Childminder leaving my Daughter in the car

[Festivefly]

My sister has a problem, can anyone help!
Hello, i just need some advice on what to do about my childminder. My Husband has just phoned me to say that while he was in ToysRus, she was there with her children but had left our 18 month daughter in the car. Is this a big deal, i am worried that another car might hit her, or she could wake up, or even someone could steal her!!!!!! What do you think, am i being over the top, or should something be done? Thanks all

i would be furious too. She must've been well out of sight by the time she got into ToysRus and it is awqful as you say to think of the "what if's"
BTW how did she react to your husband? Was she at all embarrassed?

I would never ever leave my dd in the car and would also be furious too if this happened. However it would seem that some people don't see this as a problem. I saw a car left with a sleeping toddler in the B&Q carpark a few months back. When I returned to my car 30 mins later - she was still there - sleeping!

There was a thread similar to this not long ago here , which was about people's views on leaving your OWN child in the car, and I think the overall consensus was that it isn't considered acceptable, never mind leaving someone else's child in your car...

I would fire the childminder on the spot. Although I might leave my child in the car while in a petrol station forecourt (or similar), I absolutely would not expect my childminder to do so with my child. I certainly wouldn't even consider entering a store where I couldn't clearly see my car, while leaving my kids in the car. And if I caught any carer doing something as dangerous as that I would fire them immediately. A carer has a much higher responsibility to err on the side of caution when dealing with other people's children than a parent who should be able to make REASONABLE judgements about their own children.
Having said that, I do think that the scenario described by Stressyhead, with the children in the car in the drive with the childminder outside the house (and therefore in sight of the car) is totally silly. That offsted worker clearly did not have enough to do that day.

I agree that a childminder should not leave a child unattended in the car at any time, and I have reported someone for doing this persistently.

I waas told that if the parent gives consent, as is this case, they could do nothing about it. I protested saying leaving a child in a car with the windows open 1/4 out of sight in the park car park was not acceptable.

A technicality, you can not fore your childminder, you do not employ her. You can give her immediate notice to terminate the contract and you must do in writing, stating the reasons, and I would also advise Ofsted through the complaints procedure. I can get you details if you wish.

Sorry, that should have been 1/4 of a mile away, out of sight.

Change childminders - totally unacceptable. Even if she says it was a one off, how will you ever trust her again?

FF if I were your sister I would sort out some alternative childcare quickly. I think it is appalling