Pregnant childminder!

[tigwig]

What would you think if your childminder who you hadn't been using that long (2 months ish) became pregnant and you had to find temporary alternative childcare?
I ask because I am going to become registered from Jan 09 but also am trying for a baby as well. I don't obviously plan to have a normal maternity leave but even so surely I would need a minimum of 3 weeks off. I am scared that I will have everything going smoothly, fall pregnant and lose the customers I have got but on the other hand I might not get pregnant for months yet and can't afford to wait until after a baby until I start to childmind. What do you think? Are any of you childminders that have done the same or know someone who has?

[cazzz1975]

personally I wouldnt be too pleased, changing childcare is a big deal and to suddenly have to move your child again after they had become settled would be irritating to say the least.

If I knew you were trying for a baby I would take my business elsewhere.

[bednobs]

i dont have kids, but i dont suppose i would "temporarily" put them somewhere else - i would find somewhere else and stay there i suppose. You would by law have to have at least 2 weeks off

[mamatwo]

I wouldn't be too pleased at unsettling my child. If I were you I'd be upfront and tell all parents of your plans, that way they can make an informed decision.
If you tell them they have got to find alternative childcare you may well find that they find it and stick with it (don't forget that you could have the baby early or late so it's not a fixed 3 week period you would be asking them to cover). What would you do with the children if you went into labour while looking after them? What if their parents couldn't get back from work immediately (what would the parents do for childcare if you were unavailable at short notice)? Would you take the children along to all of your antenatal appointments with you?
Are you working currently? Could you work until you have your baby then register as a childminder afterwards? That way if the childminding didn't work out you have the option of returning to your job at the end of your materninty leave?

[redcrx]

I wouldnt be too happy either tigwig to be honest. Theres also the possibility that when heavily pregnant you may not be able to cope with childminding? what about hospital appts? if you had morning sickness?
As bednobs says at the very least youll need 2 weeks off, fair enough that could be same if you were to have a holiday, parents would need alternative plans. But will you be able to cope with childminding AND looking after a newborn?
is there any way you can get a job in a nursery instead? or start a small creche up with a few other childminders so that you have enough cover?

[tigwig]

Thanks for the honest answers guys. I already do work in a nursery for 2 days but I need to work more for financial reasons so childminding is the perfect solution apart from the pregnancy issue!
I am going to go ahead with the childminding and my hubby is also going to do it with me so he will be able to support me and hopefully this will mean I wouldn't need as much time off.
I know the sensible thing would be to not childmind until after the baby but what if it doesn't happen for another year or not at all? I can't afford to put my life on hold at the moment.
If I can I will arrange the childminding around my current job but I'm not sure if that will be possible.

[cazzz1975]

will you be mentioning your plans to the parents who will send their children to you?

[naflharrison]

to be honest i really dont think it will be an issue to the parents really t will be more about ping with a new baby and the children you care for. our old childminder fell pregnant after 7 yrs of trying and everyone was so pleased for her and happy to find alternative arrangements for a couple of weeks, at the end of the day you will be entitled to holidays as a childminder and i would say instead of taking a paid holiday just take the 2 - 3 wks unpaid and im sure everyone will be fine, not every mother i whingy about the childminders!! we do actually appreciate them greatly and understand that everyone has the right to have a family of their own and an income.!

[tigwig]

caz of course I would tell the parents! I wouldn't just announce I was 6 months gone.
I've decided that if I fall pregnant before Jan I will probably put the childminding on hold until after the baby unless hubby does it on his own. If not then I will go ahead and hope I don't lose the parents when I have to take a few weeks off.
nalfharrison I hope my parents are as nice and understanding as you!

[anavi]

Hi,

I work as a childminder myself and have just found out I am pregnant. Unlike you I don't intend to work once the baby has been born but I know childminders who have kept all the minded children and took few weeks of to recover. Most parents will understand this as you normally form a strong relationship with them. i understand that there will be appointments to go to but why shouldn't a childminder be entitled to go to them if any other working woman is??I thing it would be discriminating against childminders if you had to tell all the parents that you were planning to get pregnant at some point. As you say it could take a long time. Would you (those who demand to be told upfront) tell your potential new boss that you want to become pregnant sometime in the future if you knew that it could jeopardise your chances of getting the job? While I do understand that most parents feel it would be unsettling for their children having to move somewhere else for a short period of time I feel that they are being unfair and have double standards.