Childminder

shellsuit

thatgirlsam wrote: »

I think people are being a bit tough on the childminder here - I would have thought she will know her capabilites and what she will be able to manage after 4 weeks (provided pregnancy and birth are straightforward)

Plenty of women return to work after 6 weeks and seem to manage just fine

I think it is jolly good of her to broach the subject with you, seeing as she is not even pregnant yet!

Shows a concientious and professional approach to her job and if I were you I would not want to lose her, she is considering your childrens needs even though she doesn't really have to - She could just tell you she is pregnant and having XXX weeks off work as that is her right

They don't take their baby along with them to work though do they?

thatgirlsam

shellsuit wrote: »

They don't take their baby along with them to work though do they?

No, they don't - But don't forget childminders are well used to working from home with their own children there

They are, or should be, professionals and personally I wouldn't see it as an issue

Afterall, she could take on someone elses 6 week old baby to look after?

Kathy535

I can understand the concerns re 4 weeks not being enough - but many mothers manage perfectly fine with large families without the benefit of having 4 weeks off from their own children, including taking older children to school, playgroups etc. I guess it depends on the person and how her previous pregnancies / births have gone - was she childminding when she had her last child and if so, how long did she have off with that baby? It's a difficult dilemma for you, I hope you come up with a solution that suits.

meritaten

er - is she planning on working right up til the day she has the baby? is there a contingency plan for if she goes into labour while childminding? what if she has a miscarraige? What if she has a difficult pregnancy? will you be suddenly left in the lurch? I hate to sound like Mrs Doom and Gloom - but, its as well to be prepared for things to go wrong.
In your position I would be telling her that the day she announces her pregnancy I would be looking for a new childminder! I may be old-fashioned but I honestly wouldnt want to leave my children in her sole care (would be different if it was a nursery worker with other staff around) in case things went wrong.,
She cannot be THAT strapped for cash if she is thinking of having another baby! dont worry about HER finances - just think about the well being of your own two!

dibuzz

It all depends on the person, I know people who have practically stayed in bed for a month after having a baby with everyone fetching and carrying for them and others who are back to "normal" straight away.
My youngest was born at 5.30pm on a Tuesday, I had to stay in overnight as I'd lost a lot of blood so didn't get home until Wednesday afternoon and was doing the school run on the Thursday morning which meant getting new baby, almost 2 year old, 5 yr old and 7yr old up and out to school on time. It was hard and I only did it because ex wouldn't help and I wasn't allowed to leave any of them in bed in case they woke up and he had to see to them.
If it were me I think I'd be looking around for someone else just in case but if she's only thinking about it, by the time her baby arrives your circumstances may have changed.

meritaten

dibuzz - thats the point I was trying to make - she sounds like a good person trying to do the right thing.
BUT - pregnancies dont always go to plan - some people sail through them and others dont. and it can vary from one pregnancy to another. Then there are all the things that can go wrong! I may be a worrywart - but what if the childminder had a pregnancy where she was throwing up all the time? ok if you are on your own - but if you are childminding preschool children - thats not ideal is it?
I would wish the childminder very good luck and a happy and safe pregnancy and delivery - then find another one with no immediate plans for more children!
Perhaps this is harsh of me - but, I wouldnt be able to rest easy in my mind leaving my kids with a pregnant childminder.

DaisyFlower

Personally, i'd move childcare now whilst you have the chance.

Do you really want your child taken to scans, the doctors, midwifes etc and then have to take your annual leave when she has the baby (and that assumes she has no time of sick and other holiday).

Theres also the impact of a four week old on the situation, the baby will need a lot of time and attention so others will miss out.

DevilsAdvocate1

I was a registered childminder when I had my third baby. I worked up until 6 days before he was due (he was due in the Easter holidays and I worked until they broke up from school the Friday before).

One of the parents found out she was pregnant as well and our babies are just 1 day apart in age! We were egging each other along to see who would give up work first! I that time I had 2 children before school, 4 after school, 2 aged 1 plus my own children who were 7 and 4. As you can see, I was pretty full. I also had 3 children that I looked after on an ad hoc basis around the regular children (to fit in with my allowed numbers).

So I think a number of people are being a bit harsh. This childminder is being very open and honest to let you know before she even trys for another baby. She might not fall pregnant or it could take a long time. It took my 2 years with my youngest.

Maybe you'll be lucky and there will be a school holiday in that 4 weeks. Its quite likely as round here they seem to have a weeks holiday at least every 6 weeks or so.

marywooyeah

hmm its a toughie - I think overall you just won't know until she actually is pregnant and see what kind she has, hopefully she'll be able to cope but I remember being shattered and finding it really hard to wake up in the mornings, there's no way I could have got up and done a school run and looked after kids all day! maybe she will cope with it as she's used to looking after kids.

Bitsy_Beans

I think people are being incredibly harsh on the poor woman.
You'd really get different childcare on the basis that shes pregnant?? Why? Is that any different to having a childminder with asthma or some other condition......any sort of accident could happen to anyone whist caring for children.....why would pregnancy suddenly be so threatening.
As for newborns needing a lot of attention. How does anyone with more than one child manage? Do we stop caring for our first borne when the second came on the scene? No we carry one and if the CM is any good she will be used to giving the attention required to each individual child. I actually think newborns are far less demanding than older babies. Happy to sleep, eat and be cuddles. I managed to do all that and still play with my son and give him the attention he needed.

I think there are a lot of assumptions being made, some pretty unfair really.