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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Childminders - what is it really like??!! Lots of questions!

14 replies

catsmutha · 22/08/2006 17:57

I'm in a dilemma, thinking about taking up childminding instead of going back to previous work, my own baby daughter is now 5 months. I work long hours and cant do part time, usually not home til 7pm and cant bear thought of never seeing her - and cant find right childcare for those hours.

I do love kids and get on well with them but no previous experience or training apart from own niece/friends little ones. I'm going to a CIS session tomorrow but I'd like other childminders to give me advice from the horses mouth on;

How long it takes to get started - ofsted inspection, did you find it hard to get first mindees with no references?

On balance is it worth doing as a way to spend time with your own young child - its my main reason for doing it but i dont know if i'm being naive to negative points of childminding. Do you find you have enough quality time with your own?

I have 3 cats, is this a problem for Ofsted / parents generally?Very well behaved and dont go near our baby..

Is £5 per hour too much for new childminder? I'm in Hackney

Sorry for variety of questions.. main one is about time with own child

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FeelingOld · 22/08/2006 18:40

I love being a childminder, my mindees are great (it's the parents who can be the problem )
Seriously though I started childminding 2 years ago, I used to work part time and relied on my parents 2 days per week to pick kids up from school, but my dad became ill and could not longer do it so I needed a job where I would be able to pick them up myself and be there for them in the holidays and childminding fits the bill perfectly.
It usually takes a min of 3 months to get registered (longer in some areas) and it can take a while to get your first mindee. It took me about 3 months to find my first one after being registered but I now have 13 part-timers on my books.
As for charges, they vary enourmously depending where you live and as I live in the E midlands don't know how much other minders charge in your area, best thing to do is ring a few or look on childcare link website.

Good luck what ever you decide

HappyMumof2 · 22/08/2006 18:47

Message withdrawn

dmo · 22/08/2006 21:36

i love being a c/m the best job in the world
children are great (its the parents)
cats should not be a problem to OFSTED as long as their dishes are out of the way
dont know bout money side in your area best to ask around
i only started c/m when my boys were at school to me this is best as i cant imagine having my own under 4 plus someone elses
but different things work for different people
the best bit is all the little ones love my boys and we all go to sports day/christmas plays to watch the boys (they have their own fan club)

Original poster
catsmutha · 22/08/2006 23:20

Thanks to those who've already answered, its nice to read positive things about childminding. Another question i should have asked;

Is it as difficult as some other mumsnet posters say to get a full time mindee? Sounds like i could really only cope with one child at the moment while my baby is young, so would need a full time mindee to be financially viable. Is this unrealistic? Be honest !

OP posts:
HappyMumof2 · 23/08/2006 07:55

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saltire · 23/08/2006 08:16

£5.00 an hour! if i tired to charge that in my part of Fife i'd never get any mindees. I suppose though that's normal for your area.
I think it also depends on the area with regards to your question about full-time mindees. I live in an area which houses a lot of Military families and there is quite a demand for full time minders.
I have just finished with my full time mindee and have the 2 wee boys i've had since the oldest was a baby. I have them three days a week. I'm enjoying getting some free time, but i also enjoy minding. As someone said below, it's not the children, it's the parents! I started minding as i found it difficult to get childcare when i moved down south ( before all the WTC and CTC came in).

Jensmum · 23/08/2006 10:59

£5!! I'm lucky to get £3 it varies so much in different areas.

Have a look here to find local minders and their prices.

It does have an impact on your own kids, this is the first summer holidays I've had mindees and I've not been able to take dd out as much as normal (which might be a blessing, last year I could easily spend £100 a week taking her out a couple of times)

I started part time and have only recentley gone full time - this worked out really well for me as I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was.

I don't know what it's like in your area but I know round here to get a full time income minders have lots of children on their books on part time contracts and then bump it up a bit more by getting a few school runs.

Do you go to any toddler groups? You'll meet loads of childminders at them and be able to let parents know you're registering so may get mindees that way

HappyMumof2 · 23/08/2006 11:01

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pointydog · 23/08/2006 11:17

But all the childminders I know mind more than one child, happy mum! £3 per hour per child.

Jensmum · 23/08/2006 15:59

At the moment I have 2 children so it works out I bring in £6 an hour but then after toddler groups, new toys and all the rest it works out I'm on less than minimum wage.

Most childminders near me charge £3.50 an hour or £25 a day (Mine is £3/£20) I didn't find out until after I signed contracts with mindees mum so if I take on another I'll put it up to the same as the others.

HappyMumof2 · 23/08/2006 18:32

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Original poster
catsmutha · 24/08/2006 08:33

I went to the CM introductory session yesterday, thought you might be interested to know - Hackney average is £5 per hour (varying between £3 and 10) Per day £30 (varying £20-45) and per week £172 (varying £100-220). We do have our ridiculous London rent/mortage/higher costs of everything (!) to cover if thats any consolation for the higher ones..

I have decided to go back to work as really thinking about it i would need to take so many children on to get what i need moneywise for mortgage etc i cant imagine having the quality time with my own, i know its possible but i dont think for me. Back to the heartache of thinking about full time childcare, at least i know more about childminding from my pov as a mum, and all the inspection and training you have to go through make me feel better about using a CM - you all sound lovely and dedicated to your jobs! Now can anyone help me find a childminder who'll look after my dd til 6.30 or 6.45pm!!? (Got an ad up in classfieds already)

OP posts:
ziopin · 03/09/2006 21:40

Hi

Have recently employed a lovely new nanny. She has fitted in really well with our frantic family life and the kids love her. Only one problem, she's not the best cook in the world!

Our old nanny would always cook a cooked lunch for the babies which would always include at least 2 veg, and they would always snack on at least 2 pieces of fruit a day too! (I know a real Mary Poppins!!)

Our new nanny prefers to treatthem to sausage rolls or pasties bought from the bakery & crisps. They also get to drink Coke!! She has enforced the fruit though, but I want her to be a bit more hands on with preparing good healthly meals for them (am frightened they will prefer this junk food!!)

What should I do?

ziopin · 03/09/2006 21:42

Sorry I didn't mean to post this here!!

So sorry

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