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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

help cm's - what should i do??

30 replies

ladyoflincoln · 26/01/2007 18:37

i am a newly reg childminder and i currently look after mindee 1 (14 months) on a tuesday & thursday 8-6. late april, i have mindee 2 (also 14 months) coming for 12 weeks. his mum is having an operation that needs 12 weeks recovery time. some weeks he will be full time, other weeks maybe only a couple of days.

now i have a person wanting a full time place for a 6mnth old baby, beginging late april.

this would mean on a tuesday and thursday i could potentially have two 16 month olds and a baby to care for! i don't really want to say no to the baby because mindee 2 is only with me for 12 weeks..

should i:

a) look into employing an assistant on tuesday and thursday for those 12 weeks?

b) say no to the baby wanting a full time space?

c) take on the baby and prepare myself for two days a week of severe stress for those 12 weeks?

d) any other suggestions???

Please help, sorry it is so long winded!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

shosha · 26/01/2007 18:46

Message withdrawn

StrawberrySnowflakes · 26/01/2007 19:04

i think it would be great..hard but great

mykidzrmyworld · 26/01/2007 19:27

imo i would do it as it is only temp and I certainly wouldnt want to turn down a full time space!

nannynick · 26/01/2007 19:30

Are there any other children to take into account, for example your own children (sorry, haven't researched to establish if you have any children and if so how old they are) and any after-school mindies?

Two toddlers and a baby is doable - presuming you have the usual registration of 3 under 5's of which 1 can be under 1. It is also doable in terms of actual care - I've worked in nursery baby units, where a 1:3 ratio is common place, with all children being under 1. However, it can be restrictive - getting out and about will be like a military exercise... but hey, it's like that with 3 or more children anyway... isn't it?

Having an assistant on your busy days could certainly help, though you will need to factor in things like such as their cost, and time needed to get them approved/CRB checked etc.

Taking on the 6 month old could end up being a long term contract, so financially beneficial. However, not all parents find it easy returning to work, so could in practice only be for a short period. No easy way to tell on that one alas.

If it were me... I'd take option C.

ThePrisoner · 26/01/2007 19:31

I would also do it, but I've got lots of experience with these ages (with my own family and with childminding).

How much experience do you have with young children?

Do you think that any of the parents would have a problem with you minding all of them?

shosha · 26/01/2007 19:35

Message withdrawn

smeeinit · 26/01/2007 19:37

i look after 9 month old twins aswell as a 3 yr old and i can tell you that 2 little ones are bleedin hard work! BUT preperation counts for everything.
i would do it if i were you and just make sure you are prepared for the days you will have them all. 12 weeks will fly by!

smeeinit · 26/01/2007 19:38

shosha u still awake?!!!!!

shosha · 26/01/2007 19:43

Message withdrawn

Original poster

ladyoflincoln · 26/01/2007 19:44

wow, thanks for replies so far!

my own children are ds aged 12 and dd aged 6. dh has said he would take them to school in the morning on tues & thurs. after school 12 ds can be a great help - entertaining tired little ones and fetching/carrying as requested!! (no doubt will be wanting extra pocket money though )

in the past (before minding) i sometimes looked after my friends twin boys (they were about 2) along with my dd (then 3). it was certainly hard work!

i wouldn't want to have this mix of ages on a permanent basis. just thinking that maybe for 2 days a week for 12 weeks i could make it work? we go to a 'jo jingles' group thursday pm, so i would definately need an extra pair of hands for that!

OP posts:

LoveMyGirls · 26/01/2007 19:47

I have got 3 under 18mths - 6mths, 13mths and 16mths, 2 of them don't walk, i have had to buy quite alot of equiptment and i have a 2.5yr old after 13mth old goes home, i only have her part time.

it's like having 2 full timers.

As long as you are organised you should be fine.

LoveMyGirls · 26/01/2007 19:52

I do have my dd1 who is 7 who does help out sometimes.

ThePrisoner · 26/01/2007 19:55

I've currently got four mindees a couple of days a week - 5mths, 23mths, 24mths, 2.5 years! (And I swap the baby for another 2.5yr old on the third day). A while ago, it was 3 under 14mths.

