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Original poster

help cm's - what should i do??

30 replies

ladyoflincoln · 26/01/2007 18:37

i am a newly reg childminder and i currently look after mindee 1 (14 months) on a tuesday & thursday 8-6. late april, i have mindee 2 (also 14 months) coming for 12 weeks. his mum is having an operation that needs 12 weeks recovery time. some weeks he will be full time, other weeks maybe only a couple of days.

now i have a person wanting a full time place for a 6mnth old baby, beginging late april.

this would mean on a tuesday and thursday i could potentially have two 16 month olds and a baby to care for! i don't really want to say no to the baby because mindee 2 is only with me for 12 weeks..

should i:

a) look into employing an assistant on tuesday and thursday for those 12 weeks?

b) say no to the baby wanting a full time space?

c) take on the baby and prepare myself for two days a week of severe stress for those 12 weeks?

d) any other suggestions???

Please help, sorry it is so long winded!

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StrawberrySnowflakes · 11/02/2007 19:25

aw BUGGER!..we spend so much time deliberating about what to do, then they dont bother!..happend to me too...hope you get something better really soon

Original poster
ladyoflincoln · 11/02/2007 14:20

thankyou to everyone for their advice & top tips!

unfortunately i don't think i will have to worry about transporting 3 little ones after all, as the mum of 6mnth old has changed her mind about going back to work..

OP posts:
mogs0 · 11/02/2007 14:11

That triple 3 wheeler is very good value. I recently looked at one on ebay but there's no way it would fit through my front gate, nevermind the door!!

There is someone at my son's school with a triple mountain buggy and it's HUGE! And it costs about 3 times more than the one you've seen on ebay!!

Last year when I needed to transport 3 children I used a backpack. I also used a sling during the really hot period. It wasn't pleasant but the baby seemed fine. A packpack would probably be better for the baby (if she can sit up yet) as they're not as tight fitting.

One of my charges turned 2 yesterday and he loves the buggy board, although, he's only been on it twice but it's great for fairly short trips.

shosha · 11/02/2007 10:12

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ThePrisoner · 10/02/2007 02:12

You won't have time for a quick wee, you will have to learn to just "hold on"!!!

All my mindees come with their own lunch so no lengthy preparation required by me. However, I try to prepare my own lunch before any mindees arrive (only salad, sandwiches or whatever) - even with this early preparation, I have frequently been seen waiting at the school gates tucking into a bit of cucumber and tomato because I ran out of time to actually eat at lunchtime.

My mindees usually use at least 3 nappies each during the day. I put out 3 nappies for each child (and write the child's initial on each one so I don't get confused!!) - it means that I can keep tabs on who has or hasn't been changed. You only need to worry when you still have 3 nappies left at the end of the day with the same initial on!

Original poster
ladyoflincoln · 09/02/2007 22:39

thanks for that prisoner . hubby would be doing school run in the morning for my own 2 children, and i would only need to transport 3 little one's locally - eg. to cm group, jo jingles music group, afternoon school run, etc. no shopping trips or round town etc.

mostly i could get away with using my single and my double (with my good old mum pushing one!) & also my next-door neighbour (who is a cm)could sometimes offer a seat in her double buggy when we go places together.

just want to make sure i am covered for any situation really, eg. if i had no help - could i still get out!!

i am trying to think of other ways to make life easier with three under 2's - we are having a downstairs cloakroom put in this week - perfect for nappy changes, handwashing, quick wee for harrased cm etc. any suggestions/tips very welcome!

xx

OP posts:
ThePrisoner · 09/02/2007 21:08

I use a triple buggy and did a quick google to do a link to show a photo of the type I use ... rather worringly, the 3rd search answer (out of 76,800!) turned out to be my comments on a Mumsnet thread here

Original poster
ladyoflincoln · 09/02/2007 17:24

i was thinking of getting one of

these

OP posts:
Shosha · 09/02/2007 17:17

Message withdrawn

Original poster
ladyoflincoln · 09/02/2007 17:11

i did wonder about the sling idea - just a bit worried that may/june/july baby may be a bit 'hot and bothered' strapped to my front!

i will look into 'hiring' a triple buggy or if none are available to hire, maybe i should buy one and when i am done with it keep it to hire out to other cm's

xx

OP posts:
StrawberrySnowflakes · 09/02/2007 16:57

for items to be used for short periods of time(ie: 6 week stints) try find out if you have a local surestart/toy library, i loaned my brand new double buggy for 6 weeks at a time(had it 12 weeks now) for 50p!!!!!!!!!!!!!..a big saving esp as youll only have Lo for 12 weeks!

