

Should Childminders inform parents about their sickness and when they return to Work?

(74 Posts)
jagcv4 Sat 18-May-13 20:12:43


I am in an unusual situation with my childminder. She called sick as she was suffering from serious illness, continuously for a few days and then she failed to inform as to when she would be returning to work. So we held our son back until she informed us that she is fit and can provide a risk free environment. Now the childminder is threatening to sue us with payments for all those days. Aren't childminders obligated to advice us about their sickness and when they are fit to take back children under their care? Please advice me with your opinions and any standard documentation will help.



cory Wed 07-Aug-13 21:02:48

I am seriously trying to work out how you would know when the CM was free from her diarrhoea except by her telling you so.

Even if she produced a doctor's note, that would be simply the doctor writing down what the woman had told him, non?

Or does the OP believe the GP would be following the CM around to check how often she went to the toilet and inspect her stools?

TheDoctrineOfAllan Sun 04-Aug-13 22:38:34

My CM is a goddess who very apologetically informed us that she needed to provide bigger snacks as the kids were so active.

Gluggy Wed 31-Jul-13 15:31:10

I find all this very interesting and the OP should be careful that they are not sued for libel. The details given could be linked as they have been very specific.

I have experience of being a CM involved in small claims court proceedings and rather than it being the greed of the CM it tends to be the greed of the parent. As the defendant in this claim I think the OP is very lucky to have got off with paying so little and is perturbed with the CM having the audacity to sue him in the first place. That will be why he is so furious at ALL CM's.

Rather than this child having been looked after by a poor CM I believe from what has been said that the child was looked after by poor parents instead. You OP are looking for a scapegoat and I am fully supportive of the CM's on here who have stood up to you and your insulting ways.

All CM's be aware that parents can turn on you......

Childcareisscary Fri 26-Jul-13 19:20:44

OP I'm sorry you went through this experience and your son lost weight. You know deep down in your heart that it's extremely unlikely that it was due to your childminder but she upset you and you are out to get her any way you can. I'm a childminder who's giving up and I adore my kids and their families. I will spend a decent amount of time ensuring they eat and if they regularly fail to eat I work with my parents to improve this. I think communication between yourself and mindee were not good to begin with, because if my mindees are 15min late I txt to check and the childminders I've used for my dc always let me know as soon as they were available.

I hope you can understand that this woman may have made an error and been greedy . No excuses there, but were you worried about malnutrition before or after the case. I'm not saying this to criticise you as a parent. My child is the most precious thing in my life, but is an unnecessary vendetta against her going to help anyone?

MGMidget Fri 26-Jul-13 12:22:31

Sorry to hear OP that you had this bad experience and your wife felt she had to give up work. The sickness thing is odd. In my view the childminder ought to have communicated with you when she was ready to take children back. Otherwise you would have had to turn up each day with your child or call each day to see if she would take them. No doubt you were organising alternative care so you and your wife could get to work so you need to be kept informed by your childminder.

Regarding the weight loss, the fact that your child has now gained weight in your wife's care indicates to me that the childminder in question was the wrong solution for your child regardless of whether there was deliberate withholding of food. I hope you find the confidence to try again with alternative childcare, whether its another childminder or a different solution. I think you've been unlucky. Now, at least, your radar is up and you will be especially choosy next time.

fivesacrowd Sun 21-Jul-13 22:22:40

And the reputation of every cm. Since we are all starving children to save money apparently shock

fivesacrowd Sun 21-Jul-13 22:20:20

Shame though that he's so determined to ruin her reputation.

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere Sun 21-Jul-13 15:31:19

<lucky escape for OP's CM>

ImNotBloody14 Sat 20-Jul-13 18:03:26

Exactly. Also, my dcs (and myself too actually) eat far less in summer months than winter, firstly because we are usually out of the house more and so dont eat out of boredom blush or to keep warm but also because its so warm we dont feel like eating.

fivesacrowd Sat 20-Jul-13 16:12:53

Ha! Imnotbloody14 that's what I was thinking too. My mindees spend all day out and about, playing and having fun, burning off lots of calories, in the same way that my own dc lose weight in the summer as they are more active than in term time. I'm not starving anyone, children's weight fluctuates and surely if the weightloss was so severe it warranted a trip to dr then GP would look for medical reasons and not put it down to all cm routinely starving children (unless of course the parents were quizzed about unexplained weight loss and decided to try to pass the buck). Glad your dc is ok OP but please stop spouting this rubbish on here cos quite frankly its getting boring now.

