Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ThePrisoner · 26/01/2007 19:31

I would also do it, but I've got lots of experience with these ages (with my own family and with childminding).

How much experience do you have with young children?

Do you think that any of the parents would have a problem with you minding all of them?

nannynick · 26/01/2007 19:30

Are there any other children to take into account, for example your own children (sorry, haven't researched to establish if you have any children and if so how old they are) and any after-school mindies?

Two toddlers and a baby is doable - presuming you have the usual registration of 3 under 5's of which 1 can be under 1. It is also doable in terms of actual care - I've worked in nursery baby units, where a 1:3 ratio is common place, with all children being under 1. However, it can be restrictive - getting out and about will be like a military exercise... but hey, it's like that with 3 or more children anyway... isn't it?

Having an assistant on your busy days could certainly help, though you will need to factor in things like such as their cost, and time needed to get them approved/CRB checked etc.

Taking on the 6 month old could end up being a long term contract, so financially beneficial. However, not all parents find it easy returning to work, so could in practice only be for a short period. No easy way to tell on that one alas.

If it were me... I'd take option C.

mykidzrmyworld · 26/01/2007 19:27

imo i would do it as it is only temp and I certainly wouldnt want to turn down a full time space!

StrawberrySnowflakes · 26/01/2007 19:04

i think it would be great..hard but great

shosha · 26/01/2007 18:46

Message withdrawn

Swipe left for the next trending thread