WanderingTrolley · 09/02/2007 11:33

Didn't see this thread initially.

I've had 18 month twins and a baby - the twins went in a double pushchair and the baby went in a sling. Much cheaper than a triple buggy!

Also cheaper than a double buggy is a set of clips to connect a single buggy on the side, if that would work.

Scroll about halfway down.

Original poster
ladyoflincoln · 09/02/2007 11:19

just to update - i have agreed to take the full time baby on, she will be 6mnths when she starts, in late april.

i decided against an assistant, but i am getting a crb check for my mum as although is not getting paid or supervising mindee's, she will be a frequent visitor and source of support

i have also asked my husband to make sure he is not working long hours for those 12 weeks..

my friend who is a cm is lending my some extra things (highchair, etc.) and i may invest in a triple buggy (a la vicky pollard!)

first three weeks of april we are visiting my sister in australia [very excited face], so i at least at the start of the 12 weeks i will be rested and relaxed, if not at the end........

thanks again for support/advice

OP posts:
Tan1959 · 27/01/2007 01:42

Ok, so they will be sixteen months old then; Is the main difficulty that you see, going out with them? if so that could be difficult if one is not a walker but if you have double buggy + buggy board, that would solve that problem. Do you provide lunch/dinner for them? perhaps cook in advance reducing amount of time in kitchen. Only other thing I can think of is to settle six month old baby in before April so no unsettled baby by the time the second 16 month old comes. Oh a 'conveyor belt' is handy too

I used to have a 6 month old, a 7 month old & 15 month old for a couple of days a week. When I first started out about 2.5 years ago, I found it a bit daunting but soon got into the swing of things. Definately hard work but if you are organised with a capital O its fine.

I now only have 14 month old two days, 14 month old + 2.3 year old, on day 3 & two 2.3 year olds on day 4 plus 5 year old triplets with 7 year old sibling before & after school, 5 days & they all get along just great .

Let us all know what you decide.

shosha · 26/01/2007 20:23

Message withdrawn

ThePrisoner · 26/01/2007 20:21

Every time I want something, Ofsted just say yes. I moan about them all the time (mostly on MN), but they still love me!!

Original poster
ladyoflincoln · 26/01/2007 19:58

wow prisoner! (bows down with respect..)

OP posts:
ThePrisoner · 26/01/2007 19:55

I've currently got four mindees a couple of days a week - 5mths, 23mths, 24mths, 2.5 years! (And I swap the baby for another 2.5yr old on the third day). A while ago, it was 3 under 14mths.

It is hard work because I'm doing it by myself, but it can be fun!! Be organised.

LoveMyGirls · 26/01/2007 19:52

I do have my dd1 who is 7 who does help out sometimes.

LoveMyGirls · 26/01/2007 19:47

I have got 3 under 18mths - 6mths, 13mths and 16mths, 2 of them don't walk, i have had to buy quite alot of equiptment and i have a 2.5yr old after 13mth old goes home, i only have her part time.

it's like having 2 full timers.

As long as you are organised you should be fine.

Original poster
ladyoflincoln · 26/01/2007 19:44

wow, thanks for replies so far!

my own children are ds aged 12 and dd aged 6. dh has said he would take them to school in the morning on tues & thurs. after school 12 ds can be a great help - entertaining tired little ones and fetching/carrying as requested!! (no doubt will be wanting extra pocket money though )

in the past (before minding) i sometimes looked after my friends twin boys (they were about 2) along with my dd (then 3). it was certainly hard work!

i wouldn't want to have this mix of ages on a permanent basis. just thinking that maybe for 2 days a week for 12 weeks i could make it work? we go to a 'jo jingles' group thursday pm, so i would definately need an extra pair of hands for that!

OP posts:
shosha · 26/01/2007 19:43

Message withdrawn

smeeinit · 26/01/2007 19:38

shosha u still awake?!!!!!

smeeinit · 26/01/2007 19:37

i look after 9 month old twins aswell as a 3 yr old and i can tell you that 2 little ones are bleedin hard work! BUT preperation counts for everything.
i would do it if i were you and just make sure you are prepared for the days you will have them all. 12 weeks will fly by!

shosha · 26/01/2007 19:35

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