question for childminders really

[liahgen]

I am a Doula, and so can be called away at odd times of day and night. probabluy on call once a month.

Am married with 5 dc's, 14, 11, 5, almost 4, and 20 mths.

big 3 at school, eldest 2 take themselves and bring themselves home. I collect 5 yr old.
almost 4 is at playschool 4 mornings, from 9.30 - 12.

husband leaves house about 6am and returns about 8pm.

Is there such a thing as a cm who could do as and when, ?

Up until now have been coping using friends, and a young girl who baby sits for us, she's 17. Now selfish enterprising young girl has got herself a place on a childcare course.
I wouldn't mind paying some kind of retainer but obviously i don't earn loads. I guess the earliest I would need to drop off is 6.30 am, but then she would have to get littlies ready for the day.

Is this the impossible quest?

thanks

Not impossible, no. I do ad hoc childminding but you may want to have several possibilities ready as each one may have different availability.

For example, my usual day off is Thursday, so I would be willing to do ad hoc care on this day once every month but due to other mindees would be unable to do it on any other day.

I wouldnt expect a retainer, just at least 3 days notice and then I would tell you if I was able to help or not. However, if you wanted me for the day and then didnt actually use my service, I would charge you for it.

It would be up to you and the CM as to what sort of fee you would pay.

Dont give up hope!

Happy searching

thats the problem Lucy, I would never have 3 days notice of a lady about to give birth.

Sorry for further information, a Doula is a professional birth support partner, so if my lady goes into labour, then i have to go.

Oh well, maybe i'll have a look around locally. Ho9w does one find a local cm?

I can't see that a childminder would have space

Could the 14 & 11 yos sort themselves out in the morning?

Then you are looking at an under 5 space & an over 5 space ad hoc at some point in a month

I don't think a childminder could afford to keep a space

I guess you could register with a few & hope that one might have space on any given day (iyswim)

Katy,

No, I wasn't counting the eldset 2, and probably not even the 5 yr old once he'd gone to school cos he could go to his pakls house after.

I'm thinking aloud i guess, so it would prob be 5 yrs, to school possibly, 4 yrs to playschool and then pick up and keep. 20mths keep all day.

maybe it's just not doable. I need an au pair that doesn't want to live with us.

Gosh sorry forgot 20mo

So 2 under 5 spaces plus an over 5 space

It's the 2 under 5 that are the problem - that is 2/3rd's of the children a childminder can have (& lots of childminders have under 5's themselves)

I think you need another student

yeah thats what i thought,

I love my job, but it's becomming a logistical nightmare. Cost me £50 the last birth I did for a friend to have the 2 youngest from 7am till 5pm

thanks though

liahgen-Whereabouts in Kent are you? I'm a Doula too and have been wondering the same thing. Perhaps we doulas should band together and form a sort of babysitting circle? (I'm in Surrey but v close to M25 if you're not toooooo far.....)

I'm Maidstone Turtle. You?

sounds like a plan.

email me

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Sounds like a good plan ladies

Isn't MN wonderful - you should advertise for other doulas & form a Babysitting circle

Good Luck

thanks for your input Katy

I did nothing - you sorted yourself out.......

it would be a good idea to phone round a few c/m's to see if any offer last minute c/minding services - that way you have more options open as giving birth is inconvieniently not timetabled

There are a few childminders who only work part time with one or two children and may be able to help you out ... but they are few and far between. Ask your local Family Information Service, or Early Years at the Local Authority.

I'm a CM regsitered just for the ad-hoc purposes because it suits me.
I'm in Sunbury if anybody wants my details?