Ad hoc childcare

[lechatnoir]

My DH is a PT SAHD to our 2 boys age 1 & 4 but keen to build up his own business now DS1 has started school. Until he is more established we can't afford to commit to regular nursery sessions (plus there isn't one near us I like) so we thought a CM might work. Is ad hoc childcare something child-minders usually consider? It really would be a case of DH getting a job one day & ringing the CM to see if she can look after DS2 the next and possibly also collect DS1 from school.

Any thoughts? As a CM would you consider this? I figure it might work for someone who doesn't want lots of children regularly but like the idea of the odd extra days work (plus DS2 is very easy ). Any other solutions to reasonable ad hoc child-care we should consider?

Thanks in advance
LCN

tbh i guess the best thing to do is phone around local CMs and ask

you will have to accept that they may well have a place and if they can find a permenant person any place you find may dissappear without notice to you.

I would first look at the CMs who pick up already from your olders childs school.

tbh i think you would be better off finding/using an ad hoc nanny as you have 2 under 5's

many advertise theirselves on netmums so have a look in your area - meet a few and then once your dh finds work have a ring round and see who is free that day

the problem with using a cm and giving her no notice is that she then may be over her numbers (most have 3 under 5)and then wouldnt be free (where nannys dont have that problem)

Some childminders (myself included) have peculiar / unfillable spaces that they'd be happy to fill on an ad hoc basis. It depends how flexible your DH can be. I'd certainly encourage you to ask around although, as mentioned, if someone came along with a permanent child we'd be foolish to turn it down as Childminding is our livelihood.

I am a cm and i do adhoc care, but i make it clear that if all my spaces are full i can't offer a space.

My CM does this for me for my two DD's (she is lovely ). I was made redundant and we dropped to one day a week, however since then i have had ad-hoc work and phone her up as and when. We have increased to 2 days a week though, so not all ad-hoc.

She has a helper (who normally helps 1-2 days per week) who she can call on if numbers increase on other days and also minds with another CM if they both have one 'space' available.

However, if she says no, then i have to turn down work or ask to delay it until i can get some childcare. It all seems to work out somehow

I would say though, at least one regular session a week if you can afford it would let DS2 bond with the CM and give you a 'base' to work from IYSWIM?

Some do, some don't. We use a CM who does mainly holiday and after school care and is willing to have boy on a ad hoc basis. I try and get as much notice as possible on work and don't "ink in" work till I have childcare sorted.
Your DS1 being school age may help as he won't count in a CMs early years numbers.

Thank you all. I think given I live in a fairly small village my first stop will be calling the local CM (all 4 of them ) and see if this is something they would consider and if not, look into the nanny route which sounds good but pricey!

Thanks again.
LCN

I do but charge a bit more for it, plus they are always made to understand that if a full time place came up for me to fill it would take priority (do give them notice though of course)

I do ad hoc and all but one of my mindees come on this basis.

I enjoy the extra cash when they are here and the time when they aren't.

However I don't need a full time income so it works for me but as others have said, most childminders would only offer this service if they weren't full at the time

I do ad-hoc but I do not save any spaces for this - its a case of ringing/emailing at the earliest opportunity and accepting that I may not be able to say yes. I can only accept bookings if I have an unfilled vacancy or a contracted child is sick/on holiday etc.

Alternatively, if a guaranteed place is required (except when childminder is sick or on holiday), you can pay a retainer fee to reserve your time slots and then pay full fees for time used and the retainer fee for any unused time periods (some childminders will require full fees though).