To use a childminder when doing an interview?

[RosesinLondon]

I have three DCs, and I run my own business from home. I have to interview a potential client, but don't want to do it in my house. Would rather do the interview in a coffee shop, and I don't have anyone to look after my DCs. Do you think I could use a childminder for a few hours when conducting the interviews? I know it seems silly to some of you, but Ive never used a childminder.

You might be better using a babysitter. A childminder will usually not be available for this sort of ad hoc care.

I am a childminder and generally don’t have availability for a one off day, especially for 3 children , although that depends on their ages.

You’d be better hiring a babysitter to come to your house.

It's not really a one off, I might have 2-3 interviews in a week. It's just for the summer holidays, WIBU to use a CM few times a week for a month for a few hours?

Try sitters.co.uk

Basically

• I need some childcare. AIBU to use some childcare?

• no, clearly not

Again, CMs are not likely to be able ro accomodate just a few hours, what you need is a babysitter

Ywnbu to ask but childminders are very regulated in terms of how many children they can have and their ages (as said by a previous PP)

They’re in short supply where I live too.

Might be better with a babysitter. Good luck with your interviews!

As others have said a childminder isn't likely to be able to accommodate that, sounds like you need a babysitter really.

Op it is a babysitter you need - Childminder's look after children at their childminding setting (usually the Childminder's home) and babysitters come to the child's house. Babysitters are usually cheaper as they charge per hour, Childminder's charge per child. You'll find both at childcare.co.uk. Hope that helps.

Well it is a (few) one offs! You can ask exactly the same question again if you like but you’ll still get the same answers...

Try sitters.co.uk. That way you can be sure you’ll be covered...

Cross post happyhedgehog!

CMs will more than likely want specific days and hours the same every week. They may not have availability for all of your children so more than 1 CM may need to be found. Also, if you had to cancel a meeting, the CM would still expect ectvto be paid. Based on you saying it may be 2/3 meetings per week, you are unlikely to find a CM that flexible. A babysitter, as suggested above, would probably suit better with the added bonus of flexibility.

I will have a look on childcare.co.uk. then Thank you for your replies

If you children are of school age I’d also have a look to see if there are any holiday clubs or classes nearby. Up here there are ones that take children for a day ir two a week or a full week of fun activities (craft, sports, drama or similar) from about 10am until about 4.pm which gives you time to interview and they do something different too.

How old are the kids? What about a crèche at a leisure centre or a holiday activity club?

My DCs are 6, 5 and 2.

You are looking for an ad hoc Nanny and will prob find one during summer easy enough I offer it summer holidays in east Midlands but have my nearly 8yr old with me.

We used a child minder for something similar a few years ago.
The childminders children were at school and she helped us out for 3 hours for about 15 quid. ( as I said it was a few years ago!)