What do you supply??

[EmmaReed84]

When I first started minding I was quite lucky in that I had a couple of car seats and a highchair and pushchair, also my first client had a double pushchair and left it with me for the week and took it at weekends.

The highchair I had, I no longer needed, plus it had seen better days, so gave it away (thinking I was stopping minding). The car seats are all now transformed in to booster seats, which are all used (plus again I threw away the harness thinking I would no longer need it)

I have a potential new client coming round on Friday and after much debating with DH I am stuck on what to do. MIL is a childminder and is telling DH that parents should provide everything, but I would rather have my own stuff, just in case parents forget to bring things, or I break it! (She does have her own highchair, but she means pushchair and car seat)

Plus, not all parents have spare car seats and I don't fancy having to get them in and out all the time!

I want to get a pushchair, car seat and highchair, altogether it will cost me £150, if this new parent starts her deposit will more than cover it!

What do you think is best to do, what do you supply and what do you expect your parents to supply?

[Sweetpea]

I would only be happy using my own car seats.

I would be paranoid about anyone else's as I wouldn't know their history.

I wouldn't really expect a parent to supply their own Highchair. I would prefer to get the one that I know would suit the child in my own home which may be different from their own.

Sweetpea x

[lizduncan72]

I've always provided all equipment since I started-current baby's parents leave car seat since dad drops off and mum collects but I still prefer to use my own

[Koala]

I provide everything.
I know where it's been, I know i've got it and I know it's clean, that in itself is worth every penny.

[AgentTink]

I supply all equipment so that is fits me needs. It would be a logisical nightmare if i had everyone's single pram's, different size car seats and huge highchairs. The only thing i would ask to be supplied is a child who is in a new born backwards facing car seat, as i dont have one of those and as they are so dependant on size of child, i would rather not spend the money on one of these. Most of these types are designed to be easily put in and out of cars, so wouldnt be too much bother.

[WibbleWobble]

i supply everything...

wibble x

[AliceK]

I supply everything. I would be a bit put out if I went to use a childminder and she / he asked me to supply anything like that tbh. Surely it's our tools of the job and we should be supplying them?

xxxx

[charlottenash]

Everything here.

[kellib]

I supply everything too

[migimoo]

Me too....2 of my parents have to leave their pushchairs here each day and that's bad enough!

[greanan]

I supply everything aswell. I'm not sure a highchair would even fit in mist people's cars?

[bunyip]

I recently had a very tricky situation where the client of one of my CM group members asked me to take on her child cos her CM was demanding she buy her a new pushchair or accept immediate notice and pay the month's fee. I was amazed at this, as I'd taken it as read that we are businesses and therefore provide our own equipment, but the CM seemed to consider it quite a natural thing to demand. Rather than take the lo on, I referred mum to the FIS list of providers. It would've caused untold aggro with the local CM mafia had I signed her up. But that was never going to happen, mainly because the lo and my granddaughter go to toddler group together and just do not get on.

One of my clients insisted on me using a pushchair she supplied for her lo, cos seemed concerned that the child needed to use one she was familiar with. She ended up giving it to me, which was nice, but I wouldn't have asked her to do so.

I do ask parents to provide their own nappies/pull-ups, because they all want particular brands and I don't have room to bulk store lots of nappy brands. Similarly with baby wipes, they either use whatever I have or supply a particular brand if so inclined.

[loocyloo]

I supply everything except nappies and formula!

I like to know that the equipment is safe and clean, and fits in my car!

even if babe comes in their own car seat, I transfer them to mine to go in my car!

[blue bear]

I have all my own stiff, lots of parents offer though and seem to think this is how things should be.personally I prefer my own things.

[Stapleton83]

I would agree all the kit like car seats, highchair, travel cot etc are mine that way I know I have it in place for the next child and that they fit with my needs. I ask them to supply nappies and formula.

Sam x

[oxfordshirecm]

I supply everything too... These things are worth investing it and normally a one of cost

[Mrsh3103]

I supply everything too.

[butterfly]

I supply absolutely everything!

[marnieb]

Yes I supply everything too, I don't have time at drop offs & pick ups to be mucking about with equipment!!!!!! Nappies & formula if under 1 are the only things my parents need to bring, I have even just bought a new single buggy for the summer holidays for mindees

[lozzy23]

I supply everything as well.