Would a childminder appeal to you if they only took one child?

[bobstersmum]

Sorry not aibu really but need to make a decision ASAP. I have 3 dc, 2 are at school and one is 2. I left my NHS job 3 years ago to be sahm but have been trying to get back into paid work, however we have no help with childcare from family so it's difficult. I am about to pay for a course with my la to become a cm but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. Financially I can afford to only take one child full time. This would be easily doable for me, I will have dd home as well so child won't be alone, and will go to park and toddler groups. My other dc will be home too before and after school. But would it appeal to someone looking for childcare or would it put them off? Does anyone do this?

It would put me off a little bit tbh, because it would make me feel a little bit like my child was just an “add-on” while you were taking care of your own. I’m sure that’s not true and others will probably think differently. CMs with their own child(ren) there too was one of the things that put me off CMs in general and helped push me towards nursery instead.

It would put me off and tbh it would also put me off you having a preschool age child. All CMs round here have kids at school.

I guess it depends. I recently decided against a childminder for my 3 year old as it would have just been him and her 3 and 10 month old. I felt that he is happier around more children his age so decided on a nursery in the end. I also felt a bit like there wouldn’t be any backup should one of her children be ill. However, different people look for different things in childcare and I know I loved leaving both of mine with childminders previously. Unfortunately his childminder has given up childminding and I didn’t have many options available to me.

It wouldn’t bother me and in fact it would be an advantage as you’d more like a nanny than a CM, but I don’t quite get why you cannot afford to take on more than one child. Presumably every extra child is more money for the same hours of work you are doing anyway. What am I missing?

It would put me off.

I'd assume you were struggling to get or retain business and wonder why that was.

As others have said, I would also worry that the focus would be very much on your own kids.

Plus, I have more than one child

I’d like it! I’m considering a childminder but they are rare here (rural village).
More important is reliability (which is why well probably have to use a nursery).

That's exactly what I had - my DD ad hers were months apart from each other so they were like the little sisters going on the school run for the big kids. It was lovely (she was a v experienced nursery manager though so had extensive childcare experience)

@Booboostwo, I read it that they only NEED one child to look after to make it work financially rather than they can only afford one child to look after.

I'd assume you were either inepxerienced or your child was particularly demanding.

Why can you only afford to take one child full time? Mindees shouldn't cost you money.

My youngest is the solo child at a childminder once a week. We pay a premium for that from a highly experienced CM as the care is basically to give me a break from DD's health issues once a week. That's the only time I have ever looked for it.

Do you know anyone from toddler groups who might need childcare? A friend of mine childminds and most days she has her toddler and another boy pretty much the same age. The other mum loves it and always talks about how she’s happy he already has a ‘best friend.’ And it’s quite easy for her as they potter about and play together really well, she can get them places in the double buggy and she can go all over the place with them as she doesn’t have loads of kids to keep track of. So I would see it as an advantage.

I read that wrong. You can afford it, not can only. Sorry!

If I liked the cm it would be an advantage.

Wouldn't bother me, I would assume you wanted to have fewer kids for safety reasons. Thst said, my mum childminded when I was a kid and I loathed it. The invasion of other kids being in our home. Usually younger. They got the tv and computer games etc till they were picked up and it just really pissed us off. We never liked any of the children. We didn't want them touching our stuff or to have to entertain them. So based on that, I would never be a child minder or have my kids at one because I would worry the resident kids might dislike my kid or resent it.

It would put me off as I like the idea of my child having peer interaction.

Would you consider being a nanny with your own child in tow?

I meant it's financially doable for me to only take one, that would be enough income! Haha sorry. If someone came along with twins or siblings I could take both I suppose. I was just thinking of a way to ease myself into it really for a couple of years until dd starts school. At the briefing I attended they do seem to expect a lot of paperwork from a childminder, which would swamp me if I had a fair few children! I have absolutely loads to offer as a cm, I have always worked in caring jobs for elderly and people with disabilities as well as mental health, so I do love looking after people. And as I have 3 of my own plus older step daughter I have got quite a bit of experience. I think 8 will have to take the plunge and see, it's going to cost £500 to do the relevant courses, before anything else.

My nearly 1 year old is starting with a childminder next week. I think I'd wonder why you only took one child and whether my daughter would develop social skills that I expect kids do when in childcare. But, our childminder and her assistant have 6 kids which I also don't like much. It's too many in such a small setting. It wouldn't bother me that your child was there. As long as you did a lot with them during the day - which would be easier if there's only 1, I'd probably be okay with it.

I am really surprised people wouldn’t like it - this is exactly the arrangement we had with our childminder - my son (11) still talks about her and she took my daughter (3 years younger than my son). It was amazing - really good family style care.

It would put me off a bit, like others I'd be concerned that you thought you wouldn't be able to cope, or perhaps you were just doing it short term for some extra money and might quit.

Having said that our CM only has two children, and chose our DS over another potential child because he was the same age as her existing mindee. She's happy with just two as she has a school age DC too. I love the low ratio and DS is thriving there compared to his previous very large CM with assistant.

The company of another child a similar age is quite important for us.

I had a cm who only took my child. It was fantastic. Her child was the same age, so they played together, all the activities she organised were tailored to their age group and interests, and they were great friends (in fact they still are, many years on!). It was what made me choose her, and was a great decision.

Don’t be put off.

My son started with a childminder and for over a year, he was her 'only' mindee apart from one after school child. Her own children were both at school.

Honestly it was wonderful. Like having our own Nanny. Our son bonded so well with her and we stayed with her for the four years until he started school. He is still very fond of her and we are still in regular contact.

It would be a bonus for me.

My CM only takes 2 little ones at a time. She says that's and enjoyable amount and she finds more too much work. It's an honest answer and makes me feel she is prioritising standard of care over maximising income. She has a couple of older children after school some days.

I'd see it as a good thing (but wouldn't suit me as I have 2 needing childcare!). My children went to a childminder who had a lot of mindees and it wasn't very nice for them, if they were the only children I would expect the care to be better tailored to their needs.