I have a 9 month old DS and work 25 hours a week from home, at the moment my work mostly fits into his nap times and I do another couple of hours once he goes to bed. It's really wearing me out though, he still wakes 2-3 times a night & I get next to no time to actually relax. So DP & I have decided that from the new year we need some sort of childcare for just 1 or 2 days a week.
I've done a bit of research & think that a child minder is probably the best option for us & I've found one who looks good one paper. I haven't actually made any contact yet as I'm not to sure how it works. I know they recommend a few settling in sessions before starting properly but how far in advance should these start?
Basically what I need to know is how soon should I contact her (or anyone, as I'm aware she may not be suitable or have spaces) if I want him to start properly in January. Also what should I be looking out for, what kind of questions should I be asking?
Would 1 day a week be too confusing/unsettling for DS or would he get used to it?
As you can probably tell I haven't really got a clue about any of this, in my rosy tinted world of pregnancy I imagined him playing serenely at my feet while I typed merrily away with my perfectly manicured nails and the house elves got on with the washing up! 