Where do I start?!

[Cocofish]

Hi everyone
I’ve just joined mumsnet and this is my first post. I’m only 14 weeks pregnant with my first baby, but already starting to panic about the future - moving house, finances, my work... never mind actually looking after a baby!!
I’ve been looking at childcare options for the future just to get an idea of what’s out there and the costs. I can find several sites listing registered childminders in my area but can’t see any with ratings/ feedback etc, are there sites which provide that info? If not how do you find recommendations?
Also I’m curious to know how flexible childminders generally are. For example if I’m attending university and therefore have irregular hours, plus large blocks of time (summer hols etc) when I would need only minimal childcare if any, is it possible that I could find a childminder to fit in with that?
Thank you to anyone who can offer me any advice, I really appreciate it!

Hiya,
If you go to lots of baby groups and activities you will probably see a lot of childminders around, you can then quietly observe how they interact with the children and how the children are around them. You can visit various childminders to get a feel for their settings and if you get a good feeling from them.
I'm not sure about the varying hours but I know there are a few childminders around us who will take a retainer for school holidays, say £25 a week to hold the place open. They can often fill these holiday spots with children they look after before and after school.
Hope that helps!
For what it's worth our childminder is amazing and my boys are thriving with her : )

My childminder is on a term time contract only, she does work in the holidays but I only have to pay for the actual hours I use. During term times I pay a set amount per week for my contracted hours whether I use them or not - you could ask if a CM would do this?

Please calm down! I used to be a stress head, looking ahead etc and it doesn't make life easier. You should enjoy each stage of your life and only worry when you have to. Enjoy just being pregnant...there will be plenty of time to sort out childcare. I realized that things just slot together, when needed. I do know what I am talking about, cos as a nanny I have been 'let go' a lot (I have been in childcare for 30 years) and had a panic about my next job. Every time, something came up... Even in a small village, the mother and baby group has about 3+ childminders who go too. One day when you are starting to think....I have to find childcare, Get talking to other mums/childminders etc. Good luck and RELAX! Also, don't stress about ratings. Some childminders are fantastic, but their paperwork might not be up to standard etc. Get to know them, talk to other mums, go with your instincts.

Yes, my last childminder was only satisfactory because their paperwork was sketchy. However, it was sketchy because they spent the whole day outside playing with the kids and doing fun stuff. Ratings are a snapshot of one day, and paperwork. Go with your gut.

I don't think a ratings system works for childminders etc. what you might want from childcare isn't what someone else wants.

My kids love our childminder, but she doesn't get great ofstead ratings because she's too busy playing to do paperwork!

Thank you so much for all the replies, so helpful. It's good to know that finding someone with lots of flexibility isn't impossible, and also I hadn't really thought of those points re childminder ratings, def food for thought. And yes, I probably should try to chill out a bit about it all, that's what my husband keeps telling me too! Thanks everyone