Childminders in the 1920's

[Carolannep]

Hello,
Were some women paid to look after a child who was unrelated to themselves in the 20th Century? This particular lady looked after a child while the child's father worked away and eventually moved away from Birmingham. She stayed with this lady and her family for years and eventually left to marry in 1939. How did this work? Did they advertise or were they found by word of mouth? In this case, the child was in no way related to the lady who looked after her. The child's father provided money for her keep and clothing. He also sent Birthday and Christmas presents. I wondered if there was a properly setup system for this kind of arrangement.
Carol Ravenhall

 

[AnnS]

Would the lady be known as a nursery nurse?

 

[MWS]

A nursery nurse would usually be a young lady who boards with the family.

I would say it would be quite informal, probably word of mouth Usually you would expect it to be family but I've seen children listed as a nurse child with a different family which usually means that something has happened to a parent or parents.

Have you found them on the 1921 census, what is the child listed as?

 

[Carolannep]

Hello AnnS,
No, the child was cared for in the family home of the minder. I suppose it was the same as Fostering. The minder was known as Granny (surname) and she lived in Sparkhill. I wondered if it was a private arrangement. I don't think there were any legalities to go through at that time. I wondered if it was a common practise.
Carol

 

[mikejee]

As I understand it official fostering only came about in the 1930s. Before then any arrangement was unofficial

 

[Carolannep]

So, at the beginning it must have been a private arrangement. This would have been in the 1920's. On the 1921 census the child was with her parents.
Thank you all for your input.
Carol