Childcare when on Mat Leave - what have other people done??

[Tallgirl]

I am currently PG with number 2 and not sure how long i will be off work so wondering what other people have done regarding their childminder while on maternity leave??

To sum up my situation - i currently work 3 full days a week and DS (2.5) goes to childminder two days and my parents one day (so i am working 3 days and only paying 2 days childcare). I havent decided about going back to work after number 2 but suspect i will (probably have to but that is another thread!). My childminder needs to know my plans i.e. whether i want to keep DS with her during my maternity leave in order to keep open the space. I think she would be able to have the baby as well after this (need to confirm) but just not sure whether can afford to keep him there while on maternity pay. Well the truth is we wont be able to - obviously i want to keep him there as long as possible for his stability when the baby arrives and he has a great time and she is a brilliant childminder so reluctant to give her up although i know other childcare is available. Also need to check if she will give discount for sibling as this may affect whether or not it is worth my going back to work.

The basic question is what other working mothers did regarding their childminders during maternity leave. Any advice of similar experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks alot

[LIZS]

When would he become eligible for "nursery vouchers" scheme in your area, as it is supposed to be being gradually extended to include 3 yr olds ? You could then offset these against various forms of childcare (you might need to check whether it also includes Ofsteadded childminders etc) so long term you might not be so out of pocket.

[Tallgirl]

HI Lizs

Another thing to think about is that he will be going to pre-school soon - at least a couple of mornings a week. He could start after Oct half term (baby due mid Sep)but would not get the sessions paid for until January when he is 3. In my area pre-school is paid for when they are 3 but not sure if this is what you mean by nursery vouchers as didnt think they could be used for other childcare?

thanks

[elliott]

I would keep him there as long as you can afford to. Ds1 goes to nursery 3 days/wk, I kept this up for 4 months then dropped it down to 2 days for the last couple of months. I did find the days with both of them quite difficult.
I don't know whether the 'vouchers' applies to childminders but we will be eligible for money from the term after ds1 turns 3 (I thought that was available nationally?)

[LIZS]

tallgirl,

Have a look here for your area. It implies that the childcare vouchers can be used against various different forms of childcare not just nurseries and preschools, but ,yes, I think it is the same scheme as you mention.

[Tallgirl]

Thanks for this info - i checked on the website and it kept mentioning childminder groups (networks) so not sure if this would cover it but as he will be going to local pre-school i would probably use the vouchers for that. This could cut down my child care costs but would have to drop him off myself and then get her to collect - obviously this is then time she cannot charge me for whereas if she dropped and collected him she would still charge for the time he is there.

Anyway - i would like to keep him with chilminder as long as possible and i guess if it is really worth my while (i.e. she could take the baby and would give discount for sibling) then we would have to manage somehow. I appreciate that this is a luxury as it would give me time with the baby and also be continuity for him. I am also aware that should be reading all those other threads about saving money/meal planning etc which i do frequently but never manage to put them into practice unfortunately!!

[geogteach]

I kept DS in nursey 3 days a week when I was on mat leave for DD - first 6 months was nearly full pay, second 6 months no pay but I knew I was going back and wanted to keep the place, plus heloves it and is a nightmare in the house so it saved my sanity. Now preg again me and DH have decided we can afford 3 days but that is between 2, we are waiting to see what pre-school sessions DS gets before deciding how to split the 3 nursery days between DS and DD

[chatee]

i kept dd going to her childminder(it's only 1 afternoon a week)as she collected her from pre-school and i must say i have really enjoyed having a whole day to spend with ds and not worry about feeds etc as we have to pick dd up at a certain time.....he is a much more relaxed baby that day and so am i
the other mornings dd goes to pre-school only(using her nursery vouchers)
basically if you can try to adjust/afford to do it i would especially if you are happy with your childminder
good luck

[Tallgirl]

Just a quick update - i asked my childminder whethe she would be able to have the baby if we kept DS with her during my mat leave (well 26 weeks) and she needs to check as she already has her 3 under-5s but there is a new ruling about keeping siblings together but you have to put a requests in writing so she is going to check. She may be able to offer discount for second child as she would then have 4. This is all very well but now feel as though i'm being forced into making a decision now which is what i really didnt want to do. Last time i was looking at nurseries while still PG (which i didnt go for) and am trying to avoid making decisions now but feel i have no option. I do want to give my childminder an idea of what we want to do but if she says she can have the baby i feel like i've committed. aaaaaaaargh!!

Anyway - really better get back to work as have loads of catching up do to from recent holiday.

[Gem13]

DS was going to his childminder 2 full days a week while I worked but when I went on maternity leave we kept the days but reduced the hours.

We then upped the hours after the arrival of DD to 3 full days (I'd had a c-section and couldn't cope with an active 18 month old as well as DD) and then reduced them back to the 2 days at 5 hours when she was about 6 weeks old.

It worked really well. He loves going there, it gives everyone a break, him from me, him from the baby, me from him, etc. and was continuity for him when everything else must have seemed very strange. I will keep the arrangement going until he goes to playschool when he is 2.5.

I'm not going back to work and DD is now 4 months old. I'm hoping she will take his place when he goes to playschool and I will work (or be pregnant again )

I don't know if this helps. What I'm trying to say (but not very well) is that it was great to have someone to call on (especially as she was flexible and we don't have any family nearby) and a good childminder is not to be given up easily.

FWIW - I am having to cut down on groceries, etc. too to fund it but it is worth it.

Good luck!