How soon should I be looking for a childminder?

[Applemuncher]

Hi

I'm due my first baby in March but it's looking like I'll only be able to have about 3 months off work before I return full time.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how soon I should be trying to find a childminder?

What's the protocol for contact? If there's an e mail address is it okay to e mail a list of questions?

Thanks in advance

Hi
Its perfectly ok to email. I would suggest firstly just a short mail to check availability for the time you want. You could then arrange to go and see them informally where you can ask any questions that you have. If you are lucky enough to have a number of childminders with availability and dont wish to visit too many then by all means ask further questions before deciding who to visit.

Start looking now. It means you'll have plenty of time to visit childminders.

Never too soon to start sourcing a childminder.

However a childminder is not supposed to take a retainer for an unborn child.

Can second that it really is never too early to start looking.

I do alot of business via e-mail and alot of first contact is made that way. So it's fine to email :)

was wondering this myself as looking to go back to work end may and starting to look now

sorry to hijack thread but one question - is a retainer payable then taken off first bill oor is this a fee to keep the place for you and not refundable in anyway?

There are two ways of 'reserving' your space

A retainer can only be charged for a space that is already available but you do not want to take it up with immediate effect. A retainer is normally only a percentage of what is the normal charge.
You cannot expect a minder to keep a space open for a period of time without being charged for it - although there are some minders will.

The other is a deposit to secure the space.

It is up to the minder if the deposit is to be used against the space or purely kept as a deposit. It should be clearly stated though what the intention of it is.
For example I take a two week deposit and this will be used as security in reseving the space and kept til the end of the contract and offset against the final fees.
The deposit is non refundable if the contract is not taken up as agreed.

Thanks pippin thats what I had assumed would be the case if space available now then retainer paid to keep space or from when the space becomes available til I need it as such I pay a retainer

also happy for deposit to work that way as gives the childminder some security and understand why you would do that.