However will I cope with 3 under 3's?

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

I'm returning to childminding after been off on maternity leave and have already had some interest after sticking ads up all over town!

DS is 7mths and I will be minding twin boys aged 2yrs although I'm looking forward to the challenge I'm also just a teensy bit nervous about being able to cope and not being able to give my PFB all the undivided attention he's used to!

any advice/sympathy welcome!

When I started CM I had my own 1.5YO at home and had to look after a 7mth old child. The first few days were a bit frantic and I was scared to leave them even to have a wee but soon got myself and the DC into a nice routine and relaxed a bit. Then gradually added more DC into the equation.

I now think nothing of having 3 littlies every day. I do find though that my older DC are kindov pushed into the background a bit when the little ones are around but something has to give and I make sure that all my DC receive my attention later in the day.

Good luck with things x

i have nearly always had 3 under threes, in fact most of the time three under 2.

its all a mater of routine, and once that falls into place its a doddle

I always stay in for the first day or two with new children while I get to know them and work out a routine that suits then I venture out once I'm confident.

It will be fine.

i agree about staying in for few days. also getting into a routine is useful

also don't feel that you must DO things with the children all the time. let them have time to explore and get to know your toys and home etc.

i also found it useful to do all nappies at once (unless there was a dirty nappy for instance)

it is doable!!!

I have an 8 month old. 14 months, 17 months and a 2.2 year old today, - continuity of care as I have the older sibling. We are going out in 20 minutes! The 14 month old is a brilliant walker, the 17 month is only just walking so she is in the buggy.

Lunch at 11.45 ( today fish pie and vegetables) and they all go down for a sleep at 1.15 until 2.45, they have sleep mats, then I have the school run to get ready for to fetch big sisters 5 and 6. I have Waitrose deliver food. We all go to the market on a wednesday for fruit and veg.

It's easier than you think I cook from scratch and freeze meals in child size portions, including weaning foods.I have a separate fridge and freezer just for mindies food.

I change all bottoms at the same time, apart from dirty ones, but they all seem to poo at 9.30!

They all sit at the table together, have those chairs you see in nurseries, the knee in first, turn round, harnesses for very littles, They can sit and paint, play with foam etc at the table.

I have a large garden, lots of shade, chickens to watch and run around with, - causes great laughter!

I rarely have less than three, if I do, I think I have left someone somewhere and keep checking!!

When they are asleep, I write their diaries, make observation notes or comments in my diary, catch up on emails, and have a cup of tea.

Tomorrow we are all off to the farm, as long as it isn't raining, if it is, then it is toddler group!

ali you sound very busy ,yet organised

bet your mindees have lots of fun with you

I too have 3 under 3 most days although one does go home by 3pm so don't have to take all 3 on afternoon school run. Routine is the key and also slow down and allow plenty of time to do things. Don't overload them with planned activities, I have found they don't have a long attention span at this young age. I go to toddler group twice a week so they can mix with lots of other children. We go to the park as often as we can weather permitting. We probably go to the shops once a week. I roughly plan what i am going to do each day a week at a time but it quite often changes as the week goes on depending on the moods the children are in, changes in the weather or a spur of the moment idea.
I use a double buggy and then have one walking. The 2 best walkers take turns to walk. When they were all a bit littler I used to have one in a back pack carrier and other 2 in buggy. I have 3 car seats for the car and 3 booster seats for the table. Sleep time took a while to perfect. I found they needed to be in seperate rooms or they just chatted and giggled to each other or if one was crying and having trouble settling it set the others off. So I have 1 upstairs in travel cot because he needs quiet and dark to sleep. I then have one sleeping in the kitchen/dining room in lie flat buggy. Third child who is my own son and the eldest sleeps on the sofa in the lounge. I try to make sure they nap at the same time or atleast overlap so I get a short break to eat my lunch/have a cup of tea in peace.

Alibubbles, where did you get the sleep mats and baby chairs from? A link would be fab if you have one.

Thanks for all the advice and tips, some really great ones! Routine, routine, routine!
alibubbles, do you prepare your food the night before? sounds really organised- something I'm aspiring to! How come you've got 3 under the age of 18mths and four under 5yrs? Isn't that over your ratios? I'm only allowed 2 under the age of 18mths and 3 under 5 but I'm in North Wales, maybe it's different here.

Wales is different. In England the max you're allowed is 6 under 8's, only 3 of which can be in the Early Years age group and of those 3, only 1 may be under 1. Having said that, many get variations to those numbers but with still a max of 6 under 8's in total.

HTH

When I started childminding I was given a variation to allow me to look after an 11 month old girl as well as my 9 month DS. Four months later another girl started who was one month younger than my son, so I had one at 12 months, one 13 months and one 15 months. It was good fun, especially as they all grew up together and were at the same stage. Outings just needed a bit of planning. Am still looking after the oldest one now and her and my DS are so close it is lovely.

You will be fine! x

Hi, here are the chairs scroll down to captains chairs

The sleep mats are really for pets, but they are just the right size sheepskin mats I picked mine up reduced from £30 to £12.99 in TKMaxx!

TBOM, I have a variation as they are younger siblings, so it is continuity of care for a family.