New childminder (subject to registration) needs advice

[TrulyScrumptious]

Hi , I'm hoping to get my certificate through in early Oct. Reading all of the posts on here has been really informative and given me loads of ideas. Although, it's early days and I haven't even started minding yet, I am aware that at somepoint in the nxt year or so I would like to have another baby. I have already got a 2.5 year old dd and I just wondered whether any of you established childminders have had 2nd or 3rd babies of your own whilst minding, how you coped with the pregancy and then the baby whilst caring for other children? Did you take time off, how long, did you loose all of your mindees?

Thanks

TS

Can't really help as I had my children before I started minding. My advise would be just be honest and upfront about your future plans with parents.

Goodluck and welcome to mumsnet

Thanks kcemum, I've only just found this website - it's great!

My children were all older too when I started minding, but I've had several minding friends in this situation.

Some of them took a six month (or whatever length of time) break, and obviously weren't able to keep their mindees. However, the parents were given plenty of notice.

Other minders have worked more or less up to the birth, and then only had two weeks off! I don't think I'd have been able to do that myself, but others seemed to have managed.

I would have thought that any prospective parents visiting you must consider that you may well have more children, I guess it's up to you on what you would tell them. You could tell them, once you are pregnant, that you will "play it by ear", as you have no idea how you will feel, how tired you might be etc. After all, many of these parents may have 2nd and 3rd babies too!

Hi, I'm a CM (been registered 9/10 months) and I'm in a similar boat, I knew dh and I wouldn't be waiting too long to ttc number 2, but I decided not to let it affect my work. We have officially 'started' as of July, but as I was on depo the doctors said it could take years to conceive - so I decided just to keep on going and we'll see where we end up!