If your family setup involves both parents working FT...

[goodwinter]

...how old are your children and what childcare do you use?

I don't even have kids yet but I'm researching for the future and it seems a logistical nightmare!

Nursery years are the easiest, although not in terms of cost. I would say mid to late primary are the hardest.

A lot of primaries either have onsite out of hours care (before / after) or have links with a shuttle service that takes them to a village hall or similar and keeps them til you collect / drops off at school at 9. Or a good child minder from the beginning. Check early on which schools the CM will collect and drop off from /to.

It's possible. But it does cost!

Nursery was easy peasy. DD was in from 6 months old full time. No emotional scarring for her or us.

School takes more organising. She's in breakfast club 5 days per week (from 8am). She goes to after school club twice a week then the other 3 days are split between me, DH and my DParents. DH and I changed our hours so We work late in Monday's when my parents have DD then each have an early finish so still FT hours.

Holidays are harder - here never in school it seems! A mix of us, parents and holiday clubs.

I worried loads about wrap around and holiday cover but it just kind of comes together.

We are both high earners tho so paying for childcare isn't a problem - its mostly the logistics that are a challenge.

Me and dh work shifts have dd9 ds5 and DS3 and are lucky enough to have no childcare as my dm helps fill the gaps when needed

Our DD is one and we have a nanny. We both try to work from home one day a week where possible.