How far in advance should I start looking for a childminder?

[SydneyB]

I have one DD who is at nursery and am pg and due in October. Can't afford to put two in nursery when I go back to work 6 months later and for various reasons, I shall be quite pleased to take DD out of the nursery she is in anyway. How far in advance should I start looking for a CM does anyone know? Is it too early to start looking now when I'm actually looking for someone for next April/May? And is it hard to find someone to take two together? DD will be 2.5 and the new one will be 6/7 months.

A year in advance is not too early, esp as you need two places inc a

perhaps you could find a cm who would take your dd now and have a space for new one when you need it. you might need to pay a reatiner but depending on what you are paying now for nursery this might work out a good option for you. also your dd would be settles there before bubba comes along and would minimise her disruption.

where are you, anyone on here help?

DD is pretty settled there for now and I'll have to keep her at home with me whilst I'm on mat leave anyway so don't really want to move her and then disrupt her again. Have considered leaving her at nursery and putting the baby with a CM but fear it'll be too much having to drop off at two different places. And I'd like them to be together. My experience with DD makes me feel strongly that I'd prefer the younger one to be with a CM. I'm in Stoke Newington.