How late do mindees stay..

[KatieFS]

Hi all

Just wondering if I am alone - doubt it - but wanted to see if I'm being unreasonable
I have 8m old babies here till 6.30. Fairly new contract and now found my feet with them (twin babes)
By 5.15 they are tired. By 6 they are very grizzly.

They've had dinner and really are just tired.
I'm putting them in pushchair sometimes they have a cat nap, sometimes they just sleep.
I'm starting to think its too late...should I move their finish time back to 5.30. The babies aren't coping well after 5.30

Would there be many other cm's who take kids till this time - or later?!?

[sing-low]

I've had one til 6:30 but that was a toddler. Little ones are often tired by 6/6:30 but if parents work til 5/5:30 and then travel then collection will be that late. Why don't you talk with Mum about it and see if you can reach a compromise?

[TJF]

I have a 1yr old who is with me until 6pm every day, does get a bit grizzly but mum works in London and that is the earliest she can get back. I don't think parents mind if they are grizzly when they collect, think they are just grateful. Hard work on us though, Im knackered by then :).

[childminder54]

I have a 10 year old till 10.30 & 3 year old Friday & sat till 10.30

[KatieFS]

Ouch!! That is late! 10.30 is my bedtime

Just out of interest and if you don't mind me asking how much do you charge for that?

[scottishlass]

I have a 18 month and 5 year old sibling till 8pm 1-2 night a week plus a 16 month old till 6pm 2 night a week (she is 5pm on the other nights and last much better then!) xx

[karen m]

I have in the patsy had a 7 year old till 10.25 that was time her mum got here shift finished at 10 , she is now in senior school and no longer needs a childminder

[mrs robbie williams]

i have 2yr old til 630 as mum works 1-6 xx

[lilac_dragon]

Have done up to 10.30 before now - parent was a News reporter so on the 10pm news.
Now have a cut off of 7.30pm - like other posters, if the parent's job ends late and they have travelling time too, we just have to cope or not take that child on.

[Bumble Beez]

I have a 10 year old till 10.30 & 3 year old Friday & sat till 10.30

Wow...I'd be asleep before the LO's went home lol

[hollyvilla]

My longest day now is 8 till 6 with a one year old. Quite long enough for her and me. Used to do till 9 at one time, but I'm often in bed by then nowadays!

[starlight1]

My latest finish is 5 pm at mo but will be 6pm in December...

I did have 6.30 finish but found it was such a struggle for my son with chill down and bedtime it didn't work

[emily79]

We have doctors children and one comes 7 til 7.30 we have done 8.30 before 6.30 is early for a minder that's why people prefer us n not nurseries flexibility if your at home anyway what's the problem you are paid for the service

[shortstuff]

I start at 7/7.30 am all week and the latest i have different finish times every night of the week earliest is Friday and latest is weds at 6.30

[karen m]

My start time is 6.30 every day and finish varies on average around the 5-6 mark

[littlemiss60561]

My longest day is 745 - 9.30. Lo goes to bed here and wakes to go home. Sad really but he copes. I was thinking of suggesting he does an overnight, but only for a second or two ( phew lol)

[charlottenash]

7.30-5.30 sometimes 6.00 here

[smurfette]

My longest day is 745 - 9.30. Lo goes to bed here and wakes to go home. Sad really but he copes. I was thinking of suggesting he does an overnight, but only for a second or two ( phew lol)

That was close phew!!!!

I only do 8-6, luckily I am busy enough at the mo and parents work around the 8am start, and most seem to be working local so actually at mo
I am finishing by about 520,,, couldn't cope
With any longer and earlier starts and later finishes wouldn't work with my family commitments

[KatieFS]

Those of you who do have late leavers (babies) how do you cope with the 'witching hour' any suggestions? Yes of course I'm paid for time but I feel they struggle after 5.30.. Which us hard for me and my family..

[unalindura77]

I have done up until 7 but I have noticed this too babies are definitely ready to go by 6.

[angeldelight]

Those of you who do have late leavers (babies) how do you cope with the 'witching hour' any suggestions? Yes of course I'm paid for time but I feel they struggle after 5.30.. Which us hard for me and my family..

I've worked later and yes they do get tired

I guess it depends on parents ..they obviously need those hours due to work ?

I would try and change their routine very slightly each week ....keep them occupied longer before they sleep ready to go home ?

I would also be asking parents what their routine is at weekends so you can do the same

Angel xxx

[Mickey Mouse Clubhouse]

I am really lucky at the moment as I work 8.30 until 4.30 which is great gives me time with my own children x

[maisiemog]

At the moment I'm lucky that they are usually gone by 6pm but one mum occasionally has to go to London and on those days they can be picked up anytime up to 10pm. A long day for me and them!

[kellib]

All mine are gone by 4:30-5:00pm thankfully! I am open till 6 but wouldn't work later than that.

[funemnx]

I used to work 7a.m. to 6.30p.m. and found that yes the lo's were tired but so was I. Now I will work up to 5.30 but dont take on contracts any later...

[KatieFS]

Yes I think 6pm is best finish time for little ones... Thanks all

[loocyloo]

I currently finish around 5.30/6.00 but have worked till later (8/9) mainly with schoolies when mine were little, but only once or twice a week. Schoolies used to help put mine to bed!

I have had a babe who stayed late and I just used to put pjs on and snuggle babe in pushchair or car seat. Not ideal but worked.

[PixiePetal]

My latest currently is a 2 yr old till 6.30pm. She gets a power nap in the afternoon. This will finish at Christmas when mum cuts her hours and mindee will go to nursery.

I did in the 'olden days' when I first registered have a child regularly overnight when mum had evening meetings in London - over an hour away by train. Rather than go home at 10.30 and back at 8am she just stayed in with DD. Family had split up during my care of her and it was stability for her and DD loved it too, wasn't every week

[Ali56]

It's hard on everyone, that last little bit! But as nurseries finish at 6 and parents often can't, our roles are important for families. How old are your own children? When mine were younger they would have struggled too. I finished at 5pm for about 3 yrs as my youngest needed to be in bed by 6 and I wanted that last hour for her routine! It did mean that I had to turn down some families as I couldn't accomodate the times they needed.
Can mum put pyjamas in the bag for you? How would you feel about starting the bedtime routine at yours? It may help pass that last hour and help mum too if she can just go home and be that bit closer to popping them into bed. I know this sounds really sad from a parent/child relationship point of view, but sometimes its in the best interest of the baby/ies and lasts only a short time till they can manage longer evenings. Or could you maybe shuffle nap times so they can have a little nap later in the afternoon and be more awake for the early evening? It may just be trial and error to work out what works best for all of you. If you can't manage the times then you need to be honest, it musn't impact badly on your family or the babies needs. Chat to mum and see if you can come up with a solution together x