Baby Equipment

[Lisa78]

DS2 is going to a childminder when my maternity leave ends in June. I am lucky enuf to have one next door who I am happy to leave him with as she does all sorts with the children - nature walks etc and she is holding a place for him as she can only have one baby at a time
She has asked us to start paying her half rate, for the three months before he starts since she is holding the place, and I think this is reasonable (is this normal practice?)
What I am perturbed about is she seems to think we will bring all his stuff round everyday. Obviously I am happy to let her have his car seat each morning and I have said she can have a key to the house so she can use his pram if needs be, but she seems to think I will bring his bouncing chair and high chair round every morning and bring it back every evening
Frankly I can't be a*d doing that - it's enuf to have to get myself up and out to work without carting half his stuff next door. Is this normal practice? I would have thought childminders had a highchair or two

I wouldnt think this was normal practice at all! what if you didnt live next door, would she expect you to cart equipment in the car and back??

That is crazy

If she is used to having a baby then I would expect her to already have some basic equipment. I wouldn't necessarily expect her to have specific baby items such as a moses basket, but somewhere suitable for him to nap, to be fed and a buggy perhaps for outings and to do school/playgroup run for older ones. She should be able to pick up basic items such as a clip-on type chair quite easily second hand, but at her expense. Does she have toys for his age group or are you expected to supply those too ?

If she doesn't already have them I would question whether she is really experienced in caring for babies as part of the group? My SIL used to be a childminder but I believe only requested a retainer during holidays after the child had started. Is there high demand in your area which might make this acceptable ? She had also acquired a large selection if equipment and toys either from donations of friends or secondhand.

There are a couple of childminders on here who should be able to give better advice.