to think that a childminder should not take on 11 month old when she will have just had a baby?

[ilovespagbol]

....can't help thinking she won't have the energy to deal with a new mindee when she has a new baby and will be knackered! And, from my perspective, that my child won't get the attention she needs, especially as it will be the first time she will have been in care? Due to go and see her tomorow but thinking it might be best to cancel and look elsewhere.

[juneybean]

Thought they could only have one under 1?

[LadyStealthPolarBear]

good point - I'm sure that includes her own children
I'm sure YABU but I would be a bit nervous about this too

[Jackstini]

When you say 'just' had a baby - how old will the baby be when she starts work again and how old is your dc?

[juuule]

How experienced is she?

[LisaD1]

Hi,

I would check she is even allowed to. I am a childminder and could not have a mindee who was under a year old until my own baby was over 1 year. Think that's pretty standard (but could be wrong)

[llareggub]

My CM did this, although DS was 12 months when he started there. It worked well; DS developed a lovely bond with her baby and older toddler. It was fine.

[Picante]

She can get permission from Ofsted.

Isn't it up to her?! If you're not happy don't see her.

[ilovespagbol]

The baby is due in October, my DD will be 11 months in November, she did say she had to explain to something to Ofsted and I don't yet know how experiened she is. I could just not go, of coure, but am thought it might be helpful to get some views from others as to how such an arrangement might work.

[ilovespagbol]

Sorry, so I don't know how old the baby will be exactly, depends when it arrives but if my DD goes to her in November, it would only be a few weeks old at most.

[juuule]

As your child will only be under 1 for a month then Ofsted might allow that.

[GirlsAreLoud]

Well my motto when it comes to childcare is that if you have even a small doubt about any aspect then it's probably not a goer.

[123andaway]

I would go and see her. You might come away thinking she is lovely, and is exactly the right person to look after your DD. Then again you might not, but you won't know until you see her. Will she be minding any other children? I think a small baby and an almost 1 year old would be fine on their own, but I would be much more concerned if she was taking other children too.

She would need to get a variation from OFSTED to mind 2 under 1s. This would probably involve her writing a report to them explaining how she can meet the needs of both the children. Given that it will be a max of 4 weeks before your DD is 1 and therefore she will back within her 'numbers' she shouldn't have any problems with this.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

If you are thinking your child won't get the attention you want her to have with another child in the situation, why not get a nanny.

[Summerfruit]

If she has an agreement with Ofsted, then it's fine ! Now, it's just up to you !

[juuule]

Like 123 says, I think you should go and see her and then decide. You never know she might be just what you want. And if she's not then you've lost nothing by going anyway.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

If she's due in October, she may not be up to having your child in Novemer anyway. What if she has to have a CS etc. Would you have backup care for her maternity leave/appointments/sickness etc?

Two small babies would be hard work expecially if both need feeding etc at the same time. A new child of your own can be time consuming without adding other peoples.

[AvadaKedavra]

Please don't just not turn up though let her know!

[ilovepeppapig]

when i went back to work my dd was 15m and i kind of thought that i wouldn't look at any cm that had a baby of their own but as it turned out i did (because there was limited choice in my area) and i loved her . i had others that didn't have a baby that i could have chosen but i clicked with a particular one and it didnt matter about her own baby.

My dd was well cared for, loved her CM and was treated as one of the family

so may be u should at least see her - and then make your mind up ?

[raindroprhyme]

My chldminder had 5 under 5's when she returned to work with her 2 week old baby. She does have an assistant so that is how she got the numbers but it was never an issue.

The children loved having the new baby and childminder peformed her job just as well as she had done previously if anything it enhanced the child care experience for my son.

i did think she was a bit mad and personally intend to pratically stay in bed for at least 3 weeks when my 3rd baby is born early next year. but it worked for her and she is still my childminder and i have already reserved a place for my new baby.

[elkiedee]

I don't think you're being unreasonable, I think your concerns are understandable. Are you going to meet this CM in person for the first time? Have you made any commitments to each other yet, eg signing contracts or paying a retainer/deposit?

I'd suggest that you go and see her and ask her questions about the things you're worried about, and whether she's applied for a variation from OFSTED. I do think that you and she need to think about what happens if she's late, has a more difficult birth or there are any issues with her or the baby afterwards. In the longer term it will probably be fine but as this is the first few weeks of you leaving your baby in someone else's care, you need to feel happy about it in your own mind.

[ilovespagbol]

Thanks for all the thouhts. Don't mind idea of new baby, just the timing of settling in a new mindee, having just had a baby. In the end, after pondering, I took the advice of other mumsnetters and went by my instinct and cancelled the appointment. Have now found a lovely childminder who I hit it off with immediately. Note to self: trust instinct more. .