Becoming a childminder?

[alittleadvicepls]

So I've been toying with this idea of minding max 2 kids in my own home alongside my own toddler. Please tell me what you think.

Due to family/relationship circumstances I have to find a job but I'm struggling to find childcare for my own child. We're in Ireland and all childcares have waiting lists going into 2025, personal nannies (which we used to have) are too expensive for me to continue to afford alone, and paying for a childminder means that most of my salary would go to paying childcare.

We have a spare room which is no longer in use. I would convert it to a playroom. We live right in the city centre which would be convenient for people coming/going to work? I used to be a nurse and have just finished a law degree (waiting until next August to sit the bar hence why the one year gap/need for job).

I would charge 55 pounds/child/day. A day would be around 8 hours. I'd supply meals. I would only mind 2 other children with my own so that would make a group of 3 kids. Childcare regulations also state that you don't have to be registered if you mind under 4 kids.

The only thing is we have a dog but I could easily use baby gates to keep it in one area of the house.

Should I go for it?

I used to be a nurse for 20 years and have been a childminder for 5 years. I absolutely love it! Off course it's hard work and has stressful moments but it's such a lovely lifestyle. Wish I'd done it sooner!

England though so no advice for your other questions.

Make contact with Childminding Ireland and your local County Childcare Committee for guidance. You will need to think of first aid and insurance etc

8 hours will not be enough for many working parents - antiquated I know but the standard working day is 8 hours, so you give no flexibility if you only offer say 9-5. Also, if you were doing a standard 9-5 day you’d risk missing a lot of opportunities for getting out to toddler groups or the like in the morning if DC were only being dropped off at 9. I’d want to know my kid was getting out of your house at least once a day, most toddler groups I frequent are packed with childminders.

I don’t know what the situation in Ireland is so this might be irrelevant, but £55/day for an 8 hour day would be relatively expensive for a childminder where I am (South England) That’s more akin to nursery prices per hour. Not saying nursery is better but they are a lot more resilient to staff sickness and they employ chefs and the like for food, so you can see why they charge more. If you are in the centre of Dublin though that may well be the going rate!

Talking of food, are you a confident cook? Again, for that price, I’d be expecting a wide variety of healthy, freshly cooked meals with at least one/day being hot.

A dog wouldn’t put me off a childminder but I know it would for a lot of people judging by the threads on here.

Yes agree about times. Working 8-4 seems more popular now and most are dropped off for 7:30. You get nice early pick ups though!