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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

What kind of childcare is available for a month old?

32 replies

pinkprincess · 08/01/2010 14:35

I have recently found out I am pregnant. I am very happy, but I'm already looking towards the future and trying to prepare myself for when baby comes.

In September I will be starting my third and last year of my degree. I really don't want to take a year off from my studies as I am not really enjoying my course at the moment, and I feel if I took a break from it, I would never get round to finishing it off. But I am due at the end of August and the university's nursery only look after children from 3 months old, which won't be til November time. DH works full time, so it will be highly unlikely he will be free on the two days I need to go into university, and I don't know how he or his work would feel about him taking two days off a week through holiday for the first couple of months.

So I was wondering if there were other options I could look into for the two days I need to go in? We don't have family around here that we could ask. I will speak to my tutors around the third month check once we know everything is fine to see what they suggest and say. But then saying that, I already feel guilty for considering having childcare so early on for newborn, when I spent 2 years as a SAHM for DD who's 7 now.

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frakkinaround · 08/01/2010 15:35

If you can't take your DD or find a childminder and you can afford it then a temp nanny might be a solution. There is a very experienced nanny and mum, sometimes on here who is in Hertfordshire. She's here as mummyknowsbest which is also her website I think. Or there might be others around.

madcows · 08/01/2010 15:28

You might want to speak to a personal tutor about seeing if you could take the term 'off' and come back after Xmas. (So not lose a whole year). Depending on how the credit system works on your course, there might be some room for manoevre.
I'd be inclined to do that rather than cobble together childcare for 2 days - if only because there will be work to be done outside those 2 days, and it might be v tough with a newborn.
madcows

Original poster
pinkprincess · 08/01/2010 15:14

I live in Hertfordshire. Thank you for the advice on the paternity leave and about flexible working. They may be more open to it if it's just for a couple of months.

I have heard that some people have had their children in lectures, so that's something I would have to ask about. I will have to look around for local childminders too. I wasn't sure if any did look after young babies too.

Thank you for the advice

OP posts:
Ceebee74 · 08/01/2010 15:01

Fab - paternity leave has to be taken in blocks of weeks so can't be spread out. However, it can be taken anytime within the first 56 days of the birth - so he could not take any for the first month and then take the 2 weeks once you have to go back to uni and that is 2 weeks covered. It would be hard for you though.

I don't know about childcare but I would get your DH to ask at work about using his leave - they might be more understanding than you think. Once the baby is born, he is entitled to put in a request for flexible working so could do it under that umbrella and his company have to have a valid business reason why it wouldn't be feasible.

CMOTdibbler · 08/01/2010 15:01

DH saved all his leave up so that he could have 2 days a week of for 5 weeks after his paternity leave and a full week off. His work were fine about it, and it was really nice for him to spend more time around.

I'd book a place at uni nursery from the minimum age they will take, based on your due date so that you are holding it (since they are prob v busy), and get DH to see what he can work out.

Depending on your course, and your baby, it might be possible to have a baby in a sling in lectures, esp if you were breastfeeding so could just feed them when they woke up

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 08/01/2010 14:54

Your DH should be able to spread out his paternity leave to cover those 2 days a week.

Whereabouts are you?

looneytune · 08/01/2010 14:52

I'm a childminder who takes children from birth and if I had a space and was in your area, would be happy to help on those days. A lot of childminders won't take children under a certain age but don't rule out the option

Failing that, would a friend be able to come to yours for those days?

Good luck