Can my mum provide childcare

[HouseOfSticks]

Couldn’t find an answer on google. Me and DH are meant to be back at work now. It’s causing lots of arguments as we can’t keep asking our boss to change our shift. Can my healthy 60 year old mum have my daughter while I work. The other option is her going back to her childminder were surely she will be mixing other key worker children therefore more germs?

No, households still can’t mix.

I think you need to get sensible about this and think about what’s the option with the smallest risk.

I’d send her to your mum.

Yes, you can have family as childcare. There is and exemption in law for it.

@Nicknacky where did you see that exactly? My brother and ex girlfriend were struggling with childcare (and arguing who should take time off). They asked my mum to have him who agreed. It would have entailed them travelling to collect him. They phoned the police to see if they could travel and were told under no circumstances could they travel. The parents had to sort it out between themselves.

kazza446 I’ve had the full legislation provided to me through work (police). The issue with the legislation is that it’s not written brilliantly and one person can interpret it differently to others. And some of my police FB friends are really really over zealous!

How far is the travel?

An hours drive away. To be honest I’m glad the police said no as I don’t think it was the best solution. Both parents are 70. Mum is housebound due to physical disabilities. Dad is prone to chest infections and has been hospitalised for pneumonia on a couple of occasions. They both won’t take my advice and do internet shopping or click and collect, so my dad goes shopping once or twice a week. Child is an over active 7 year old so would have to rely on my dad to take him out for exercise. Only a small garden and live on a main road. Dad is also primary carer for his elderly brother who has dementia. His brother has one private paid carer going in each day, but carer also works with other vulnerable people. There are too many variables which I think would increase risk to them all. I also live 50 miles away so can’t help my parents out collecting shopping etc.

Eh @Nicknacky bojo has said several times that we shouldn't be using grandparents for childcare. If the op and her partner are keyworkers the child can go to childminders if not then whoever isn't a key worker takes time off work.

I would ask your Mum to have her op.
I would be trying to hold onto my job if I could at the moment.
Will your dC be able to go to school in June?

Looney Eh, he said that we shouldn’t use them if they are vulnerable. Read the full legislation, not the extracts in the media. It’s lengthy.

They phoned the police to see if they could travel and were told under no circumstances could they travel.

This doesn’t make any sense. People travel to take children to school or to childminders.

I think either the police or some posters here are making things up as they go along.

That’s as clear as mud!
She’s only just 3 so no school soon. I just don’t get why she is meant to go to a childminder rather than my mum who is 60 and as fit as a fiddle.
But I did manage to swap some shifts around so should be able to muddle through this week at least.

@PurpleDaisies that was the clear message my mum received. Why would I make it up!!!

I just don’t get why it’s OK for her to go to a childminder who mixes with her own family and then be around all other KW children who mix with their families who bring in germs from their jobs than just be with her nanny who is fit and health. It’s Crazy.

It makes absolutely no sense! You can have a cleaner or a nanny in your house but not a grandparent!

I am a childminder I can only take keyworker children till 1st June.

Yes there is some lunacy in what you can and can’t do.