How far in advance do parents search for childcare?

[LingDiLong]

On average do you think? I'm about to be registered as a childminder and am starting to advertise...just wondering if people contact me in the next few weeks when would they be likely to want me to start?

Also, do most childminders ask for a deposit, and if so how much?

Thanks!

Most of the enquiries that I get are about 2-6 weeks in advance. Some parents do call even before the baby is born so it does vary. I have also had someone asking for care for the following day.

I take a 4 week deposit which can be used towards the last month's fees.

All different, have had bumps with months in advance and ASAP starters. Yes get a deposit of at least a month.

Really best of luck for your business.

Thanks thebody :)

Glad I asked about deposits now, I'd been thinking of asking for a week!

when I was looking for childcare for DD all the childminders I rang were horrified I was looking for someone when she was 6 weeks to start at 6 months - thry were all booked up a year in advance!

It varies. I have interviewed pregnant mums looking for care for when said (unborn) child would be a year old... and also had people looking for care the next day (far too late!!! BUT some CMs might have a child suddenly leave or something). There is no given.

I ask for a deposit of a month's care, to cover myself.

I've had calls (such as yesterday) from people wanting childcare to start 5-6 motnhs down the line, or some wanting an immediate start. I usually ask for a deposit to.

I ended up ringing about a week or two in advance which was quite nerve wracking! Luckily found a good one straight away. Mine didn't ask for a deposit, I think it would be a good idea to, I was so flustered with the sudden start (heard about uni place 2 weeks before I started) that I didn't actually get around to paying her anything until a month in I am still paying off the arrears and it's been over a year now. So if you want to avoid this situation it's probably best to get a deposit and set up payment arrangements before the child starts.

Thanks everybody, will definitely ensure I get a month's deposit.

With dc1 I went looking at provision before she was born & had her place booked in a dreadful nursery. Whereas with dc2 I have just found a place today for a job I start in less than 3 weeks (which I really wasn't expecting to get - as you may be able to tell!) Luckily for me & cm she was losing one of her regulars the week I wanted to start. So I suppose that's a v long-winded way of saying its horses for courses really!
Good luck with your new job

With Ds's first CM I started looking 3 months in advance, with his second (due to house move) I had the CM booked before we had somewhere to live! So 4 or 5 months in advance.