lost shoes

[miss muffit]

Hi and Hello to every one.
A question for you .... I have a little boy that i mind who is 18 months and a lovely little chappy thing is he keeps taking his shoes off, he lost one yesterday in the shop luckily someone kindly handed it in. What i would like to know ... who would have to pay for a replacement if he really lost it???? would it be me or the mother???

[ajs]

tricky
i think i would offer but expect her to say no

we were in doncaster before xmas and my mindee took both her shoes off we picked one up and put it in the bag but couldn't find the other we walked back to every shop and searched for ages we even looked under rails and gave our number to all the shops in case the cleaners found it in the night eventually we gave up and went back to the car luckily it was next to the car where we had got out.
i was worried about whether i should offer to pay too

[Spangles]

I don't know the answer but I wouldn't have thought it would be you. That wouldn't be very fair as presumably the parents know he has a habit of doing this - just as most do at that age!

Could you mention it to the mum in a jokey way that he nearly lost the shoe and see what she says! Maybe say something like, 'luckily someone picked it up! He must be costing YOU a fortune in shoes!' Ha ha!

[flora]

I would offer to pay for them but hope that they said no!!
If he is in a puschair does he have to have his shoes on?? You could buy slipper socks or something similar to keep them warm ( they'd be cheaper to replace than shoes) My little girl does this too and if it gets really bad i just take them off and bung then under the pram for fear of losing them.......
Dd was out today in Lincoln and I was merrily shopping away, when we got to the shoe shop [U]just[U] to check her feet, I pulled back the blanket and only one shoe!!!!! I have no idea where it is and fortunately her feet had grown and she had to have new ones any way.

[Blaze]

Legally it is us!...Not fair & in reality I don't think parents would expect us to pay...but stil...!
Tasha

[Lou]

I used to have a mindee who did this, she tok off a £30 pair of clarks boots once and threw them out of buggy, i had to send my son who at the time was 8 out to look for them as i didnt notice until i got home and then had various mindees being picked up etc.

Luckily he found them.

I agree i would offer, bt i would be surprised if any of my parents expected me to pay!!!!

I think i would take them off to spare the problem!!!!

[Pipsqueak]

Foot muffs that enclose their feet, that is the answer!!!! My youngest age 3 still has a habit of removing and slinging his shoes - whether he is walking, in the buggy or being hung upside down by an ankle (when I have found he has lost one shoe - joking )


I personally wouldn't offer to pay - if it was my fault, say we were at toddler or a soft play and I had the shoes and put them for safe keeping and I lost them, then yes I would offer, or if one of my kids or dogs done something to them but not if the child was kicking them! Meanie aren't I!

A who I mind is constantly loosing her hair grips/bobbles, bangles etc - blimey that alone would cost me a fortune.

Hmm might write this into my policies "lost shoe policy"

[Monkey1]

I had this problem before. One little girl lost them on the way back from school. I phoned NCMA and they said i was liable for the first £25. was ready to fork out but luckily one of the other mindees spotted it on the way back to school in the afternoon...it was a bit soggy...but at least i didn't have to fork out!

[charleyfarley]

I think I would feel obliged to offer to pay for lost shoes and hope parents didn't accept the offer.

If they are in the habit of taking shoes off then I would take them off and keep them safe.

As someone said use slipper socks or cosy toes so they can't get to their feet

My little mindee is forever throwing hats and gloves off, I've lost count the amount I've lost, luckily I always use my own for him.

I've started tucking his hands in now so he can't pull them off.

Carol xx

[Sarsar3NCH]

The exact same thing happened to me as it did to Lou, my 8 yr old went out looking for ages but didn't find it.

I offered to pay for a new pair and mum said 'yes you should, I would expectyou to be watching more carefully!'

So off I went next day and bought new pair, mum later offered to pay half though after another of my mindees parents who she works with had a go at her!

Anyway that weekend my husband found missing shoe on a railing, dirty and wet but it cleaned up and I told mum on the monday that I would take new pair back (they had only been worn once indoors) so I got my money back. But I told mum I will not let lo wear shoes in buggy again and I have never got over her comments either.


Sarah

[sarah707]

I have never got over her comments either.
Sarah

No I don't think I would forget being treated like that in a hurry either! Some people!

[miffy]

The exact same thing happened to me as it did to Lou, my 8 yr old went out looking for ages but didn't find it.

I offered to pay for a new pair and mum said 'yes you should, I would expectyou to be watching more carefully!'

So off I went next day and bought new pair, mum later offered to pay half though after another of my mindees parents who she works with had a go at her!

Anyway that weekend my husband found missing shoe on a railing, dirty and wet but it cleaned up and I told mum on the monday that I would take new pair back (they had only been worn once indoors) so I got my money back. But I told mum I will not let lo wear shoes in buggy again and I have never got over her comments either.


Sarah

I don't think there was any need for the parent to speak to you like that - I would have been upset too

If a child did this regularly I'd use a footmuff like Vik said or take their shoes off (if it was warm enough)

You might have more than one child who did this so imagine what the bill could be if you had to pay!

Miffy xx

[miss muffit]

Thank you for all your comments.

We childminders have to put up with a lot from some parents. Sarsar3NCHI comment she "offered to pay for a new pair and mum said 'yes you should, I would expect you to be watching more carefully!' " how dare she say you should have been watching him more carefully!!!!

I am in future going to take his shoes off him ….if I remember!!..NO... i will remember....its opened my eye also to monkey1's comment that ncma expect us to pay first £25.00 ....blimmy!!
and Tasha's comment that "Legally it is us!" ...what!!

well girls....
Thank you for your help and all have a nice weekend

[Pauline]

I think I'd do like someone suggested Miss Muffit and take off the shoes and use either slipper socks or two pairs of thick socks while out in the buggy.

However, you should be covered on your childminding insurance for things like this (loss or damage to a child or parents property) but I'm not sure on excess charges - were NCMA saying that the £25 was an excess charge Monkey? as far as I know Morton Michel don't have an excess charge but I will find out and let you know.

[Pauline]

btw will move this to Childminding Chat as you will get more reponse there, as this area is for questions on using the forum.

[Rubybubbles]

Never had it happen, but know of another childminder who lost one and the parent was NOT happy at all, she bought new ones for the lo




But then 3-4 weeks later she came in a new pair, she'd only done the same for the parents over the weekend, ahhh justice is sweet


I wouldn't want to pay but think I would def offer (and hop they say no, shoes are ££££'ssssssss)

[Mollymop]

My caitlin used to always kick her shoes of when she was in the buggy, luckily I never lost any and always managed to find them, but it seems so unfair that childminders have to pay out for lost shoes when in reality it is the up to the parents, especially when they know that the child has a habit of kicking them off. The child belongs to the parent after all!

[deeb66]

I am sorry but............

There is no way would I be offering to pay to replace a lost pair of shoes.

I do my upmost to ensure that this never happens and yes if a child constantly takes their shoes off I take them off before they can get lost.

Fortunately (touch wood ) in all the years I have been minding this has never happened to me so my reaction cannot be one of experience but I can say hand on my heart............

There is no way will I pay to replace a pair of shoes..............

[Pudding Girl]

Is this not covered by Insurance anyway? Sorry not read all replies, so ignore if already been dealt with!!

[deeb66]

Is this not covered by Insurance anyway? Sorry not read all replies, so ignore if already been dealt with!!

Monkey says NCMA you have to pay first £25 and Pauline thinks MM you don't have to pay excess.