Im really upset

[newadventure]

I'm really disappointed, The main reason I looked into Childminding was a friend asked me to have her daughter when she went back to work 4 days a weeks so I have started the ball rolling. She called me this morning to say her husbands mum is going to have her but thanks for the offer when it was her who approached me to say how desperate she was.

Now I'm not too sure what to do there is probably some demand in my area but I have a young baby and was hoping to have her daughter then maybe just after school kids now I dont know what to do whether to give up and do something else or carry on and maybe end up with no applicants. I just think having a small baby of my own might put people off wanting me to have younger children.

[Twinkles]

I don't think you having a young baby will put people off at all.
If you would prefer it though you could earn a decent part time wage just having after schoolers to start with.
I'd keep going with your registration anyway and if you decide to pospone minding for a few months you will be ready to start when you want to.

[newadventure]

Thank you Twinkles Think it has just upset me that my friend has let me down especially as she pushed me into this. I think your idea of just having part time children is definately something to consider.

Thank you for your reply

[zoex]

I'm really disappointed, The main reason I looked into Childminding was a friend asked me to have her daughter when she went back to work 4 days a weeks so I have started the ball rolling. She called me this morning to say her husbands mum is going to have her but thanks for the offer when it was her who approached me to say how desperate she was.

Now I'm not too sure what to do there is probably some demand in my area but I have a young baby and was hoping to have her daughter then maybe just after school kids now I dont know what to do whether to give up and do something else or carry on and maybe end up with no applicants. I just think having a small baby of my own might put people off wanting me to have younger children.

hiya, i just wanted to say that i have a small baby aand im full up!! people seem to think it good that i havce a baby and a 3 year old of my own. if its what you want to do then go for it. :)

[daisyboo1980]

hi
carry on with ur reg as u never no wats round the door i dont have any of my own kids and thought that would hinder my business but parents just want so to trust and provide the best care for their kids
good luck :)

[youarewhatyoueat]

Keep going, if nothing else it gives you access to free training and the chance to do an nvq3 in childcare which is a good useful allround qualification that can be used in nurseries or lots of agencies ask for this even if you just register for babysitting. Having ofsted approval is great for agency work which you can do in the evening when you can get a sitter etc. There are lots of options even if you don't have any mindees.

[newadventure]

Thank you all so much for your kind replies. I didnt know anything about free training etc I hve always wanted to work with children and I just thought it was a brilliant way to help my friend out. All your inspiration has made me feel better though as you say I dont know whats around the corner think il carry on with my registration for now see where i'm at

Im glad that having a baby hasnt put people off that has worried me a bit to be honest

Thanks again for all the fanatstic support this forum is brilliant

[Blackhorse]

Hi,

Just wanted to say hello!

I can imagine how you must feel since your friend let you down like that.
But maybe it will still all turn out positive anyways...!!
I would also continue to register and get the training done etc...
having a little baby shouldnt put anyone off...most people want their kids to be around other kids anyways whether they are your own or other minded kids so I really dont see a problem there.

If working with children is what you want to do then I really think cm is the best thing..(for me anyways)
I am my own boss, work from home..raise my daughter...and still have my own business of working with children.
I also found it very benefitial for my own daughter to be honest...it took her about a week to get used to the new routine of having kids and doing school runs, but now she absolutely loves it. In fact she hates to see them leave in the evening...:D

good luck with whatever you decide...
and there is tons of good info on here!!

[Daftbat]

Try not to be too down - i would carry on with your reg as before and do as someone else suggested and have after schoolers at first - thats what i did as i started after having my second daughter.

Your friend may have some valid finacial reasons for having her mum in law look after the kids - its a hard time for many at the moment and if parents can get help with the childcare its worth a lot to them.

In my experience people do not react negatively about you having a young child of your own to look after - in fact they prefer it to cm's who perhaps have no younger children of their own.

Good Luck:thumbsup:

[ChocolateChip]

Just wanted to say sorry you're feeling down, hope you soon feel more positive!

Funny how friends can let you down though, isn't it? :rolleyes:

[kindredspirits]

count it as a blessing in disguise - working for friends is always bad news. keep going i started minding when my son was just over 1 its great to get you talking to other mums and get your business out there:thumbsup:

[Mollymop]

Bless ya. I would carry on with my application and see what happens. You will likely be able to fill your vacancies whether you have a small child of your own or no children at all.

when I was on my pre-reg course 2 years ago (gosh has it been that long?) i became friends with another girl and she was registering for the same reasons as you. Once we finished our course and I became registered I bumped into her shopping and she told me she had decided not to childmind as her friend didn't need her after all.

My best friend went on an ICp course after me, and she passed, etc, but decided not to carry on with it because her brother who's children my friend was going to care for wanted his son to go to nursery instead!!

I think it would be a waste, to get this far and not carry on with it.

I worried I wouldn't have children when I registered, but I was full within a few months.

See how it goes hun/

[TheBTeam]

Good advice given already, i too would say stick with it, you may well find that you can earn a nice amount and be around with your baby, generally people will not be put off by you having a baby of your own. I know one person who chose my friend over me because she had a baby and my two were a little older, so it may even work in your favour sometimes.

A good selling point for having a baby is that it can teach toddlers to be gentle and to be used to having a baby around, this can be especially good if parents want to have a second child of their own, their lo's will be used to coping around a baby.

