Babies....

[crace]

I have unexpectedly been blessed to have my new (and only!) mindee starting on Thurs. She was meant to only be here 7-1 but mummy and daddy just bought a new house and need to work straight out on it to get luxuries such as heat and hot water (bless them)

ANYWAY - the baby is with me from 7-7 which is a long ole day for a 9.75 month old.

I am going to pull all my baby toys out and rotate through the day; sing songs; read books; help baby walk and crawl through house; and feed her over and over.

But what else? I just don't want her (and me frankly) to be overwhelmed and bored. We luckily have two school runs to go out to, and she will be in a buggy for 30-40 mins twice a day for that. I have my own 13.5 month old too, which is a bit tricky.

i have 6mth old, 13mth old and 16mth old we go to toddlers in the morning and they sleep in the afternoon also have the school run and feeding nappy chnaging and playing the day soon goes i dont have time to get bored, you'll be fine.

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Unfortunately there is only toddlers around on Tues and Weds (which we will go to next week!) but I am sure you are right that we will be so busy it will fly by.

I haven't done 12 hours with a mindee yet, so just a bit nervous.

LMG - do you ever do anything "structured" for the youngest ones? Planned activities, or is it just free play with them?

CRACE you'll be fine! Once you start going to toddlers that will help with you week.How about going to library story time or a music class for babies.I know not everywhere does things like that tho.
Good luck

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Erm no i dont do structured stuff i don't think, im not a planner i tend to go with the flow, i try to do what the babies want and need me to do.

Quite a bit of time is spent feeding changing putting in and the car/ pushchair, changing nappies, putting them down for naps, preparing food/ bottles and of course playing which can be toys, toddler group, singing, going in the bouncer/ walker, lying on the floor etc

I do, do activities sometimes for eg today i had 7yr old, 2.5yr old, 16mth old and 6mth old and we did cornflour which all but 6mth old enjoyed.

I think at that age interacting with them alot is key, they are learning from you constantly all the time they are watching/listening to you and as long as their needs are met and they are in a calm stimulating environment you can't go far wrong.

Dont panic so much.

Btw our routine is quite structured and solid though can be made flexible sometimes.

for eg a typical day may be
7am - mindee 1 arrives aged 13mths
7.15 - breakfast
7.30- change and dress
8am - mindee 2 arrives aged 6mths
8.10am mindee 2 goes for nap
8.45 - mindee 1 naps on school run
9.05 - feed mindee2 breakfast
9.15 - toddlers where we play
10.30am - snack and juice
10.45 feed mindee2 bottle
11am - leave toddlers
11.15am - get lunch for mindee1 and my own dd 16mths
11.25 - put mindee 2 down for nap
11.30 - feed mindee 1 and dd2
12.15pm - change and put to bed mindee 1 and dd2
If all 3 are asleep i will tidy up get some lunch chat and mn
When mindee 2 wakes i feed and change (obv nappy changes happen at various points throughout the day but i do tend to have set times for these ive found)
and usually we play with the door bouncer, baby gym, soft toys, books, singing etc
2pm mindee1 goes home
2.15pm dd2 wakes up
2.50pm pick up mindee 3
3pm school run
3.30 home and snacks, drinks, nappy changes
4pm feed mindee2
4.10pm homework
4.30 prepare dinner
4.50ish mindee2 is picked up
5pm serve dinner (while i tidy up a bit)
6pm mindee 3 goes home.
7pm serve myself a well deserved dinner and glass of wine lol!!!!!!!

OMG 7am start? You sound like you're very organised!! And you totally deserve a very large glass of wine at the end of your day!!! Do you have those mindees everyday?

I start tomorrow with a 7 month baby and I'm very excited!! She's only coming one day a week but also have 2 toddlers who come 3 days each.

I have them all everday except mindee 3 and mindee 2 finishes half day wed and fri so friday i finish at 2pm

LMG, you deserve a medal!

children love routine and i'm sure once baby starts your routine will flow
all my mindees now know what to do in snack time/dinner time
and 2 yr old know which groups we go to on what days
and when i say sleep time they just get up and follow me to bed (bless)
you will be fine

Thanks all - definitely learning my way round this one.. the baby is meant to be here from 7-1 and has been here 7-7 for two days. Just had text from mum, can I do it all next week too.

Love to, love the baby - but exhausting!! It's a long old day.. and 6-7 is major grizzle time but I give her a bath and dinner and just distract distract distract.

There isn't much a routine, just loads of singing, reading, and playing. And thank heavens for the school run to get them out and about.

Must say that I am starting to feel like a "real" childminder - though need to get very organised for my inspection and environmental health. groan