Does anyone else out there work from home and have organised childcare???

[mummyofalbert]

Hi

This is my first post on mumsnet. I work from home, have done since DS was a few weeks old. He's nearly 11 months now and I think I need some childcare rather than juggling time inbetween DS's naps (which I know will change soon) occasional visits from my mum and my DH's freelancing downtime. Life is pretty hectic as i'm also main earner so help would be good.

Nursery is probably too costly (not much help for self-employed as far as I can tell) and not sure i'm ready for seperation yet if I can get away with it, but perhaps I could try it out? Could I do it ad-hoc?

Has anyone had experience of a mothers help, as perhaps DS could stay at home but i'd just have extra help?

Does anyone else have other suggestions? I need help!!! Thanks

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Ideally, you need a nanny, but if nursery is too expensive that's not likely to be an option. However, nannies, childminders and nurseries will all expect regular income, so none are suitable for ad hoc. How erratic are your hours?

[mummyofalbert]

Hi,my hours are pretty erratic at the moment, because I have to work when I can. I do evenings if I can't work in the day, which is pretty exhausting, but I could be more regimented if I got more formal childcare.

I suppose part of the problem is that i'd like some flexibility, like I get from home working. But it seems the options for childcare are not so flexible, perhaps home working is more unusual than I thought.

Nursery hours are long, and part-time provision is more expensive pro rata. I see what you mean about the ad hoc idea though, I would have to build a more structured week.

[ThePrisoner]

Some childminders will offer ad hoc childcare, so don't necessarily rule us out!!

[mummyofalbert]

ThePrisoner just out of interest what do you consider to be ad hoc? I've heard some people refer to it as only emergency childcare. Would you say it can also refer to a more regular use of childcare?

As a general feeling, as I continue to ask around, I sense that there doesn't seem to be much flexible childcare to meet the demands of the rise of flexible working. I see higher prices for shorter hours and the few people I know who work for themselves seem to have to make their work fit around their childcare, and often have their DCs in childcare longer than they really need to make it work.

But it is really difficult to find good examples of it working sucessfully.

[ThePrisoner]

For me - ad hoc means one of two arrangements.

The first - someone needing care at short notice, which I will do if I have the space.

The second - people I meet tend to know (because I tell them!) which days I have spaces, so they may book hair/doctor appointments, or have "me time" for one-off or more regular occasions.

I would only charge for the time that the child is with me, and I charge the same hourly rate for everyone.

However, if I have a specific space and someone wants to book it permanently, it obviously means I would have no space to offer for ad hoc care. For you, unless a childminder has deliberately chosen to not fill all their spaces (and I have met a few who do this), you run the risk of a place not being available.

All of my current mindees are part-time, and fit together really well to fill most of my week. In the past, I have had children attend for as little as only one afternoon a week, and it has always worked fine.

I hope that made sense (it does in my head ).

[mummyofalbert]

thanks TP that really helps, i've struggled pin down a meaning up to now. I'm realising that a childminder could be more the way to go with this.

I've stayed away from the idea because I thought nursery might give him more socialising (because of my work we are quite little home-bunnies!) but i'm changing my mind as he grows, he's pretty sociable without needing swarms of babies.

[ThePrisoner]

I don't think you need "swarms of babies" for socialising anyway (great phrase!) - I know some parents don't like it, but I think having different age ranges for children to socialise with can actually be really beneficial.

[mummyofalbert]

yes, DS really really responds to older babies, he has a tendency to crawl over the tiddlers as if they are invisible! (he's a big boy, I have to have eyes like a hawk...)

I read somewhere, can't for life of me remember where, that babies don't need lots of other babies the same age as them, because historically we would have grown up with just the extended family where the children are all completely different ages (although it was used to illustrate a model for not allowing baby to have any friends, which I think misses the point...)

[keresley]

My dh work from home on Thursday and Friday (whilst I work as a teacher). On these 2 days, we put our ds and dd in nursery from 9 - 12. This means he can have breakfast/play with dc before nursery and then when they get back from nursery, they have a 2 hour sleep. This gives him 5 solid hours of uninterupted work. He then makes up the rest of his hours in the evening.

[smee]

I work freelance from home too, and when DS was teeny, we found a lovely student who was training in Child Psychology. She came to the house and played with DS, or took him to the park for a few hours three mornings a week. I paid her a reasonable hourly rate and it worked for her as college hours made finding p/t work tricky. As I was around most of the time, I didn't have to worry about what she was like, as I could mostly listen in! She's like a big sister to him now, and a friend for me too, so I'd really recommend it. Try advertising on Gum Tree and see what response you get.

[Lizzylou]

I use a childminder, I work from home but do set days.
Some childminders will be more flexible, I often have extra hours/my other son goes during school holidays.
Some childminders charge for 1/2 a day or by the hour which may be more cost effective.