It is hard work because I'm doing it by myself, but it can be fun!! Be organised.

Original poster

ladyoflincoln · 26/01/2007 19:58

wow prisoner! (bows down with respect..)

OP posts:

ThePrisoner · 26/01/2007 20:21

Every time I want something, Ofsted just say yes. I moan about them all the time (mostly on MN), but they still love me!!

shosha · 26/01/2007 20:23

Message withdrawn

Tan1959 · 27/01/2007 01:42

Ok, so they will be sixteen months old then; Is the main difficulty that you see, going out with them? if so that could be difficult if one is not a walker but if you have double buggy + buggy board, that would solve that problem. Do you provide lunch/dinner for them? perhaps cook in advance reducing amount of time in kitchen. Only other thing I can think of is to settle six month old baby in before April so no unsettled baby by the time the second 16 month old comes. Oh a 'conveyor belt' is handy too

I used to have a 6 month old, a 7 month old & 15 month old for a couple of days a week. When I first started out about 2.5 years ago, I found it a bit daunting but soon got into the swing of things. Definately hard work but if you are organised with a capital O its fine.

I now only have 14 month old two days, 14 month old + 2.3 year old, on day 3 & two 2.3 year olds on day 4 plus 5 year old triplets with 7 year old sibling before & after school, 5 days & they all get along just great .

Let us all know what you decide.

Original poster

ladyoflincoln · 09/02/2007 11:19

just to update - i have agreed to take the full time baby on, she will be 6mnths when she starts, in late april.

i decided against an assistant, but i am getting a crb check for my mum as although is not getting paid or supervising mindee's, she will be a frequent visitor and source of support

i have also asked my husband to make sure he is not working long hours for those 12 weeks..

my friend who is a cm is lending my some extra things (highchair, etc.) and i may invest in a triple buggy (a la vicky pollard!)

first three weeks of april we are visiting my sister in australia [very excited face], so i at least at the start of the 12 weeks i will be rested and relaxed, if not at the end........

thanks again for support/advice

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WanderingTrolley · 09/02/2007 11:33

Didn't see this thread initially.

I've had 18 month twins and a baby - the twins went in a double pushchair and the baby went in a sling. Much cheaper than a triple buggy!

Also cheaper than a double buggy is a set of clips to connect a single buggy on the side, if that would work.

Scroll about halfway down.

StrawberrySnowflakes · 09/02/2007 16:57

for items to be used for short periods of time(ie: 6 week stints) try find out if you have a local surestart/toy library, i loaned my brand new double buggy for 6 weeks at a time(had it 12 weeks now) for 50p!!!!!!!!!!!!!..a big saving esp as youll only have Lo for 12 weeks!

Original poster

ladyoflincoln · 09/02/2007 17:11

i did wonder about the sling idea - just a bit worried that may/june/july baby may be a bit 'hot and bothered' strapped to my front!

i will look into 'hiring' a triple buggy or if none are available to hire, maybe i should buy one and when i am done with it keep it to hire out to other cm's

OP posts:

Shosha · 09/02/2007 17:17

Message withdrawn

Original poster

ladyoflincoln · 09/02/2007 17:24

i was thinking of getting one of

these

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ThePrisoner · 09/02/2007 21:08

I use a triple buggy and did a quick google to do a link to show a photo of the type I use ... rather worringly, the 3rd search answer (out of 76,800!) turned out to be my comments on a Mumsnet thread here

Original poster

ladyoflincoln · 09/02/2007 22:39

thanks for that prisoner . hubby would be doing school run in the morning for my own 2 children, and i would only need to transport 3 little one's locally - eg. to cm group, jo jingles music group, afternoon school run, etc. no shopping trips or round town etc.

mostly i could get away with using my single and my double (with my good old mum pushing one!) & also my next-door neighbour (who is a cm)could sometimes offer a seat in her double buggy when we go places together.

just want to make sure i am covered for any situation really, eg. if i had no help - could i still get out!!

i am trying to think of other ways to make life easier with three under 2's - we are having a downstairs cloakroom put in this week - perfect for nappy changes, handwashing, quick wee for harrased cm etc. any suggestions/tips very welcome!

OP posts:

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