How far in advance to look for childminder?

[MeredithGrey1]

As the title says really, do childminders book weeks/months in advance or is there no point looking for one that far in advance because they just won’t know their availability? My DD is still a newborn and so I have quite a while before I go back to work and need childcare, just not really sure when I need to start looking? Or am I already late??

Start looking, most will start to get enquires early on so it's worth researching your options.

Would definitely start looking, we had to go on the waiting lists of a few nurseries.

It can massively vary area to area but my childminder has no places available until Dec 2020 currently! My DS only got a place because his brother goes so she counted for him as soon as she heard I was pregnant again. Obviously it can change if children leave but it's better to have been in contact so they have your details and if a place comes up they can get in touch

Never too early to start looking. Highly regarded childminders and nurseries will get fully booked and have waiting lists. They should be able to give an indication of their availability months in advance.

I’m a cm and generally can anticipate vacancies coming up by age as I know when dc will be starting nursery/school. It doesn’t always work out for various reasons, but it’s rare that I have an unanticipated vacancy. I also think it depends when you want to start. There are generally lots of vacancies in September as a group of dc will have started in reception, but by June, I would expect all the places to be filled. So, it depends when you need childcare to start.

It doesn’t hurt to get in touch with a few settings and see what they say though.

I looked 6 months before I need one for the start of June and lucky a good childminder in my area had a vacancy at the end of May.

If we hadn't found her we would have had to do what everyone else in my area seems to do, which is travel 2-3 miles out of the way to get good child care. Being in London this can add lots of time on getting to work.

I was just going to start a thread on this. I'm going to need a childminder (in London) for 3 days a week from February BUT my employer is as yet refusing to tell me which 3 days I will be returning! Can I organise one now without knowing this or do I first need to keep putting pressure on my employer to tell me?!

@LittleKitty1985 most will need exact days as it depends on their number and ratios etc.

@Mintypea5 That's what I thought!

It depends. When I tried to enquire with a childminder about 6 months in advance she said too early as she wouldn't know vacancies. Didn't even want to meet me then just in case.

I would ring around now so you have an idea of who you like and possible spaces. Ask to go on a waiting list etc. I'll chat to parents any time after baby arrives so they have an idea of if we get on we discuss when I might have a space and they contact me again a few months before. I have families wanting space for over a years time

Little kitty...you can still make enquiries I often have people wanting a few days but not sure which ones I say what I have available and we work together to find a fit

There is no harm in starting early. At worst, you get a general feel for your options and preferences, maybe ruling out a few that wouldn’t suit you. They might not sign you up, but you can at least register an interest and ask again later. If you leave it late and there’s high demand, then you’re left with the dregs or nothing at all.

IME the opposite is true, and the majority of parents here leave it way too late. But a lot will depend on the supply/demand in your area.

Never to early to start making enquiries. As Jannier mentions, you can at least see if you get along. You may need to see a few cm before you find the right fit.

I've got a current parent who's asked me to look after child number 3 (not even conceived yet!)

I've filled my spaces for September and don't expect another one until next September. That could change though, if someone moves house, or work, or something.

I have had enquiries as far ahead as February 2021 (child not even born yet!) Also children signed up for September 2020 taking the spaces of my current children who will start school then. Not much choice of child care around here though to be fair!!

I started looking early and my preferred and recommended CM didn't have any vacancies for when I needed, so figured I needed to get it sorted now! (6 months prior to start!) I found another CM and secured my place with a deposit. 4 weeks before ds was due to start, she dropped the bombshell that she could no longer have him! All above board and was in the contract I'd signed, just inconvenient.
So, while it's good to be organised... you never know what could happen!!

Whilst I am always pleased to meet new parents I could not offer a space unless I knew exactly when they wished to start.
The reason for this is that I do not have a waiting list as usually when children come to me they tend to stay for a long time. I have members of the same family that have been with me for 14 years.
However I would not give an outright refusal. I would probably invite them round, give them a chance to view the setting and give them a business card and ask them to call me nearer the time if they were interested as no one can predict what may happen