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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

CM with 1 year old

7 replies

MuppetMum · 01/04/2008 09:19

Hi everyone! Hoping you will be able to help me as I start my childminding career! I am in the process of applying just now and have my own baby who is now 9 months old. Was just wondering if any of you have started CM with your own young baby and if so what age groups you think would be best to work with. I am trying to decide whether to look for a part time baby or to do after school pick up/holiday care for older kids. Any ideas on which would work best for my little one who will probaby be around 1 when I start?

Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nannynick · 01/04/2008 09:26

What age range of children do you have experience of? Easier to work with children of an age you have cared for in the past.

Think about if having only after schoolers is financially viable. You may find that you need to fill an under 5 place on a full time basis to help pay the bills. A 3 year old who is going to morning pre-school may work well.
Or another child of very similar age to your own - gives your child a playmate.

fishie · 01/04/2008 09:31

my cm has a son four months younger than ds, so hers was 9m and mine 13m when he started. it has been really great, they are like twins (cm is a twin herself) and means that they can do the same activities and things are generally centred around that age. she has three older children (7-9) after school and hols, but they didn't start till the younger boys were 18m or so.

Original poster

MuppetMum · 01/04/2008 11:43

Thanks very much. I have no experience with young children. I was a secondary school teacher and have helped out with Girls Brigade (ages 4/5) but that is it. I only need to cover food and clothing bills as we have realy tightened the budget. i hope to be able to take just one or two midnded children just now and maybe when dd is older expand a bit. I do love the idea of her having a playmate as I am an only child.

Have more to think about now.

Cheers.

OP posts:

SazzlesA · 01/04/2008 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mybestfriendiscalledstig · 01/04/2008 11:55

I would agree that you'd be better off with kids around your los age - I went to see one cm who only had one young child when looking for a cm for my two (ds was about 3 at the time) - she had no other childcare experience & it was very quickly obvious that she would have struggled with a meddling boisterous tantruming active 3 yo - he is a reasonably normal child, but her house was just not ready for him!

busymum1 · 01/04/2008 12:15

depends on your child have minded when both of mine were young dd is 6 was 9 mths when started ds is 19mths, was 11 mths when returned to work, you will find what works for you if you use ncma contracts have four week settling in period to make sure everyone happy, have had to give notice to one parent as her ds 3 months older than mine used to hurt my ds all time other than that have always enjoyed working with children any age my ds still friends with first child I looked after was 2 month age gap and they were like twins

chel86 · 01/04/2008 13:44

I started cm when my dd was 8 months old. I took on a 2 year old who was great. He was independant enough for me to care for my dd when I needed and he got on great with my 3 yo ds at the time. I did find that this age was great. I don't think I could have taken on another baby though. I also took on a couple of after school children and it all worked out perfectly well.

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