did you ever worry about whether the carer had a husband/older son at home or whether someone could just come in off the street?
With my FDCers I have insisted on meeting all family members and regular visitors to the house before we started care. I trust my intuition on this. And their homes are secure - these are q's you can ask about (and rightly so) when you interview them. Unfortunately there are sick ppl everywhere and that sort of thing can happen in childcare centres & schools too - you just have to trust yourself and pick the best situation you are able to find. That's a good price for a bumbo!

Leanne, well done at minimal christmas gain, I'm sure it will be going down again next time!