To quit a 50k a year job to retrain as a childminder?

I think it’s a good idea!

You will earn more working 1-2 days on a 9-5 basis with a small local firm than you will working 5 long days of childminding and feeling physically exhausted. And the 1-2 days away from your baby will be good for them in terms of healthy separation - otherwise you will be building a rod for your own back because when your child gets to 4 and has to be prised away from due to severe anxiety at having to attend nursery/school alone, that will be even more heart breaking…

There is NOTHING wrong with wanting to be with your baby. It's natural and should be norm (call of mermaids -- FGS). Babie's wellbeing is important too, not just career. Go part-time.

If you don't actively hate your job, I'd suggest sticking with it and reducing your hours. You'd earn a lot less through childminding, so would have to do a lot more hours, and that could lead to less one-to-one time with your daughter. Having a higher paid job makes things much more flexible, now and in the longer term.

I dud this OP.

I bitterly regret it - it really didn't work out well for my career. Or my relationship if I'm honest.

Yes, I had that time at home with my child which I'm glad I had but in retrospect I with I had tackled it in a better way - pared down my full time job by going part time and getting a balance that way.

I was out of my career for so long, it's been nigh on impossible to get my foot back on that ladder at a time when I've needed the salary the most.

That yearning and separation is sooooo hard. It always annoys me when childcare is mentioned and women’s careers as if the only thing getting in the way is good childcare and mothers desire to actually be with their children is ignored.

But my DC are 10 & 12 and I am slowly rebuilding my career. I’m so glad I stuck at it through those tough early years. I have an ok pension, I have connections and I can now see ahead in 10 years time where I could end up in a senior position.

Also I hate to break it to you. Other kids are PITA! Parents of other kids that you are looking after are even more PItA!!!

You won’t have quality time with your baby because you will have to prioritise other people’s kids. That’s the reality.

Do. Not. Do. This.

A terrible idea. Sorry!

The big longterm issue is, what do you do when your child is older? Will you still want to be a childminder when your baby is 5 or 10 or 15? And if there’s a chance you won’t - what do you do then? Will you actually be able to change back to anything like what you’re doing now with no recent experience?

Honestly, yes, it is a bit insane.

It may work out well when your dc is tiny, bit honestly, that is such a short period (and your care will be significantly compromised by juggling multiple dc so may not be the experience you are dreaming of).

I wouldn't underestimate the impact of financial worries or how constricting it is to be stuck in a low paid career further down the line.

Could you take a career break for a year?

I wouldn't use a childminder who had their own young children at home with them, and I know a lot of people who say the same. Their child will always take priority as its nature to do that. You haven't even been back at work a month yet so take your time to settle in. If in 6-9 months you still feel the same look at it again then. You will probably only earn 12k a year, which is a hell of a drop from 50k! How will you cope financially on that. You will have Ofsted inspections, you have to follow the early years foundation curriculum etc......

The thing is, most women who went back to work didn’t want to at first either and they struggled too. But how you act now affects how much money you have when she needs help to get started in life. It affects the quality of her housing with you, the quality of her clothes, her toys, her food, her extra curricular clubs. It affects how stressed you and your partner are.

Money isn’t everything but it affects everything. It’s all on you & her dad to provide for her & future siblings.

I can tell you from experience getting paid when you are self employed is not easy, I’m very familiar with using the small claims online service now.

Can you go part time so less money but spend a day or two with your baby? When mine were toddlers working was a doddle compared to looking after them all day. I'd have gone mad if I had a house full that I had to prove myself to OFSTED for

I don’t think this would be a good idea sorry OP. But re jigging your hours or changing job to get more time with the baby might help

Have you considered being a nanny? I am one and returning to work with my baby. It won't be a walk in the park but it's what I know plus my baby and I can still earn.

9 months old is such a great age...

You can also use parental leave to get more time off, albeit unpaid.

You could take 4 weeks extra off a year, which might be almost doubling your annual leave.

You'd still be quids in compared to childminding!

go part time

Could you work shorter hours for a year or two?

I wouldn't do this.

You'd have to spend however long (and however much money) it takes to train as a childminder, and then you'd only do it for a few short years before your child goes to school anyway.

Plus you would never ever get any child free time.

My son is 9 months old and goes to a childminder 50 hours a week. I wish we spent more time together but I do feel like I enjoy the time we have together more because the rest of the time I have adult company, I can drink my coffee in peace and go to the toilet whenever I want, and I am using my brain doing something completely different.

Also, I know money doesn't buy happiness but you will be able to give your child a more financially secure upbringing on your current salary.

I've worked part time for years. If you're going to take a cut in your salary anyway, best to do this IMO.

You'll still be progressing your career and that will likely stand you and your family in much better stead long term.

Also, while it's good to spend time with your DC, as they get older it's beneficial in lots of ways for them to go to CMs or nurserys for the interaction, building relationships with other DC and also the educational aspect. (CMs follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, so it's not just childcare, it's also educational).

It's about getting the balance right IMO. Which depends partly on the child and the quality of the local settings available to you.

Why not work 3 days a week and spend 2 days with your DC?

You have had some great advice from childminders. I was a childminder too.
One of the reasons I stopped was I never got away from my workplace. I woke up in my workplace, ate, relaxed, entertained and slept there. It doesn't matter how neat the storage system for the million toys etc or how nice the paintings, the posters, charts or how cute little play table and chairs and the play house are.

I have been reading alot about WFH and can only imagine being able to shut work away behind a door.
If you do go ahead, keep your dc toys locked away from your work toys. I really enjoyed earning my living from being a FT CM . Perhaps it would work for you too.

I have always avoided childminders who were clearly doing it so that they could be at home for their own children but still earn money. Happy to use a childminder with older children but not really little ones as you know which child is going to have their needs met first,

DS's childminder, many years ago, gave up a secure job to start a childminding business, so she could be with her toddler DS. Her setting was wonderful, and she expanded and employed other CMs so she could run it as a mini nursery in effect. (They had 9 toddlers). It was a wonderful place, and I expect she did well financially from it.

The DC were split into two groups, but she decided to move her DS to the other group in the end as it wasn't working out for either of them having him in her group. He wanted more of her attention than she was able to give when she had other DC there too, and it was upsetting him. He was more settled in the other group, ironically.

I don't know if she would say it was a good thing she did it in the end as we lost contact when she moved. As a parent it was great for me as she was a wonderful CM, but that's by the by.