Forresitters Fri 19-Jul-13 22:02:37

It is unfortunate that you have had this experience but not all childminders are the same.
You should refrain from gossip within the neighbourhood or anywhere else as your ex CM could sue you for defamation of character if she has lost business as a result.
If she is as you describe her to be, it won't be long before the truth comes out.

ImNotBloody14 Fri 19-Jul-13 20:49:29

Just an idea- is it possible the CMer was very active with her mindees, out and about everyday, getting them loads of excercise and the weight gain since your wife took over care is because she perhaps isnt as active?

Borntobeamum Fri 19-Jul-13 20:40:11

Op - I'm highly offended by your remarks.
You now have no place to be here.
Therefore I suggest you disappear to the back end of still not far enough and never darken our doorstep again.

lovelynannytobe Fri 19-Jul-13 20:39:33

I suspect all this is about money. The CM gave notice and OP didn't want to send the child during the notice period and she didn't want to pay up. OP then invented some allegations. She is upset the childminder got rid of her (just looking through your posts I don't blame her) so she's stirring it all. Be very careful OP because you may end up back in court this time for slander.

Moxiegirl Fri 19-Jul-13 19:15:46

How the hell could a child be starved and lose weight when they only spend daytime with the cm.
Surely the child would have stuffed his face in the evening in that case? Breakfast?
I bet she was glad to be shot of you! grin

MaryPoppinsBag Fri 19-Jul-13 19:15:28

Glad to be of service wink

Delayingtactic Fri 19-Jul-13 19:05:15

Marypoppins your comment about the biscuit made me spit tea on myself!

OP seriously you need to unwind. No doubt you had a bad experience with this particular CM. but you do sound very much like you are tarring all CMs with the same brush.

My CMs are wonderful and annoyingly my DS eats more variety with them than with me. I can't imagine the person who'd be so cold hearted as to starve a child would otherwise look after them well enough so that they wouldn't display other signs (refusing to go to the CM being the first one to spring to mind, being ravenously hungry and tearful when picked up etc).

clam Fri 19-Jul-13 19:03:41

I am not a child-minder, nor have I ever used one, so I have no bias here.
I wonder if, despite being British, English is not your first language? The CM did not, as I see it, "learn a lesson the hard way." I imagine she's thanking the heavens above that she found a way to get rid of you.

And I repeat what others have said, a GP confirming a child has lost weight (although I'm not sure why you needed it confirmed when you could have just stood him on the scales) is not at all the same thing as them confirming that your CM has been withholding meals and falsifying reports. Maybe your ds had some sort of issue that means he ate normally, yet lost weight. Why automatically start hurling accusations at the CM?

jagcv4 Fri 19-Jul-13 18:54:54

My problems have been resolved and my child is safe

Thank you!

MaryPoppinsBag Fri 19-Jul-13 18:52:35

You are the one with the problem.

jagcv4 Fri 19-Jul-13 18:48:00


If you are having problems then you need not respond in this blog and get a life!

Some people learn the lessons the hard way

MaryPoppinsBag Fri 19-Jul-13 18:41:02

Oh do shut up OP.

I'd have given you notice too for being an absolute pain in the bum.

Is that what happened and you started inventing stuff to try to get your CM in trouble?

jagcv4 Fri 19-Jul-13 18:35:30

Well whatever is the case, the CM got her lesson, and trust me I will be following up with agencies. Those who sympathise with my CM are disgraceful putting children at risk. I advise parents to watch out and be careful.

moogy1a Fri 19-Jul-13 18:20:40

How long did she care for your dc for? Anything over 3 days with your attitude and I think she deserves a medal

moogy1a Fri 19-Jul-13 18:19:34

We certainly DO NOT have to inform parents of the nature of any illness. With D and V I would just say I will be off sick for at least 2 days , I'll keep you informed.
I'm fascinated as to which gynae problems might put my mindees in danger.
The CM saying thet are fit to work is the guarantee that they are fit to work.
Did you really expect a note from her doctor??

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