Childminding and questions

[Handonheart2015]

I've been childminding in my own home for the last few years. I had to stop due to Covid but looking to start back. I've had a parent contact me asking would I would be interested in looking after her sonin her home. He has just turned 1 ,its 3 days a week and they live really close to me. All sounds good so far. As I've always childminded in my own home I was free to collect my two younger children from school, 9 and almost 12. The children I minded just fitted into our routine. I did let parent know that I needed to collect my younger children at 2.30pm and drop them home. All in all would take 30 minutes. I said I could just bring the baby in his buggy as the school is within walking distance. She said baby now naps from 1.30pm to 3pm but if I wanted I could go collect my children, leave the baby in the house(Mam or Dad will be wfh whilst I'm there).

I'm not sure how I feel about it tbh. I would obviously prefer to bring baby with me as I would feel under pressure to get back. I also think it's nice to get out for a walk and maybe head to the nearby playground at that time. I previously did this with other children.

Should I just accept the offer to leave baby at home and hope his nap time changes to an earlier one?

Position us also advertised for €13per hour but she has said this is negotiable. As I can only mind one baby I was thinking of asking for a bit more.

Would like some advice please.

I am a childminder and my advice would be don't do it!! You will always feel watched if parents work from home they would expect you to be a nanny rather than childminder, it would restrict other earnings as you couldn't have any other children on those 3 days and what would you do with your youngest in holidays? There aren't many perks in childminding (let's face it there are hardly any!!) but one big one is being at home for your own children.
When I started childminding I was desperate for clients so had a family where I went to their house I hated it and in the end I left as was turning families away as couldn't have them as wasn't in my own home!

@2anddone, thanks for replying. Thsts exactly my concerns. When I childminded in my own home I was free to bring the children out with me whenever I needed to go anywhere. I definately feel like I'm going to be watched and as you said I can't mind any other children.

I don’t think I could be a nanny for wfh parents after so long being self employed.

£13 an hour for caring for their precious child? Far too low especially as you can’t take on other children.

@TonksInPurple, I know, that's why I'm on the fence about it all. I've always enjoyed the freedom of minding in my own home but now I finally have the chance to get work done in my own home for the first time in years as I've no children to look after. I don't know whether to give it a shot and see how it goes. I'm not relying on the position financially. I suppose it was the nap time that put me of and feeling like I'm going to have to ask everytime I want to bring baby out and if I'm going to be timed when we do go out. I'm meeting Mam in person tomorrow to discuss it further.

If you have reservations, don't go ahead.

My children are 16 and 13 now and it's lovely to be at home when they leave/get home from school. I also work term time only which is great as I get all the school holidays with just my children. If you don't have any children to mind at the moment I would really recommend it, I thought some parents would be put off but I have a huge waiting list especially as people who work term time only love the fact that as I am closed in the holidays they don't have to pay when they don't need the care!
You would lose a lot of freedom by going to someone else's house, all the little house jobs you can get done while the mindees are occupied wouldn't happen and be left until evenings or weekends, plus how long would it be before the family whose house you are in start asking 'little favours' like hanging out their washing?
Hold out for families to come to you or look for a childminder to comind with at their house.

@Handonheart2015 if you aren't relying on the position financially how about getting a job in a preschool that way you could still look after little ones, get holidays off and have your house back?

@2anddone, I'm already feeling guilty about leaving DD and DS at home for an hour until older sibling gets in.

Yes not financially dependant on the money but thinking some extra income be nice as I'm just sitting at home everyday waiting to collect my own children.

I've looked into positions in a nursery but I've no childcare qualifications which are a must where I live.

Having done both, I would never again nanny with what parents. Not too bad when tiny, but once they get older, trying to keep them quiet when parents are on calls became a problem. The child also knew parents were there, so if I said no to something would scream for mother who undermined me everytime. Father would hover in the doorway just watching, while he was making coffee or such, which always put me on edge. ( I have 40 years experience of childcare so did no what I was doing)

No, stick to childminding in your own home. Much better

@Handonheart2015 how about looking at a qualification? You could volunteer to get experience while you do the course and if you were lucky you could get a job out of it at the end. I would think long and hard before giving up your home again to baby items I only manage as work from a cabin in my garden so it's all locked away in there at weekends no way could I have highchairs/baby toddler toys all over the house now mine are older

Hello, I am hoping to become a childminder. Does anyone know of the best online training course organizations so I can qualify? Thank you!