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

Don't do it, you're not thinking straight or about the right priorities. Your child won't be a baby forever, they will be at nursery in a few years and school just after. You aren't thinking about the career just the potential of staying at home. Instead I would look at a temporary decrease in hours for another year working 3 days a week instead of 5.

You’re being a bit wet with all this “I yearn for my baby” drama.

When she is 3 you will be glad to get some peace at work. Can you not just go part time?

Also, it’s insane to think that the solution to your separation anxiety is to spend the time you do have with your daughter trying to provide auditable, structured childcare to other children for reward. You’ll still be at work. But instead of there being a vague possibility of distracting yourself from these thoughts of wanting to be with your child, she will be right there in the room reminding you that she does not have your full attention, while you wipe another kid’s arse.

Would you have a route back into your career if you want when your child starts school?

Have you thought about how much it would cost to set a childminding business up?

I personally couldn't think of anything worse but I completely understand your desire to spend every moment you can with your child.

Do you plan anymore children? How would you cover future maternity leave without being paid?

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. You never know it might be the best decision you ever made and if it's not, you tried.

What does the baby’s father think about the prospect of his home becoming a childcare facility? Or are you a single parent?

Not all childminders are inspected by OFSTED. Agencies are becoming a big thing now where you get the support that the LA used to give (but don't any more).

Paperback isn't such a big thing. My recent inspection, I didn't get asked to show any paperwork apart from a register, accident forms and my policies. I use an online diary so I update it when the children are having lunch/playing. It takes 10 minutes to do. Logs the register, what they ate, nappy changes, when they slept and an overview of what you did that day.
I use TWINKL for my planning and activity ideas.

In London childminders often earn more than you!

Besides, if it's something you want to do and have researched, then go for it.

You have to have risk assessments in place. So if you have a downstairs loo it might be safe to nip to toilet as long a child is in hearing. But it's most likely you would take them with you.

The toilet, when out and about, I distract the 3+year olds by pointing out things in the loo, like "ooh, look at that poster on the door, can you point to the rabbit?" Under 3's I go to the loo in front of them, they're oblivious to what you're doing.

At home, use the downstairs loo with the door open. Have little ones playing with a toy just outside the door. The older ones, I'm listening out for them playing in the main room while the loo door is open.

No, do it!! If you want to anyway 😊 I’m a teacher, currently on mat leave, on a good wage but the thought of returning to my job is almost ruining my entire time off. It’s partly due to me wanting to be with my baby (certainly couldn’t survive 5 full days away from him) but it’s also just because I absolutely hate my job. I counted down every day/week/month of pregnancy as if mat leave was my route out of there! I’ve now started up a little online shop while on mat leave. I work on it every night but have the whole day with my baby. I’ve just gone over my normal months salary this month, all from my little shop, in what I expected to be the quietest month of the year!

If you want to go for it, do it! Would you really be that gutted to leave your job?

You aren't insane. Don't be pushed along with the crowd that says money and a "career" working for someone else are more important than finding a different path to spend some years with your baby and make some money as well. You can do it if that's what you want.
You can find a way. it depends on your skills, education and personality.

I was a childminder for ten years. I loved it for first five years or so then I began to resent it. A combination of my kids getting older, ofsted and paperwork.
Pros-
No need to pay for childcare
With own children
Get to do fun activities with your children
Can choose your hours
No commute
Can choose who you have and how you run your business
Can be rewarding
Cons -
Your children take up spaces so you lose money
Parents messing you about
Your home becoming your work place
Having to do paperwork etc after day is finished
Lots of paperwork
Mess/damage
Bigger car if you want to go out
No guarantee of earnings
Loss of income when sick or needing time off
Advertising/selling yourself in the local community
Challenging children
Your own children not enjoying having other children around

There's a lot of paperwork, for every under five you need to do a learning journel where you evidence development and plan for and evaluate for further development. You need to do regular observations and evidence you are following eyfs. Childminders like all childcare and education are inspected by ofsted. It's a hard job you have to be in it for the love.

Completely insane.
Most people - let alone childminders - will NEVER earn £50K.

This is your hormones talking. It makes NO sense whatsoever to do this.

My suggestion would be requesting part time, so you keep your hand in at your career, but get to spend more of the week with your little one.
However, I wouldn't even think about that until you have given yourself a good 6 months or year run at working again.

You are only allowed one under one, thus includes your own, so you will most likely have toddlers
Actually nipping to the loo doesn't take that long, or you could get a large play pen, they would ne happy sitting playing with toys while you go. You don't have to entertain them 24 hours a day

I'm going to go against the grain here. I was in a 40K a year job and couldn't stand the thought of going to work and putting my babies in a nursery.

I became a childminder when mine were toddlers. They are now tweens and I don't regret it at all. We've had some lovely times together. We also have fond memories of sharing those times with other little ones too.

There are some drawbacks. You need to keep your own child's precious toys in their room. Only sharing toys for mindees to play with too.
I only work part time. I thing doing it full time will take over your life.
It is hard for your own children at times. I decided early on never to mind peers. I only took care of younger children to avoid too much conflict/jealousy.
You will become overrun with toys and equipment.
It is not an 'easy' job. You will need to prove that you are helping the child to make progress.
When I work a 9 hour day, I do not stop, not even for a cuppa! If I'm lucky, I'll get 10 minutes in my own head in those 9 hours.
Your expenses will be 30-50% of the money you make so you will need to factor that in.
You may get lonely working alone (I don't!)

Gosh no, I’d kill for 50K

Don’t even think about it ….
You’ll regret it …
It’s hard leaving your baby but you will both adjust …
It’s early days with your return to work .. give it time …

I don't think you're insane!

I kniqseveral people who have become childminders. The time you spend with your DC will be good quality time the same as spending that with any other child you mind.
Running a business is good experience too no matter what job you do, and whilst you might not earn £50k pa, you might not be massively far off. You never know, you might convert this to a more formal business and employ people. If uou do open nursery you will ddf earn more than you do now. The sky's the limit!

Don't be constrained by what others think, this is your choice, do what you want! You can always go back to your old field when your DC is at school if you want.

Absolutely mental, don't do it. Childminding is awful.