Childminders - what is a reasonable retainer fee?

ognum

Is it possible that you could actually use her for a few hours a week while you are paying her retainer.

Maybe you could have a few hours shopping, going to the GP or just cleaning the house while you little one settles into being with the childminder.

may be you could arrange to start work a month earlier but on a part time basis so you and the baby can get used to the new regime.

Just a few thoughts which may make the paying easier.

Caroline73_2

The childminder is a business, she can charge what she likes. You can choose to have her service or not. While I agree its a lot of money for you to pay out, its half what she could be earning if a she has to turn down a another mindee.

WestonDave

Look at it from her perspective. If she takes you on she might (but its probably fairly slim) get someone come along who is willing to use her for just 3 months and then find someone else, but the chances are she is going to have that space free until April apart from maybe odd days cover in emergencies. So by charging you half rate she is very likely to gain £1000 from you, but lose the chance to get £2000 from someone that pitches up tomorrow and wants someone immediately on a permanent basis and isn't interested in just 3 months. She has balanced her risks - she could have got lucky and got the full £2000 if she'd held out or she could have lost out altogether and got nothing so she's split the difference.

In any event, her house, her child minding, her skills and personality that you want, so her rules or find someone else.

Tirian

I can see why some people don't bother going back to work after having a kid.

Re: using the space in the intervening time, every childminder we've spoken to has told us that they have some 'ad hoc' kids who they take at short notice. It seems to me that a space is not entirely empty for the lead up time.

Still, it seems that this is the norm so I guess we're going to get skewered for it come what may. Feels pretty !!!!! to me though. For somebody we're going to be paying c. £8-9k a year to for the next few years, I feel a non-refundable deposit really ought to be acceptable.

I entirely agree with the need to prevent people dumping you at the last minute, but the retainer rather than deposit system just seems imbalanced to me.

GobbledyGook

It's worth asking about 'ad hoc' bookings. When my Nanny was on a retainer she didn't charge for any days that she had bookings or when she was on holiday as she was unavailable to me on those days.

Also ask about a number of 'settling in' days/sessions. We organised a number of them on days where I only paid the retainer fee as they were short sessions.

Reggie_Rebel

Tirian wrote: »

I can see why some people don't bother going back to work after having a kid.

The joy of seeing your baby grow, going to the park, tumble tots, meeting other parents and making life long friendships.

Children eh, don't they get in the way of living? If only there were ways to stop yourself getting pregnant and save on the expense of wanting to palm your child off on someone else for ridiculous fees.

Tirian

WestonDave wrote: »

Look at it from her perspective. If she takes you on she might (but its probably fairly slim) get someone come along who is willing to use her for just 3 months and then find someone else, but the chances are she is going to have that space free until April apart from maybe odd days cover in emergencies. So by charging you half rate she is very likely to gain £1000 from you, but lose the chance to get £2000 from someone that pitches up tomorrow and wants someone immediately on a permanent basis and isn't interested in just 3 months. She has balanced her risks - she could have got lucky and got the full £2000 if she'd held out or she could have lost out altogether and got nothing so she's split the difference.

In any event, her house, her child minding, her skills and personality that you want, so her rules or find someone else.

This doesn't quite follow through. Part of the reason you end up having to pay the retainer is because when you have a fixed return date you can't play Russian roulette on finding someone who will take a child at no notice.

On the latter point, there are several minders in the area who seem perfectly decent. But if they're all going to demand a retainer, then that sounds more like price-fixing to me.

But there you go. Seems to have to be rich you you want to have a kid and go back to work.

Tirian

Reggie_Rebel wrote: »

The joy of seeing your baby grow, going to the park, tumble tots, meeting other parents and making life long friendships.

Children eh, don't they get in the way of living? If only there were ways to stop yourself getting pregnant and save on the expense of wanting to palm your child off on someone else for ridiculous fees.

Ah yes, it's all exactly that simple. Thanks so much for pointing it out, it's all clear to me now - my wife is a terrible woman for wanting to go back to work and have a career. As am I for daring to want a career for myself too. And we're both abominable misanthropes for looking into childcare.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful contribution.

thatgirlsam

Tirian wrote: »

This doesn't quite follow through. Part of the reason you end up having to pay the retainer is because when you have a fixed return date you can't play Russian roulette on finding someone who will take a child at no notice.

On the latter point, there are several minders in the area who seem perfectly decent. But if they're all going to demand a retainer, then that sounds more like price-fixing to me.

But there you go. Seems to have to be rich you you want to have a kid and go back to work.

I understand what you are saying but your childminder can't play russian roulette with her job either

By accepting a retainer for your child she is putting herself in the position of having to turn down other children and therefore turning down the potential of earning more than the retainer you are paying

It is her business and how she pays her bills so has to plan these things out

Would it be better for you to look at nursery places as you may find it easier to get one nearer the time?

Reggie_Rebel

Read your posts again, they read like you are being forced to pay this fee so that you carry on your life as before and having a child is a hinderance. It doesn't work like that, as you will soon find out.

Embrace the fact that a child will change your life rather than hinder it and you will enjoy your child more, your child may even be happier.

You have choices, make them and stop moaning