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

Original poster

What do you do when you need childcare after 6pm?

63 replies

neenztwinz · 14/03/2009 17:49

I am going back to work in July and my hours are 10-6. It's an hour's drive each way so I need childcare to 7pm ideally. But all the nurseries and childminders seem to shut at 6pm. What are my other options? 7pm is quite late for the children to be in chidcare anyway (they go to bed at 7 at the moment!) - they will be 14mo then - does anyone else have their kids in childcare till 7pm?

I am looking into getting a nanny (for twins - 2 days a week) but it might be too expensive or I might not be able to find one.

I could ask for compressed hours but would have to do 9.30-4.30 (ie no lunch break) cos we can't start before 9.30 and leaving at 5pm is awful for the traffic and I probably wouldn't be back in an hour then. I would rather do 10-6 but is it going to be possible?

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SadMarg · 26/03/2009 07:29

I found her through www.nannyjob.co.uk. Mine was in London, and so assume more expensive than what you would pay.

I just typed in part time nanny, mersyside, live out and 4 CVs came up that matched that requirement. Be warned though, that some of these nannies may not even respond!

To get any more info than that (ie their contact details) you will need to pay a small fee. You could also list your job vacancy and let nannies apply for it, and you could specify what the pay rate would be straight away.

Quattrocento · 25/03/2009 23:22

It worked out cheaper for us to have a nanny once we had two children, and you may find it a bit more flexible.

I reasoned that a nanny was likely to be less ill than the children as well - so removing the awkward issue of childcare when they are poorly ...

seeker · 25/03/2009 23:09

In answer to the original question - and at a risk of being flamed to death - change your job!

Original poster
neenztwinz · 25/03/2009 23:02

SadMarg, how did you advertise the post and how much did the nanny cost? I am in Merseyside so wonder if nannies are that widely available here. Also I will barely make £90 a day after tax etc so wouldn't want it to be loads more than that.

The CM has just one child of her own anyway and wouldn't take on any more mindies on the days she had mine so it is almost the same as your situation anyway .

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SadMarg · 24/03/2009 20:57

Have you thought of a nanny that had her own child? They might be willing to work for a reduced hourly rate as they are effectively getting childcare for that period of time as well.

I had a nanny 1 day a week, but it was a really long day (7.00 am until 7.00 pm), but she had a young child with her, and was able to pick up her other child from school and bring her home to our place. She was really happy with one long day a week, as she only wanted to work part time.

willowthewispa · 24/03/2009 19:34

A CM is so much better for little ones than a nursery anyway

Original poster
neenztwinz · 24/03/2009 15:53

I thought the nursery thing was odd too! Yes it will be nice to get home with all the hard work already done

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Blondeshavemorefun · 24/03/2009 14:48

i cant beleive the nursery charges extra for the last 30mins

surely they have a daily set rate - seems very weird

but glad this cm works out a bit cheaper, and hope daddy enjoys bathing them

and you arrive home to clean fed children - ready for bed - perfect

Original poster
neenztwinz · 24/03/2009 13:32

Actually Blondes the nursery is more expensive. I got the info from them today and it is £37 a day. They charge an extra £4 for 5.30-6pm! When I first enquired I said 9.30-4.30 and she said that was considered to be all day and would be £33. The CM is £3.75 an hour and would be 9.30 to 6.30 (so £33.75 each per day).

I would drop them off at 9.30 and DH would pick them up but he doesn't finish till 5.30pm and it is 45mins-ish commute. He is a lawyer and partner so it is not so easy for him to just finish early, although you'd think as one of the bosses it would!

The CM said she would give them tea anyway so DH can just bring them home for bathtime. I'll get in at 7pm. Not ideal, I would rather they weren't there so late but it is only two days and we don;t have any other option. I only have to go back to work for six months to keep my mat pay so if I am not happy I will just quit and be full-time SAHM . I am lucky to have that option.

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AtheneNoctua · 23/03/2009 14:31

Why don't you do drop offs and your DH do the pick ups every day (or vice versa)? That way you each have the flexibility to lengthen your work day at one end.

Blondeshavemorefun · 23/03/2009 14:15

what does trhe nursery cost and what will the cm cost?

