Childminders

[AngelaChasesBestLife]

Starting to think about childcare arrangements for my baby when I return to work at the beginning of 2023. Where I live the nurseries all have long waiting lists, with some mums registering before their babies are even born. I clearly should have been more on the ball! My baby is on a waiting list now for a couple of local nurseries, but ideally I'd prefer to use a childminder. However having used the lists on our local council website and childcare.co.uk I'm getting nowhere having contacted now several.

All have either said that it's too early for them to know, or they have no availability, or they aren't sure if they will have space. When I've said could I leave my details in case they do find that they will have space closer to the time and could contact me then, most have said no to that as well! I'm at a loss as to what to do next, as all the mums I've spoken to round here have told me that I can't leave it to the last minute (the last minute apparently being more than six months in advance!) yet no childminder I contact seems to want to help. If your children go to a childminder, how far in advance did you arrange this? Is there some magical sweet spot in the year for finding a childminder?

I'm at a loss as to what to do next, as all the mums I've spoken to round here have told me that I can't leave it to the last minute (the last minute apparently being more than six months in advance!) yet no childminder I contact seems to want to help. If your children go to a childminder, how far in advance did you arrange this?

2 months - I had a new job after being a SAHM for the first year and a half after DS was born. I couldn’t look for one until I got the job obviously, 6 months in advance is no good when you don’t know where or when you’ll be working yet 🤷‍♀️ Please don’t panic about this, it will spoil your maternity leave. Something will come up. You’ve got the nurseries for back up, and most likely a childminder place will free up - they really just don’t know when spaces open, they only need a months notice or so when I parent decides to move their child somewhere else.

I don’t know if there’s a sweet spot as such - June or July maybe because they may have just been given notice by parents who choose to move their child on to a preschool. I gave my childminder plenty of notice for that but she said in the past people literally let her know 4 weeks before even though they clearly must have had it in mind for a while.

I've previously used childminders and their circumstances do change frequently and quickly. The best time to speak to one is in the summer holidays IME. Most kids tend to leave/start around the school term.

CM can usually only take in one baby under 12 months and three pre-schoolers. So they won't want to commit to taking your baby in January 2023, which means they have to potentially turn away other babies between now and then. Meaning they effectively lose a space and the income that brings for nine months. And then there is the risk you change your mind so they've lost the income for nothing.

I was struggling when I went back to work after my eldest. But I managed to get him into a nursery with quite short notice and then found a CM I preferred with a months notice.

It really is too far ahead for them to know though. They may get someone come next week and want a spot straight away full time. They can't keep a slot open for you and lose potential future business.

I think given that your dc is on the wait list, and you have 9 months before you need a CM, then I'd start ringing round after the schools go back in September. Then when you find the one you like you either wait til you start back at work and risk them taking business before it, or you take the slot there and then and get little one settled in.

Some will keep a space for a couple of months on a retainer (at a cost to you) but they aren't going to do they for nine months!

I use a childminder and a space was available straight away when I messaged her due to another child moving away. There has been some movement in who she cares for since my little one started with her and that was in august 2021.

With childminders looking after only a handful of kids at a time, I think it’s difficult for them to know more than a couple of months ahead what vacancies they will have. It’s very different to nursery where there are wait lists etc.

Try not to worry (coming from someone who done the exact same thing as you and worried because I am a planner). Enjoy your maternity leave and revisit it closer to the time. Some childminders will do a reserve place for you where you pay £x amount a month during their settling in period which holds their place for them until they start their full hours x

Come September many childminders will have children who’ve moved on to school and new mindees starting. They aren’t linked entirely to school years but it is a factor for many, so I’d get in touch with them around September.