Can't decide!

[Blueberrybaby]

I'm torn between 2 childminders. I have a 14 month old. There is a significant price difference between them. We are saving for a deposit on a house, so extra money in our pockets is a definite consideration. Both childminders are less than a 5 minute walk from our home and both collect and drop off at the same school which again is very close by to us all. So there are no advantages to either location wise.

Childminder A is older with young adult children. She has an assistant. She is very experienced. Our child would be one of 3 or 4 children on any given day, plus there are older children she picks up/drops off. The school is close by and reached on foot in less than 5 mins. Food is provided and she has a great food/meal time approach which echoes our own.

Childminder B. Newer to this career. Has young school age children of her own. She only looks after 1 other child close in age to our child, but she would only be there two days a week. It would mean our child would be the only charge for two days a week (aside from when the childminders children return from school). The childminder does activities outside the home, such as children's centres, library, toddler playgroups etc and meets with other childminders, so our child would meet other kids on the 'alone days'. Food is also provided here but I don't think she is as passionate about food as childminder A is (I probably need to ask her more about this).

So if you were me, what would you do? I know you can't really tell me, but I honestly can't decide what is better for our child. I love the food philosophy of childminder A, but B is significantly cheaper and has less charges, but I just can't work out whether more or less children is better or worse! If I could combine them both I would. This is really tough! Appreciate any advice.

Don't choose a childminder based on how many/ages of other minded children. If she's new then chances are she's still building up her client base and more children will join in the near future. Likewise A's mindee list could change.

So I would say go on the one whose values echo your own, the one you feel you could approach about any issue, the price you can afford and/or justify, the setting your dc felt more comfortable, the house you felt she would get more from and the activities/ outings your dc would enjoy the most.

Perhaps you would benefit from visiting both childminders again? You haven't said how they interacted with your LO? Cheaper rates doesn't always mean quality childcare. Experience in childminding is definitely a great bonus too.
I can't tell you which childminder to choose but I will advise you on what you can do to hopefully make the right choice. Only you will know if it feels right.
Read through the policies and procedures or any written references they may have to help you decide.

Good luck

Likewise forresitters I don't think cheaper rates mean poorer quality Childcare either. I charge less than some of the minders local to me but I do just as much. I personally think they charge too much.

They both interacted with her great. I came away really liking them both. That's the problem. She's not a particularly shy child, so I'm not worried about her not liking an environment with more kids. I feel like I am going around in circles. I think another visit is in order to both. Thanks for the advice so far.

Look at how they charge for holidays - bank hols, their hols, your hols etc.

Do they do pre-school drop offs/pick ups (if you use a pre school place when your child is 3), if not it might be a problem in the not too distant future?

Being the only charge wouldn't bother me, but being the only child would. Are B's kids all school age then?

Can't think of anything else at the mo!

Solely on that information, I'd pick Childminder A. She has an assistant, experience and her values seem to mirror yours.

A sounds a lot like my CM. A lot! I think she is bloody marvellous! As soon as I read the A option I said A evenwithout needing to read B (even though I dod then read it).

It's a tough one- new childminders aren't to be snubbed at, one plus in their corner could be that they have bed trained with all the new EYFS changes, so could in theory know more than experienced CM.

Try not take numbers into consideration, because these can change so frequently, and you don't have control over it!

Look at what paperwork they have done on other children, these may be called different things, learning journals/folders/profiles. Ask what if questions...(may not be relevant now but useful to make decision) so what if CM A's assistant is ill? Will CM be over ratio? What would CM B do if she was ill?

What are their holiday policies? Does that affect cost per hour over the year?

Finally when you walk in the house, which one makes you happier? Which one has a happier environment? Those kind of feelings are either there or not, sometimes without rhyme or reason! Ask the questions, but go with your gut!! X

may sound silly,but what is your gut feeling?go back and visit them both again and see how you feel 2nd time around

B - we started with a new childminder and I loved how her business grew with my boys. Always felt included. For me it's a plus she has young children.

If both charged the same who would you chose?

Obv cheaper would help your budget if you really like
Both and can't decide

As others have said don't take other children into it - they can change often

Personally b sounds nice - means you almost get like a nanny daytime ie sole care but your dd will meet other children at activites plus cm may get new mindees asap - so will be busy like a

Sorry that's not much help

If you honestly, really like them both I would go for B. Because she's cheaper and because it's a smaller set-up. Numbers of children can change, but realistically a childminder with an assistant is going to have more children than a childminder without an assistant. I'm not that fussed about food philosophy though. As long as B isn't feeding the children Gregg's and a fruit shoot, I wouldn't worry.

Do make sure that you're looking at everything and not just hourly rate when working out who is cheaper.

ACM88 Having qualifications does not always mean you are better than a cm that has not got the same ones. A cm up the road from me had a L3 years ago and is 20+ years younger than me but I would leave my dog with her! I have taken on many parents who have been to see her. I have always charged more than her as well. NickNacks I do charge more than local cm (well I did! Most of them have brought their fees level with mine now!) I don't think they are worth it! They don't go out anywhere but very locally because they don't drive, only one of them uses the bus and tube to go further afield, they buy pre cooked meals, etc etc. I go to all sorts of things, by car, bus and train. I provide fresh cooked meals.

OP I think as others have said you need to check things like holiday arrangements, I tell my parents when my holidays for the year are in Jan every year so they have plenty of time to make arrangements. I explain what happens if I am off sick (not been for over 3 years) at interview to reassure parents. I would ask what the cm does if she or the Assistant are off sick or on holiday. Does the cm charge for her holidays? I charge half fee for my annual holidays and full fee for BH because I am happy to work them and full fee for parents holiday if they are off when I am working. Other than that I would go on gut feeling. Good luck!