Original poster
neenztwinz · 23/03/2009 13:54

My children are not hard work, they are angels! I heard back from a CM actually this morning and she will have them till 6.30 and give them tea. She sounds promising, but is more expensive than the nursery! She would only have my two though and her own 2yo so that would be good. So that is an option to look into.

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nomoreamover · 23/03/2009 09:53

Glad its not just my ILs who say no to all forms of Childcare!!! my parents do too - hence why I can't go back to my old career!!!

Blondeshavemorefun · 23/03/2009 08:27

about your pil BUT they do have their own life and 2 young children are hard work

if you are sticking with nursery all day, then why not see if one of the staff can take them home for you and bath/pj instead of dh finishing work early?

Original poster
neenztwinz · 22/03/2009 19:35

It has gone a bit pear-shaped already! DH's parents have said no to picking them up and giving them their tea! I am really annoyed. I understand they don't want to be tied, they are retired and want to go on holiday and stuff, but I thought on the days when they are home and not doing anything, they would quite like to take them for a couple of hours. It's only two days a week! But they said no, they have decided they are not doing anything like that for their grandkids. But they are having DH's sister's little boy one day a week for two months when she first goes back to work.

So they will have to be at nursery till 6pm, I would really rather they were picked up at 4.30 and taken to have their tea, but it isn't to be. DH will have to finish work early those days and pick them up at 6pm and take them home for tea then.

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AtheneNoctua · 17/03/2009 10:27

Sounds like a good solution. Let us know when it all goes pear shaped.

(all childcare arrangement go pear shaped now a and then)

Original poster
neenztwinz · 16/03/2009 20:01

I think we are going to ask DH's parents to pick them up from CM/nursery at 5pm, take them to theirs and give them tea, and DH will pick them up at 6pm-ish and bring them home and bath them. When PILs are on holiday DH can leave work a bit earlier. That way I get the double benefit of it costing less and all the work is done for me while I have a relaxing brew in the office before a leisurely drive home

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nbee84 · 16/03/2009 19:53

And don't forget the hidden costs of having an aupair - extra on food bills & heating, phones etc

nomoreamover · 16/03/2009 19:31

surprised all the local childminders shut at 6pm - have you rung and asked them if they would do til 7pm....I must admit I do work til whatever time I am needed but I charge a higher rate after 6pm though so be prepared to pay a little extra for that final hour.

Original poster
neenztwinz · 16/03/2009 13:28

Yes that does sound good! Hopefully DH will be able to do all that (for free!) on the days I work, but I fear more often than not he'll call his parents to do it if he is stuck in work, and I don't like the thought of them in my house when I am not there.

I had considered an au pair but wondered whether I could cope with someone else living in my house. And even though they are cheap for the number of hours you get it is still more than £250 a month isn;t it and that is a lot of money as I won't really be earning (all my wage will go on childcare).

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AtheneNoctua · 16/03/2009 11:17

HAving the children fed, bathed, and in their pyjamas is my absolutel favourite thing about having a nanny!

Another option might be an au pair / nursery combination where au pair is responsible for pick up from nursery and takes them home for bed and bath on those two days and then you could fill the rest of her 25 hours with a night b-sitting or some help round the house.

Blondeshavemorefun · 16/03/2009 08:16

agree that having a nanny may work out cheaper than having twins in a nursery

it will certainly make your life easier, as the nanny will come to your house, and if need be get your children up, dressed and breakfasted (if need to leave earlier than 9am) and then in evenings will have children fed and bathed - all ready for bed

if you do use a cm/nursery, you then have the added stress of collecting and then taking home and bath etc

other option is to use a nursery, and see if one of the staff there would take your twins home and bath them and have for an hr and babysit for you

Original poster
neenztwinz · 15/03/2009 08:59

I never thought finding childcare would be this complicated! Thanks again for all your replies.

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MollieO · 14/03/2009 23:07

My childminder did 7am to 6.30pm and longer if needed. I returned to work 4 days a week when ds was 10 mths. Same hourly rate times number of hours.

I do compressed hours but legally the longest time you can work without at least a 15 min break is 6 hours.

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