how soon do I need to organise a childminder?

[spottedandstriped]

I have just had my first baby and am not sure when I need to start organising a childminder - I have heard nightmare stories about organising nursery places a year in advance - is this is the same for childminder spaces? Would it help being organised and seeing people this much in advance?

Congratulations on the baby. It depends where you live on availability. Where I am in St Albans, all but the worst nurseries ( one chain in particular) are full with major waiting lists and most childminders are full.

New childminders quite often have potential clients lined up, but many will have vacancies and some people can be apprehensive about a new childminder, but IME of mentoring childminders for the last 5 years, many of them are ex nannies, nursery teachers etc. They have lots of experience with children, although it is very different looking after someone else's child in your own home.

Go to the Children's Information Service and look at the list for your area and phone a few to get an idea.

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As a childminder, i find it quite hard to be able to offer a place to someone that far away. This is for a couple of reasons.

First being that, parents can be un-reliable, even after putting down 3-4 week deposit.

Secondly, you never know what your circumstance are going to be, some children come and go (i.e those parents on courses/contracts) so can be unsure as and when you have or need to fill another vacancy.

Some childminders however can/will and do take holding deposits, you can only but ask.