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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

Can I get childcare to cover labour?

107 replies

AllTheBestNamesWereTaken · 30/01/2023 23:22

This would mean having someone on-call 24/7 for up to 5 weeks and paid a retainer at least for this whole time. They’d need to stay local and be prepared to drop everything at a moment’s notice, quite possibly in the middle of the night. Is it realistic to think I could find someone prepared to do this?

Would childcare concerns be justification for a maternal request C-section do you think?

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FriedasCarLoad · 31/01/2023 00:05

Perhaps the key is not to expect one person to be on standby for five weeks, but to ask a number of friends and family to be on standby for a short time each.

Effectively you'd need to draw up a rota covering all of that time. I think lots of people are willing to help in this kind of situation who might not generally want to babysit, but you'll probably need to be flexible with DD staying at their house and fitting in with other routine, rather than vice versa.

And maybe your mother could drive over as soon as labour starts and drive DD to get settled at friend's house, then join you in the hospital. If the original plan was for her to not be there at all, then missing the first hour or two should be manageable.

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 31/01/2023 00:03

I assume you've thought of every possible alternative (e.g. friends, family, existing sitters) OP. If on-call agency placement is literally the only other option, I would personally push for ELCS.

My second labour was a bit early and 90 minutes first to last contraction. Luckily I lived moments from the hospital and a raft of relatives who could step in.

Original poster
AllTheBestNamesWereTaken · 31/01/2023 00:00

DD is 2 and not yet in nursery. I wasn’t planning to send her until the term after she turns 3 and qualifies for her 15 hours. The nursery she is down for is term time only and I’m due also bang in the middle of the summer holidays anyway.

It feels like a lot to ask of friends who all their own lives and families. My mum was going to have her but now wants to come to the birth so that isn’t going to work.

A childminder may be an option. Could they cover nights though? Ideally in our home rather than theirs.

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piggijg · 30/01/2023 23:56

We did this but it was with our very part time nanny. She came in the middle of the night for our older kids.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 30/01/2023 23:40

There will be agencies that could get someone to you within an hour or 2 which would generally be fine if you made contact early in your Labour.

What exactly is the situation though?

  • how old is your DD?
  • does she attend nursery or school? There could be options there if she does
  • do you have any family or friends within a 2 Hr drive who would be willing and able?
  • have you made contact with any local childminders to see if they would be willing to be on standby?
Original poster
AllTheBestNamesWereTaken · 30/01/2023 23:35

Thanks. Trouble is, I’d ideally like someone DD can get to know a little in advance rather than having to leave her with a random stranger.

Would most agencies have someone available to send literally right now this second? That’s still problematic if it’s at night though.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 30/01/2023 23:26

I think you'd find people willing to say they'd do it. I'm not sure you'd find someone who would actually do it though (stay local and not do anything that can't be immediately dropped).

You're probably better off joining an agency or two (like bubble or similar) and then calling them when things start to kick off. They should be able to get someone to you at short notice.

Or get to know several babysitters yourself and hope at least one of them is available.