really scared of car safety and I would be wanting a CM who only used parents own seats for their own child - I wouldn't like to think my child was stuffed in the nearest seat regardless of whether it was the right one for them

The car they drive and where my child would be sitting in it. For the same reason as above I wouldn't for example want my child in the very back seat of a zafira....not safe IMO and that would be a deal breaker

Pets - I'd prefer someone who had pets - I like the idea and I think its healthy for my children to grow up knowing animals and how to treat them

Someone with a similar outlook on life to me - who likes to talk - as I think its great to be able to have good ol chin wags with your CM to see how your kids are doing etc

Her knowledge of safety and of the early years curriculum

There are lots of CMs who used to be teachers - in your position someone like that would be ideal as they will understand your need for reliability etc

I'm a qualifications snob myself so I would be looking at whether they had early years quals or anything to do with child psychology etc

oh forgot to say - expect to pay a retainer during the school holidays - usually half fee. Not many childminders unless they have lots of mindees in the holls will be happy to lose out on fees entirely in the holls

HTH

Some 'Questions to ask Childminders'

How long have you been working with children?

What training have you had? Any qualifications? Are you part of a network, achieved a quality assurance qualification, look at registration certificate, insurance details, business use for car. First aid must be no more than 3 years old, food hygiene certificate, Certificate in Childminding practice or NVQ 3, Contracts and record forms

Do you enjoy being with children and why?

Can I look around, see the rooms and outside play space? If there is no outside play space - how will you make sure my child gets the chance to play outside?

Where will my child rest?

What kind of food and drink will you give? Can I see a menu?

What will my child do all day?

How do you encourage good behaviour?

Will my child be with a regular group of children? How old are they? How will their timetable fit in with my child?

How will you make sure I know how my child is getting on?

What hours is she open?

How much does she charge?

What about when my child is sick, holidays, days off

What do you do in an emergency?

When was her last Ofsted, can you see the report?

Top 10 Quality Pointers

When you visit possible childcare options, look for these Quality Pointers:

Are the children calm, safe, happy and busy?

Do children play and talk together?

Is the childminder listening to the children and answering them carefully?

Is the childminder friendly and proud of her work?

Is she joining in joining in with what the children are doing?

Are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn and play? Can children plan some of these activities themselves?

Are there plenty of clean toys and equipment for children to use?

Is the premises clean, well kept and safe for children with a fun outside play area (or will the child go to parks and other places regularly)?

Do parents have plenty of chances to say what they want for their children?

If there are other things you want to know, don't be afraid to ask. Good childminders expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them.

Always take up references. You could ask for names of other parents to talk to about the service

Listen to your child and find out more if he/she is unhappy
Always trust your own feelings about your childcare - you know your child best'

Copyright Alibubbles

nomoreamover - i am the exact opposite to you wrt car seats - I wouldn't use a parents seat in my car unless I knew it fitted properly - my car seats are all bought specifically for my car & I know they fit

I have baby seats, 5 point harness toddler seats, high backed booster seats and booster cushions - all labelled with the age/weight of child they are suitable for.

and if the childminder and or her / his home does not feel right, then don't go there.

i chose someone for my son who felt OK. I cancelled after a week.

then i chose someone I liked straightaway and she was FAB!!!!!

her house was a little untidy, comfortable, and lived in. not a show house but not a tip. her DS played up a bit and she was ever so calm and decent about it.

That's a great list Katymac.

Like you, my childminder has carseats which fit her car. She has several of each sort so that she can have the right combination of seats on different days for the different children she minds.

Agree that you should take up references too.

My childminder is an ex-teacher. We used to pay during the holidays as well (although we rarely sent dd as I am a teacher too). It was useful to be able to send her for the odd day when I wanted to get into school during the holidays though.

Now, our childminder is winding down her work during the holidays, so we don't send dd, and we don't pay either. It works well for us all.

katymac - I was talking as a potential parent not as a childminder! As a childminder I only use my own car seats because I am so anal about which ones I consider good enough quality...hence why i was saying to the OP as a parent I would want to use my own carseats. I was trying to think what i would want as a parent not as a childminder. I agree with you abotu fitting - some can be a total bugger to switch from car to car.

just my funny little ways I suppose!