• Why choose Childminding
• How to find a Childminder
• What to look for when you visit the Childminders
• What Questions to Ask
• How to maintain a good relationship with your Childminder

Why choose Childminding

Although the title 'Childminder' is used to describe live-in or live-out nannies as well, we will apply it to a person, usually a mother, who takes other children into her home during the day. This type of family day care provision is the most frequently used by working parents. Childminding is valued as an appropriate setting for children with special needs and for children of parents under stress.

The perception among many parents is that if children cannot be in their own home all day, then another home, with the atmosphere and flexibility of home life, is a good alternative. When the Childminder has a flair for the job - i.e. if she is genuinely fond of babies and children and has the temperament and patience to do the job well, that perception is valid.

If the child is minded locally then they have the advantage of growing up in his/her neighbourhood. When play-school or big-school time comes, there will be friends and old playmates and neighbours among the sea of strange faces.

A Childminder offers a one-to-one relationship, which is ideal for a baby in the first year of life and which is not always possible in day nurseries.

Children Benefit from:

• a Childminders family replicates/mirrors a family with a range of ages, promoting empathy rather than competition
• the continuity of care from one person, often for years (most Childminders mind for >5 years)
• the child can be taken out and about - children experience the world in a real way with opportunities for regular outings.
• siblings minded together have opportunities to interact all day

Parents Benefit

• Flexibility
• Consistency
• Communications
• Cost

How to find a Childminder

Childminding Ireland offer a vacancy matching service, free of charge to parents and Childminders. For more information please call our helpline on  01 2878466.

Alternatively, you can contact your County Childcare Committee for a list of Childminders in your area. Your local HSE will also have a list of notified Childminders.

Another common way to find a good childminder is by word-of-mouth. Are any of your neighbours or friends working parents who could recommend one? Is there a local pre-school playgroup or mother and toddler group where you could meet other young parents and ask? You may also choose to advertise or to look for Childminders advertising their services in the local papers, or on notice boards in the local community, such as in the banks, post office, supermarket, health clinic or community centre.

What to look for when you visit the Childminders

The next step is to arrange to visit the minder in their own home. Try and do this during the day, when the Childminder has their own children and other minded children around. The environment in which your child is minded will influence him/her and parents should be able to imagine themselves as children spending each day with this person, in this house. Don't rush through the visit to the prospective childminder's home. If they are the right person to care for your child, they will fully understand your need to take your time.

If the Childminder does not make you feel welcome and relaxed, you have no reason to think that your child will feel any different. It is his/her responsibility and also a measure of his/her professionalism to make the interview a pleasant and informative experience for you. He/she can do this by being forthcoming with an offer to go around the house and see the area available to the children.

Be observant. What sort of person is this childminder? Can he/she make conversation easily? How does he/she interact with the children? Does he/she handle the situation of needing a bit of peace to talk to you well? You must allow that children 'act up' when visitors appear - can he/she cope calmly? Do his/her own children appear secure? Can you imagine him/her reading a story with a bit of animation, or cuddling a teething baby? Is he/she a good listener? Does he/she avoid eye contact?

Ask to look around the house. Untidiness is perfectly acceptable to children because it is a by-product of their play activity. Danger, dirt or chaos is a different matter. Are there toys, books, musical instruments? Is the house obviously geared for children, with guards on fires, potties and a child-step for using the toilet and a gate at the stairs? Is there a quiet room for children to sleep during the day, with clean bedclothes? Is the garden secure, with a sand pit, swings or slides, or climbing frames? Is there a pot-guard on the cooker and a fire blanket or extinguisher in the kitchen? Do you notice any over-loaded sockets or trailing flexes?

What Questions to Ask

If you are at ease with the potential Childminder and are satisfied with the house, you must ask some questions. They will expect this, and should not appear to be defensive.

Here are some questions which a good Childminder would expect:

1. What experience have you had as a parent and Childminder?
2. Can I have a reference from parents of other minded children and from your family doctor?
3. Are you insured for Childminding?
4. Have you attended any courses in child development and First Aid?
5. How many under-sixes are there in the house, including your own children?
6. Does your car insurance cover minded children?
7. What are your rates?
8. Are you flexible about collecting time?
9. What is included in your charge - e.g. meals, making up bottles, some laundry?
10. Are you a member of Childminding Ireland?
11. Are you and other adults in your home Garda Vetted?
12. Will you drop and collect older children to and from play-school or big-school?

You must follow any references up.

Garda Vetting is available, free of charge, to all Childminders and adults in their home. For Childminders minding 4 or more children it is a legal requirement, for others it is voluntary. You are entitled to ask if the Childminder is vetted and to request that he/she gets Garda Vetting before minding your child. For information on being Garda Vetted contcat the Barnardoes Vetting Service on 021 4547060.

Ordinary household insurance does not include minded children. Cover for minding children is available and he/she should have a certificate of cover.

If he/she has a professional approach to the job, or as a parent is interested in child development or child psychology, he/she may have attended some relevant course.

However, if you notice a shelf of books on child care and development and the house contains some obviously well cared for children, with plenty of toys, play materials, books, dressing-up clothes and baby equipment - don't press too hard for qualifications. Practical experience and the right temperament are the most important requisites for undertaking child care. You could ask what she would do if a baby swallowed a penny, or started to choke, or developed a high temperature.

Is the minder is 'mobile' - i.e. able to take the children to the shops, or for a walk, as this is one of the great advantages of family care. Children learn about the world by being taken to the shops, the bank, the library, the hair-dressers, the post office. Like adults, they need variety in every day-life.

How to maintain a good relationship with your Childminder

Close communication between the parents and the Childminder is essential. Because children invariably 'act up' e.g., show off, or throw a tantrum, when parent arrives at collection time, and because the Childminder has come to the end of her day's work, and has other commitments to attend to - this is not the time to have a discussion about potty training, or changing collection times etc. It also embarrasses or annoys the child to witness or over hear-this discussion. The best policy is to agree to a fortnightly telephone call, evening time or week-end, in advance. This puts the structure in place for calm, reflective discussion of any problems that may arise with the child's behaviour, or dissatisfaction with each others' performance among the adults. An expected phone call has no inherent threatening or accusing overtones. Finding the reason for unacceptable behaviour, and ironing out difficulties or differences between the adults is the objective - and not trying to attach blame.

See also our Frequently Asked Questions section under the "Childminding" tab where you will find information on regulation, pay etc.