When to look for a childminder?

[Rollersara]

I'd like DD to go to a childminder starting January 2013. How long in advance do childminders tend to book up? Should I be looking for someone already or should I wait till nearer the time?

Thanks :)

It will depend how many cms there are in your area really so i can't answer how far in advance they will be booked up where you are.

What I can say though is that it can't hurt to start looking sooner rather than later. I started looking six months before I went back to work and found someone I really liked after a month or so. I started sending DD for an hour a week and gradually built it up to one and a half days so it was a really smooth transition when i went back to work full time.

By giving yourself plenty of time it gives you a better chance of finding someone you are really comfortable with rather than just OK with. But you might have to be prepared to pay a retainer though.

Best of luck

I would look around and ask, as some cm's get booked up in advance. Plus it would give you time to choose the right cm for you.

Thanks for that, I'll start looking, just didn't want to waste mine and their time by enquiring too early!

They will often know some way in advance what their vacancies will be - for example my current mindee is on a short term contract so I have known since January that he would only be with me till July. My next mindee starts in August - I had people coming to me with enquiries from February onwards.