Myth: Childminders can look after as many children as they want at any one time
Fact: The maximum number of children that can be cared for by a childminder, including the childminders’ own children and any others they are responsible for, is limited depending on the age of the children and the space available to ensure that the needs of individual children are met.

The average number of children Childminding Ireland members mind is 3 at any one time and they are insured to mind a maximum of 6 children. If a childminder is minding more than 6 mixed aged children at any one time, they must register with Tusla. A childminder who is required to register should apply to register as a pre-school childminder if they care for more pre-school children than school age children, and as a school age childminder if they care for more school age children than pre-school children.
For further details on how many children a childminder can mind, visit our webpage.
Childminding Ireland has joined forces with four leading childminding organisations within the United Kingdom and Ireland to launch a campaign that dispels some controversial childminding myths. It is important that parents are aware of the facts when choosing a childcare provider that suits their family needs.
Here are some common childminding myths which this campaign is striving to dispel:
- Childminders are just babysitters, children just play and don’t learn as much with a childminder
- Childminding is only for women
- A childminder will replace the parent/s in a child’s affection
- A childminder works for me (the parent)
- Childminders are uninsured
Join the campaign today to help give childminding the recognition it deserves. To follow the campaign on social media, use #ChildcareChampions #ChildmindingVoices.
Click here to view the video about this myth.
Click here for the brochure which dispels this common myth.
Click here for the press release relating to the campaign.