Child minding

[Foxglove]

I plan to employ a child minder to look after my twins when I return to work when they are 2 years old. He/she will be coming to look after them in my home on a 9-5 basis, Mon-Fri. How do I ensure that he/she gets the breaks that they are entitled to??????? They obviously can't go off on their own for an hour at lunch because they'll be in charge of the little ones all day? Is this a stupid question? If you have a child minder who comes to your home then how do you manage it?

[january_bug]

I don't have kids, so I apologise if this is a stupid thing to say.  I understand that when your twins are asleep, YOU (and other half?) have lots and lots to do.  But surely with a childminder, they can have a 30 minute sit down or something if the twins take a nap.  (i.e., I do get it that there are jobs to do when babies sleep, but the childminder doesn't necessarily have to do them!)

There can't be a guaranteed break, but people have used childminders for years, so perhaps it's just accepted that the kids might be a handful one day, but very sleepy the next, and so it all balances out. 

Sorry if this was unhelpful.  You might get more joy if this gets moved to "parenting".  You can email ABE and ask them to move it! :-)

[Hermia]

I agree with january_bug that it probably all balances out in the end. A friend of mine looks after two kids and some days they are trouble all day and she barely gets time to have a cup of tea. Other days they sleep a lot and she just reads or watches DVDs (the parents are fine about that).

[stoo_pid]

Good question.  Like january_bug & Hermia say the children will be sleeping at some point, but surely the childminder is still 'on duty' then?  I don't know the answer I'm afraid but the National Childminding Association should be able to tell you the common practice.  Their number is 0800 169 4486 or you could email them at [email protected]

[Kirki]

I used to have a childminder who ate at the same time as my child, as your children are two years old, im assuming they do not need help feeding. A childminder should understand that they are not permitted to go off for an hour for lunch so you need not worry. hope these answers have put your mind at rest!

[princess21]

hiya its not a stupid question, i am a nanny of 21years of age, i have nannied in london, france and greece, and although as you are working alone with the children you dont have a shceduled break or lunch, although when the children were sleeping i had a lunch then did the childrens ironing, and the childminder can always a drink whilst the children have snack time or chill out time whilst ther doing a puzzle, looking at story books etc. as a nanny you find your so busy doing activities with the children you dont really need a break.