Childminder: how do I go about finding one to start in a year from now or is that ridiculous?

[maggie75]

Im 34 weeks pregnant and people have started to scare me into beginning to think about childcare for when I return to work. Im planning on taking a year off. How do I go about finding a childminder for in a year's time? Or is this something sorted out nearer the time? I live in Walthamstow, east london.

I've had many pregnant ladies call me and I just explain my own situation and usually tell them to call nearer the time. You could always ring round some though as if they happen to have a child moving up to school etc around the time you want to start then there's no reason a place can't be booked. I've booked some children in to start in January, just taken deposits as the space isn't available until then. If you want to reserve a space with a childminder then some will take a retainer to keep the space open for you. BUT...this can't be done until the baby has been born.

HTH and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

If I were in your position, I'd look closer to the time. A year is a very long time to be making plans. You could find someone you liked and they could fall pg, have a baby and be on maternity leave when you needed them to start in that time-frame!

hi maggie75, much too soon to be considering childcare. im a c/m and the earliest i interview is about 6 months before start date.( most parents call me when they are due back to work in around 3 months) when your ready, contact your local council for the registered c/m vacancy list. good luck with pregnancy! x

I'm in SW London I looked about 3 months before I needed one.

The cm that ds goes to has already had enquiries about next September ... and I am going to be putting down a deposit and signing a contract with her as soon as this baby is born (am 37 weeks pg right now) to ensure that that I have a place booked.

but...

this is an unusual situation, as the school where ds goes only has 2 CMs who drop off and pick up from there, and I really want this lo to go to the same CM (for convenience' sake!)

i have had people book in with me from about 30 wks pregnant
the only downside is, i have just been let down i have kept the place open for the child for a yr (nobody has been using the place for 3mths now) and then a call out of the blue yesterday the mother has now decided to stay at home with baby and not go back to work (baby is 4wks old)
i never took a deposit as when they looked around they liked it but said they would think about it then they phoned to say they would love the place and each time we have arranged another visit she was not feeling well
oh well

dmo - that sucks!

The cm that ds goes to (and that this one will go to as well), will only have 1 space available - and that's from next September when the child who is currently in the nursery unit goes to school full-time ... Iknow that things could change between now and then, but I want to make sure that this lo has a place with a CM I know, like and respect ... (and I have to go back to work ... my mortgage says so!)

When I was pg with ds, I had to put his name down for childcare (he went to a day nursery for 2 years) when I was 30 weeks pg - I went back to work when he was 5 months old, and then the day nursery I chose only had the space he took available.

However, I can see where people are coming from, in that if I had been looking for a CM at that point, I would have had more time to find somebody.

I've got someone waiting to start in July next year. I really think it depends on the childminders circumstances. I know I've got a space coming up and really took to the family so have said yes to holding the space so when the baby is born (due Oct) I'll do a deposit ( as I don't have a space now, therefore you can only charge a deposit for when you do have make sence if not ask again LOL)

HTH

dmo, thats why i dont consider jobs too far in the future! alot can happen in a year. i think 2 to 3 months is about right, really wouldnt consider more than that.