I would use your friend letting you down as something positive and a chance to get a fantastic professional self employed career going, that fits nicely around your own family and allow you to be their for your own child and earn some money. She may have at least done you a favour, I am sure you will get some business without her!

[Alz]

I got my first mindee because I had a young daughter...mum wanted a childminder with a child of a similar age, so don't give up if its what you really want, it can all work out!! :thumbsup:

[charliegee]

I got my first mindee because I had a young daughter...mum wanted a childminder with a child of a similar age, so don't give up if its what you really want, it can all work out!! :thumbsup:

Same here - I've got my own very little one and everyone has been very positive about it.

go for it if it's what you want to do - it's a brilliant job that you're able to combine with looking after your own kids

good luck hun x

[angeldelight]

Shame that your friend let you down but maybe she did you a favour sometimes its not great to work for friends

I agree with everyone else carry on and dont let this blip stop you from continuing with it

Good luck

Keep us posted

Angel xxx

[Pudding Girl]

If you really want to do it then do it, even if you only have afterschoolers you can make a pretty tidy income for the amount of hours involved, but then you'd need to think about what to do at holiday times.

Can I just say though - carry on with your reg process but only if you are sure you will use it afterwards?
I know several people (bit like mollymop) who have regged and then not actually minded and that is taking away from people who really want to do this as a career and couldn't get on courses.

A bug bear of mine :(

[huggableshelly]

similar thing happened to me, I moved into this area and didnt know anyone but then got talking to people at nursery. One was heavily preggy and said how difficult it was to gain a childminder so i then looked into it and told her i was going to register (back then it took weeks not months 8 wks to be exact). she was all excited and even gave her work place a definate return to work date but when push came to shove she decided to gain a live in nanny wanting to be in the UK to learn our lingo hence cheaper childcare etc.

I'm glad I went into childminding, my kiddies were then age 3 and 4. Funny thing is 3 years later she calls me asking if I'll take little one on part time whilst he is in nursery ... I did lol.

Stick with it, others will come and as peeps have already said if you only want afterschoolers then that is all you need to do. Your business you pick your hours to fit around you and baby.

Good Luck xxx

[Stanfield]

Im glad that having a baby hasnt put people off that has worried me a bit to be honest




I also have a baby, now six months. My first mindee signed up when he was 4 months old (mindee is 15months) and I have a 2 1/2 year old. Mum thinks its great for him to have the age range to socialise with.:clapping:

[newadventure]

Thank you so much for your replys it has really helped me feel more positive this morning.

I had a good think last night and I'm going to carry on with my registration I really want to work with children and be at home to look after baby this job would give me the perfect opportunity.

Thank you for pointing out to me that maybe its better not mixing business with friends think it would have only have been complicated. I just feel let down I understand her reasons but I just feel like I have pushed myself to get everything sorted to have her daughter and rushed into things when my baby is only 5 months old. Huggableshelley its nice to hear someone come out of this with a positive experience.

Those of you with babys did you find it ok minding whilst having a baby?

Think il have to look into the after school idea as someone kindly mentioned what would I do in school hols?

Take care and thank you all for your kindness

[Twinkles]

Thank you so much for your replys it has really helped me feel more positive this morning.

I had a good think last night and I'm going to carry on with my registration I really want to work with children and be at home to look after baby this job would give me the perfect opportunity.

Thank you for pointing out to me that maybe its better not mixing business with friends think it would have only have been complicated. I just feel let down I understand her reasons but I just feel like I have pushed myself to get everything sorted to have her daughter and rushed into things when my baby is only 5 months old. Huggableshelley its nice to hear someone come out of this with a positive experience.

Those of you with babys did you find it ok minding whilst having a baby?

Think il have to look into the after school idea as someone kindly mentioned what would I do in school hols?
Take care and thank you all for your kindness


You could try to get only teachers / school staff children - that's what I did when my children were small.
Or you could have the after schoolers in school hols and make up your money in short bursts !

[CherryBlossom]

Oh no, that is such a shame sorry to hear that.
Still do it though! There are other children out there and something will come up.

hope it works out
xx

[Pudding Girl]

There's always teachers/school staff children but then you are severely limiting the pool of children you can care for then.

[Mel09]

Hi, I started minding recently when my baby was just over one and I have had lots of queries. I don't think it puts people off at all. I have a teachers baby and her sister after school. I then charge a small fee in the hols but only for the baby to keep her place going. So there are loads of different options. If you want to stay home with the baby then it is a brilliant job to do, hope it all works out for you. :)

[mel72]

Hi just reading your thread, the same thing happened to me. My friend lead me to believe I would be looking after her two children, then let me down. I have just received my certificate of reg. I couldn't get on ICP course until March 10, payed out money doc, first aid etc. Looking into NCMA cover, but by reading other people threads it seams that it is quite difficult to get mindee's. Feeling a bit down about it all.
:(

[miffy]

Hi just reading your thread, the same thing happened to me. My friend lead me to believe I would be looking after her two children, then let me down. I have just received my certificate of reg. I couldn't get on ICP course until March 10, payed out money doc, first aid etc. Looking into NCMA cover, but by reading other people threads it seams that it is quite difficult to get mindee's. Feeling a bit down about it all.
:(

Working for friends can sometimes bring lots of problems so it might not be a bad thing that she's let you down.

Demand for childminders varies from area to area so you need to research what the situation is locally - your development worker should be able to help you there.

Sometimes it can be slow to start but you will get there - get advertising now :)

Good luck

Miffy xx