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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Any childminders who only took a short time off after having their own baby?

32 replies

Caramelchoo · 20/04/2017 10:43

I'm trying to work out whether I'm being realistic about the idea of only taking a few weeks off if my partner and I decide to have a baby.

Finances are the only thing stopping us from ttc right now and as I'm nearing 40 time is running out!

Maternity allowance will not be sufficient to live on during that time so I'm thinking that I could return to work after a month off.

Would love to know how any others have coped with this...

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Loulou2kent · 20/04/2017 11:41

I took 5 weeks off because I had c-section but would have taken 2 if I felt ok & was allowed to drive after a normal birth. It worked well for me. TBH my little boy just slotted right in & he knows no different! If anything I found the newborn bit easier whilst working as he slept a lot at first. Now he's 18 months & driving me crazy!!

welshweasel · 20/04/2017 10:57

I only took 14 weeks maternity so far less than most people. I reckon I would have been up for working by 8 weeks at a push. I had a section that I recovered easily from but still can't imagine being on the ball enough to look after other people's kids after a few weeks. The PP shows that it can be done though so perhaps it's a option. Get on with TTC, you're not getting any younger, the rest can be figured out if you get pregnant.

insancerre · 20/04/2017 10:56

I know a few cms who have only taken a few weeks off
It's certainly doable, not sure why welshweasel thinks it isn't
Plenty of self employed people can't afford to take long periods of maternity leave

Original poster
Caramelchoo · 20/04/2017 10:52

Thank you LookAtTheFlowersKerry, that's good to hear.
I want this to happen so much but don't want to kid myself it will be manageable. It sounds as though you worked things out well.

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Original poster
Caramelchoo · 20/04/2017 10:50

welshweasel - why do you think this is?

I'm thinking that as a childminder I can have a baby in my care plus 2 others under 5. Or 3 5-8's for after school.

Parents of multiple children do this.

I was thinking that for the first few months one option could be to focus on after school mindees, meaning that it would be concentrated into 3 hours a day, and also relieves me of the early years paperwork, learning journals etc.

I'm thinking my own physical health might suffer - tiredness etc. Also wondering if I'd resent sharing 'my' time with my new baby with other peoples children.

A lot to think about... Confused

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LookAtTheFlowersKerry · 20/04/2017 10:47

I only took two weeks. Dh took four, two weeks of annual leave and two weeks of parental, so he was around for the first two weeks I worked. We made sure all the parents knew and were happy and we muddled through.

I only had two preschoolers on my books and a school drop off so it wasn't too mental. It's very doable.

Having said that, this was my third baby so I was a bit more prepared for what to expect.

I would say go for it but save as much as you can and prepare your parents in case you do need more time.

welshweasel · 20/04/2017 10:45

Assuming you're not going to be organising separate childcare for your own baby, that's not a realistic option. Sorry.