To have the kids with different childminders?

[PianoFiddler]

Dd1 (5) and dd2 (3) go to a childminder three days a week. Dd2 from 12.30 to 6.30 (AM nursery) and dd1 from 3.30-6.30.

I am currently 38 weeks with number 3. I've just started maternity leave. Whilst I'm on mat leave, the dc will continue with the childminder but only 2 days a week and just 3.30 to 6.30 for both. This will give me a bit of a break from the whole evening dinner rush is my thinking.

Anyway, the childminder is fab. They've been with her for years, she has a dd the same age as dd1 and they are all close. They love going there.

My problem (all albeit a long way off) is that when I go back to work, childminder has already told me that she can't have the baby because she has another couple of kids (that she minds) so she's up to her limit.

I know that the dc would be gutted to stop going there though. So I mentioned to df that maybe we look for a different childminder for dd3 and leave dd1 and dd2 where they are.
Df is horrified. He thinks it's 'weird' and that if she can't have them all we just find a new cm who will. I don't think he gets just how upset the dc would be to stop going though.

Aibu for considering this? Financially would make no difference as cms here pay per hour per child.

Well I think you don't have a choice really. If she's full, she's full so you may well have to find a different childminder for the baby. What a nightmare though for picking up and dropping off! Aren't you better off hiring a nanny?

Financially you have said it makes no difference, but how about logistically?

How far away from you does current childminder live? You may not be able to get a childminder who lives in the same area, e.g. both childminders could be 15 mins from you, but in opposite directions so doubling your travel time.

I agree with your df. It would be very inconvenient for you to have to use two childminders. Your dcs will get over it. What happens when they move up a class at school/ nursery? They move on.

I think YABU. Financially, it might not seem to make a difference, but you'll have to negotiate travel times and pick up/drop off times to suit both childminders and your DC.

Children move on. There's no reason DD1 can't stay friends with CM's daughter and have playdates or something, but I think you'd be mad to try and negotiate two different childminders. Have you considered a nanny or an au-pair?

As a childminder I think it will be hard (not impossible, but hard) to find a cm with space for all three of yours. To get two under five spaces and a school age place, I don't know of one cm in my town who could accommodate that at the moment. But things change and you may be lucky, your current cm might lose a child in the mean time and be able to accommodate you after all. But I YANBU to think about having them separately if the older two are settled.

I'd look for someone else who can have all three otherwise the logistics of working and having three kids will be untenable. Much easier to drop all three at the same childminder in the morning and collect from the same place in the afternoon. The older two will get used to the change quickly, honestly!

Logistically it's negligible. The cm lives a 1 minute walk from our house ATM. When picking up df parks the car at ours then walks to get them.
There are numerous cms here within 5 minutes. They are paid until 6.30 but df leaves work at 6 and gets home by 6.10. He usually spends 15 mins chatting with the cm, so could easily pick up the baby before the other two (I don't figure in picking up, I work until 7pm)

I have briefly looked into a nanny - but from next Sept dd2 will be full time so older dc will only need 3 hours, 3 times a week. Baby will need 9.30-6.30 3 days a week, but a cm is still cheaper than a nanny.

I just hate the thought of older dc having to stop going somewhere they really enjoy :(

YANBU. Your kids are attached to their childminder, this is really crucial for their optimal development. Unless it is really really impractical I would stick with your regular childminder and find a new one for the baby.

Given you say you have several childminders locally I would give it a try.

Logistics will be an issue - both childminders may not both take their holiday at the same time. Two different people to pay, who may have different terms of business. If you are well organised it could work.

I think this is fine and it may well be hard to find 3 places together anyway.

Yanbu, I've done this and find it more useful actually, as it can give me a back-up for the older dc when their CM is on hols. The older dc loves his CM and has been with her for years so why would I switch as, like you there's no logistical problem? Maybe when your eldest gets too old for CM and goes to afterschool club, say, then you could consolidate the other two, but for now the different cms seems like the best available plan.

Provided you can manage the logistics, I don't think it's an issue at all. When my 3 were smaller we used before & after school for the eldest, childminder for the middle one (as they went to morning nursery school so childminder did 12-5.30pm) & youngest to private nursery (7.30-6pm). The childminder was great as during school holidays she would have the 2 eldest for the full day. Just took coordinating properly with my DH as to who was dropping off & picking up where & when.

My dds were with their CM & ds went to a nursery & that worked, but only because they were in the same direction & it was just am for dds BUT when ids joined the same CM when he started school I realised how many precious minutes were added to my morning! YANBU & maybe one of the babies will leave before you are due to go back to work!

Not sure what it's like in your area but it would be impossible to find a good childminder with three spaces at all those different times where I live so the decision may be made for you. Provided you can manage the pick ups and drop offs, it will be fine.