Childminders- do I have any hope??!

[MissTapestry]

I'm after a CM to start at 6.15am. It's not going to happen is it?! Is it even worth looking or should I quit my job wrack my brains for other options?

How often do you need that start time? Is it shift work or every day?
I do 6.30 starts for a nurse but it is usually only once or twice a week. Every 3/4 weeks.

I know another CM in my area who starts at 6am some weeks.

Email or call a few in your area to see.

It's twice a week, every week. I've sent out a few emails and had one reply, and the lady said she doesn't start that early and she doesn't know anyone else who does either. It's good to know that you do though thanks.

I used to start at 5.50.
Mum had to get 2 buses to work and started at 7am.
She was very grateful as every other person she asked said No and also said she would never fine anyone to do it.
All you can do is ring a few and ask around x x

Just ask when you contact them-I had my first mindee come at 5.50 this morning!

Do ring though, it's harder to sya no to someone who sounds nice on the phone.....

My CM started at 7am for me 2 days a week and sometimes had children there already, so I don't think it's a massive ask for the right CM. Keep plugging on, i'm sure you'll fin someone

An au pair would be a better option. How old is your child? Seems very unfair for him/her to be woken up and taken somewhere at that time in the morning

It will be very difficult to find but you might just get lucky so definitely ask around. I wouldn't start this early but I know a childminder who had a 6am start last year. She agreed with the parents that she would get out of bed at 5 minutes to six and answer the doorbell in the bathrobe! She used to put the baby in a travel cot while she had her shower. Everybody seemed happy with this arrangement.

Thanks everyone, I just needed a glimmer of hope that it could be done. I'll keep looking
DD will be just 1 when I go back to work, I'd love for her not to have to get up at that time, but it's not really something I can change unfortunately.

can you afford a nanny? that's going to be tough on a 1 year old or change your working hours?

There's no way of changing my hours, I had to negotiate to get just two early starts. I'm feeling quite fragile about having to leave her at all, so the guilt trip about making her get up early isn't really helping, thanks though!

I don't think many child minders start that early. In fact getting one even before 8 am can be difficult. But that's not to say you won't find anyone. Good luck.

Feel for you, it's a sad situation that people have to make these choices to hold on to a job. I drop my kids at 7.15 and for me to get them up there we are up at 6. My 18 month old is fine it's my 9 year old that its tough on. Babies are very adaptable so I'm sure your little one would adjust.

Are there any childminders who are newly set up as they may be more willing to be flexible than ones already established.

Good luck op.

No additional advice on finding a CM other than to phone and ask but just wanted to say that early starts are MUCH easier on babies than school-aged children. I am currently on ML but when working I have to drop my DCs at 7.15-7.30am and have been doing so for 6 years now. Getting DD1 up and ready was much simpler - she could travel in sleepsuit, eat breakfast with CM and would be ready for a nap just after the school run.

It is hard to leave them but if you find the right CM then it will all be fine. I have had 2 GREAT CMs and my DDs love both of them, even though we will have to find a nanny now we have 3 for practical reasons.

Good luck

Thank you, I know she'll be fine really, we aren't ones for routine much anyway, and it's never been a problem for her, she's quite laid back. I hadn't realised quite how tough it would be to even think about going back to work, I've been burying my head in the sand and pretending it isn't happening. (Waiting to win the lottery!)
Something will come together

I agree with looking or a newly registered one.

Now I'm established I can afford to be choosy and have current mindees to work around. I already have some that stay until 7pm and I couldn't hack a 13 hour day with 3 of my own dc to sort after that. However a local cm to me would do it as she's struggling to get mindees and presumably it's an earlier finish too (?)

Ignore ReetPetit. Considering many 1 year olds are up and bouncing by 6am daily of their own volition, it's hardly child abuse.

i am registering as a CMer and i would open at that time, but it would be a higher rate until 8am. keep ringing round lots of CMers and ask amongst other colleagues, friends and family. dont give up work just for that reason alone! that's madness- if you cant get a CMer, consider a nanny. or even could a family member have her for an hour or two until 7.30/8am?

Did i say it was child abuse???
Its clearly not ideal - simply asked if op could Afford a nanny/have an au pair....

Would you be happy with your DD being in a travel for whilst the CM had her shower, like a previous poster had suggested? Because there's probably far more who would be happy to do that than who would agree to be up, dressed and ready for 6 :)

Could you get a live in nanny? They would do the early two days plus the other 3 days at normal hours. As they are living in, they could also just listen out for baby from 6am and get ready etc rather than ready to start on 6am sharp

ReetPetit - There is loads of one year old who go to bed earlier and start there day earlier. I don't see how your comment about it being tough on a one year old was helpful to OP at all.

I must admit I struggled to find a CM in my area who started at 7am. All you can do is keep trying!

Is it also worth asking where you work if people know of any childminders that start that early - presumably you're not the only one with,an early start?

Or a childminder near your work?