Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Childcare costs

157 replies

LawyerMumAsia · 03/11/2024 08:06

Good morning. My childcare costs are through the roof. Can somebody please tell me if this is normal. We are two full time working parents with two primary aged children and one toddler. Nursery is £1700 per month and nanny is £3,300 per month including taxes for 36 hours a week. Nursery is 4 days per week but we will be reducing that to 3 days in a few weeks time. We need 36 hours because of school drop off and then nanny comes back again to do school pick up and dinner and to be there during bath time. Her net pay is around £17 per hour. Thank you

OP posts:
Tohaveandtohold · 03/11/2024 08:17

Yes, that’s the cost with a Nanny. I don’t have a nanny and don’t know anyone who has one either so the nursery years are the most expensive among my circle of friends and after that, we use breakfast and after school clubs and still cover 7:45 to 5:45 on weekdays. Obviously if both parents work unsocial hours, that won’t help. But for us and most people, there’s always a parent who is available for pick up after wrap around care.

Parker231 · 03/11/2024 08:17

We used full time nursery hours and then at school, breakfast and after school clubs.

GiraffeTree · 03/11/2024 08:14

Have you looked into the alternatives? Could you use a childminder or after school club instead of the nanny, or maybe increase the nanny's hours and stop using nursery?

RhubarbCrumbs · 03/11/2024 08:13

I don’t quite understand how drop off, pick up and bedtime is over 7 hours a day?

I have a child in nursery 3 days a week, he’s 3 so we get 30 free hours, plus 20% funded through our childcare account. Monthly fees are about £100ish.

When he starts school we’ll be using breakfast club and after school club, which won’t be anywhere near £3k+ per month.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 03/11/2024 08:11

Yes.

most people don’t need childcare after nursery so don’t have that additional cost, but yes. If you’re having that much childcare then that’s what it costs.

OtterOnAPlane · 03/11/2024 08:11

It’s normal if you have a nanny. But most people don’t have a nanny - afterschool club or a childminder for the big ones would be much cheeper.

I’m guessing your income is too high for the free nursery hours?

LawyerMumAsia · 03/11/2024 08:08

Based in London

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread