what time to call a childminder?

[JellyM]

when should I call a childminder to chat about DS being looked after? - during the day is their business hours but surely they are too busy looking after kids to talk about vacancies, arrange a time to come around etc but obviously evenings is outside of their business hours albeit they are doing paperwork etc - what do you think is best?
thanks

Hello i am a childminder and i would say call in the day she can always call you back if she is busy, i wouldnt call at night because its home family time, i always ring back if i carnt talk and when you visit it should be in the day so you can see the other children and make sure they are happy x

I'd suggest calling in the morning (avoiding school run times). You may get an answerphone, if they can't get to the phone or out for a walk/toddlers etc.

Just ask if its convenient, and offer to call back if its not. Childminders will appreciate your having considered this :-)

As a childminder, I find I receive calls at all different times and most frequently at weekends!

I usually make arrangements to speak again at a convenient time which with two or sometimes three mindees under 3 is usually in my "own" time or during nap time. A visit, as Andrea says, should always be during the working day so that I can see how the child interacts with my existing mindees.

I put on my website for call to be 9am-8pm mon to friday but if somebody called me on a weekend I wouldnt hang up on them

I dont answer my phone if i cannot speak - for example if dishing up tea ,changing a nappy or soothing a screaming child whose just fallen over, but i do have an answerphone to take messages so i can phone back - sadly many people just hang up though

I would not hang up on someone (and if I had to I would explain why) who is ringing to ask about my child minding business.

I have it on my business cards that they can ring, leave a message if I am out or they can email and I can return the call/email.

I know what you mean about people hanging up but if you have a small child crawling towards a dangerous situation/if you are changing a nappy or feeding a hungry little one what would you rather do? I would take their number and ring them back at my convenience, prospective parents should understand you are looking after babies and children of varying ages and if they don't, well maybe they need to think about what they want.