Would these hours be too short for a CM?

[Overtiredmum]

I am currently expecting DC2, have a son aged 3.5 yrs. I know I have ages yet, but am worried about returning to work (will need to for financial reasons - don't we all!??) Our current situation is that my husband works days locally and I work evenings, so we have a shortfall of between 1-2 hours a day, whereby my mother-in-law currently does 3 days a week and my son goes to nursery for the other 2 afternoons.

By the time I am ready to return to work, my DS will be at school and baby will be approx 5 months, so I would be needing a CM 5 days a week to look after both children between the hours of 3.30pm and 5.30pm, although every third week would be between 3.30 and 4.30, although would be happy to pay for 2 hours daily rather than to complicate matters.

My question is, are these hours too short for a CM??

Not for school aged ds perhaps, but the baby might be more of a problem. Lots of CM's take after schoolers for just a couple of hours, but a baby would mean she would have to possibly keep a space for him/her all day, just for the 2 hours in the afternoon.

That said, you might be lucky. I used to CM and I actually preferred lots of bitty jobs, rather than full timers, so thinking back to my last lot of mindees, I could have accommodated you.

You need to start ringing around CMs in your area, to get a feel for what is on offer.

When do you think I should start ringing around though, would need to return to work by October?

I would say after Easter maybe? It's difficult to say, as you can't tell how busy CMs in your area are, until you ring them. No harm in being too early though and it'll be one less thing to stress about, if you have a bit of knowledge before baby comes alone.

Get in touch with your local council's Early Years team and they should be able to send you a list of CMs in your area. It might even be available on their website.

I do one afternoon a week (1200-1530) with one child, so it might be possible. I have school children for half an hour at a time.

If you hit the right person and it happens to fit with them, no reason it wouldn't be possible, although as maureen says, more of a problem for the baby. .

My childminder has dd (under 3, so counts for rations) for 2 hours but only one day a week.

It might be that I could manage for 2 days so would only need a CM for 3 days for 2 hours each day, do you think that may be better?

Oh my god, somebody shoot me!! I can't believe how I am sooooo worried about this now!! I still have 3 months until I give up work to go on maternity leave!! Mr DH thinks me stressing like this is hilarious, but he always leaves childcare arrangements down to me!! I guess I will just have to get and get a minder for as many days as possible.

I am such a worrier!!!

I mean, I could even win the lottery between now and then........... doubtful but I am always hopeful!

I would have thought that you might be better off looking for fewer days - lots of people work pt and it might be easier for a cm to juggle fewer short sessions rather than having a baby 'blocking' her baby slot every day, iykwim. I'm not a cm though, so buimping for maureen et al

Yes, that does make more sense, I think I could probably convince my mum and DH's mum to have them a day each (2 hrs a week each) if I could find a CM to have them 3 days a week.

Oooooooo so complicated but so worrying at the same time!! I was exactly the same when I was expecting DS though, its just me. Am not happy if I don't have something to worry about .......

Am off home now (at last!!) so I'll catch up with any other comments tomorrow evening but thanks for your help and comments ladies, I need the calming influence.........

So, we are definitely looking at fewer days of the week as opposed to 5 days a week???? Best start being nice to my mother-in-law !!