Start work soon and still no childcare! What do I do?

[sayyiusayee]

I'm suppose to start on the 12th April.

I've been trying for over a week to find childcare.

I wanted a nursery (haha, I didn't realise I wasn't getting one!), and they all said nothing at all until September, one even said September 2025

I've asked loads of childminders and they all say they don't have the availability

It's a good job for me. I feel so sad I might have to turn it down...

Honestly, what do people do? How do other people find childminders so much easier to get hold of than nurseries? They're all booked here

Most parents taking mat leave would try and have something in place before they started the mat leave but I admit this is a very different situation.

it will be very tricky to find paid for childcare at this short notice for 4 afternoons - as pp have said 2 days would be a lot easier. If you really want to take the job (will it pay more than the cost of childcare? Sadly many part time jobs don’t) then your best bet is to call in favours from family or perhaps your dp but again it would be far easier to have hours concentrated into one or two days.

if you decide not to take this job but want to work your best bet it so line up a place with a CM or (better) a nursery, even if only for two mornings or one day a week to start with- then start looking again. The nursery my kids were at were very flexible with days/ hours once your kids were actually there- it was however a year or so’s wait to get in in the first place.

the system sucks Tbf and it’s not OP’s fault. Friends in Germany’s children get guaranteed spaces from 9 months old I think, full time if needed, for a very nominal fee. Over there they actually want parents to work, even though i understand it’s hard to get your child into the best nurseries - always spaces somewhere I believe

Right, and that’s helpful to OP how exactly?

I feel for you OP. I cannot believe how harsh some of these comments are implying that you should have organised this while pregnant, as though you’re taking a planned FT role.

Congratulations on getting the job.

I have seen from your posts that a nanny or au pair is out of your budget. I know you have pre school organised from January next year, which is good.

When I was looking for childcare many years ago, I was able to put my details into a local authority website which brought up the details of all childminders and childcare places within a certain radius. Is there anything like that available?

What about any friends with children similar ages who are stay at home parents who may want some extra income? I know they won’t be registered so you won’t get help with the costs, but it could be a temporary measure until pre school?

Or, do what I did, and just spend some time off with your little one until they’re older and it all becomes easier? You can only do why you can do with what you’ve got. I too had no family around to help and childcare was pretty much non existent where we lived. There’ll always be a job when the time is right, no matter what anybody says. In the meantime you could always register as a childminder if childcare is so limited in your area or find another work from home role.

Also kudos to you for keeping your cool with the obnoxious comments from the narrow minded nuggets on this thread. You sound amazing.

Bit pointless that early. You might miscarry.

Sounds like you have no choice but to give up the job opportunity. Sympathies to you, OP.

It is illegal to pay someone who isn’t registered with Ofsted or a childminding agency to look after your child for over two hours a day paid for. There will be no insurance, no appropriate safeguards etc

@HistoryFanatic
I think it was sarcasm

Ah right! Need more sleep. 🤣

Do you have any short term solutions you could explore to bridge the gap? I'm in the same position as I start a job in a couple of weeks and my child's nursery is in a consultation period and may close at the exact time I start. I'm lucky that there's other options around but I have a few short term things like family / friends / clubs for first couple of weeks to buy some time to choose and settle in.

Does the school have links with any nurseries?

I’m very surprised your ex isn’t pushing you!

Just jump in your Time Machine OP

Exactly! Ideally book it just after you have sex. All the best.

@Ohlalahair what about a nanny?

She said she couldn’t afford a nanny, plus she’s not going to find one for under 10 hours a week and would have the faff of employing them etc. The Nanny would also have to work from the child’s home address and many Nanny’s are registered with Ofsted these days (and we will see more and more in the coming years) so that parents can claim the Government subsidised hours etc.

What I’m trying to illustrate is that it’s very unwise to leave your kid with a random “uni student” who hasn’t been DBS checked or have any level of paediatric first aid training etc.