Do I really need a doctor's letter?

[Wispabarsareback]

Genuinely seeking views here about what's reasonable and necessary. DD2 (18 months old) has a mild chest infection, for which she has been prescribed antibiotics. She's had several days of feeling unwell, but seems much better today - no temperature, coughing much less, generally perkier. She hasn't been at her CM while she's been unwell - I kept her at home today just to be sure she was really fine, but was thinking I'd plan for her to go to CM as usual tomorrow.

I just had a call from CM telling me that I couldn't bring DD back without a letter from a doctor confirming she was fine 'to participate in normal acivities'. I wouldn't send her back to the CM unless she was better, and I can't see me getting a GP's letter by tomorrow, or even the day after. (When I've sought similar things before, it's taken a day or two for the letter to be available, once an appointment has been made for her to be seen etc.) I wouldn't be expecting the CM to give antibiotics.

Is it really necessary and reasonable for CM to insist on this? It seems like unnecessary bureaucracy to me - why is a doctor's word more valid than mine as DD's main carer?

Interested in your views. Am panicking about how to manage this week's work commitments...

I'm interested in why parents would lie to a CM about their child's health - who could this possibly benefit?

It feels to me like we don't have a relationship of trust - although this is on CM's side, not mine. If I didn't trust her, I wouldn't leave DDs with her. But she is very odd with me.

Ah well, I guess this is a mystery that will never be solved. It still makes me sad, though.

You'd be surprised... (some, not the norm for me thankfully) parents are economical with the truth at times re if their child's nappy isn't good/they've been sick during the night etc... they have to get off work if their child is sick, and complain about how difficult it is etc. But CMs aren't nurses. And there are the other kids to think of. Unfortunately there are some irresponsible people out there!

It IS sad that the relationship with your CM has deteriorated. She is just being silly if it's due to her going to nursery... that's part of the job - kids grow up and move on. But that doesn't mean to say they don't keep in touch

I'm lucky none of my current parents are like that but yes, you'd be surprised! I've had one who lied (I found out later from their au pair that they'd already been ill at home) and we all ended up with the bug which costed me money for having to close. Unfortunately this IS very common I've also had one tell me they'd been to the Drs and then I found out they hadn't.

fab news dd1 getting a place in after school club

just a shame things ended like this with your cm

This assumes you can get an appointment with the GP - and should you even be seeing your GP if your child is fine/nearly fine? I wouldn't dream of seeing my doctor unless I really thought I needed to - for me or my child and I would tell any CM, school or nursery who wanted a medical certificate so. I'd simply tell them you're not doing it and she can't insist. If she does, she doesn't get paid. She has to stick to the contract as much as you do.

I do find it weird that parents complain about their children getting ill at the CMs! We all get ill from all sorts of sources - cafes, trains, school etc. If you let someone look after your child in a communal setting you have to accept this will happen, annoying though it is. As a CM I'd tend to tell them to get a life (don't really have the diplomacy skills to be a CM as you see )

PS I think OFSTED make childminders more concerned about paperwork as it's all they seem to care about when they inspect.

'PS I think OFSTED make childminders more concerned about paperwork as it's all they seem to care about when they inspect.'

hellywobs I beg to differ in a big way!!! Yes she pored over my paperwork, yes she asked me loads of questions (as I was minding the kids!), but she chatted with the kids, asked them about their fire drill (thankfully they remembered!), even read them a story as they showed her their favourite story and I was making their tea. I was highly impressed with my inspector I have to say. The kids warmed to her immediately. She was involved but didn't interfere in the few hours she was with me.