To take DS3 with me to work? AIBU?

[ShortbreadPGTips]

I’m a single mum to three children, ex moved out in March. He lives nearby and the dcs stay there every weekend. When the kids start school again in September, I’ve been thinking of starting a cleaning business. I’ve been a SAHM since my eldest was born 6 years ago.

I have two older children who are in full time school, and DS3 is still in nursery. He only goes to nursery 1-4pm every day. I tried to start the business a few months ago and put an ad up, but people were requesting a cleaner Tuesday 10-12pm for example, and I couldn’t do it because of my son. But now I’m considering starting the business again, and just take DS with me. I could do cleaning when DS is in nursery, but I also need to be back to pick up DS6 and DD5 from school at 3.30pm, so it will be very hard. If I took DS3 with me to work, I could get more done and work from 9am til 3pm. I thought of bringing some colouring books and crayons with me and just let DS get on with it while I clean. AIBU to do this?

Yes, you need to book childcare. Clients won’t be happy with a crèche and you won’t be able to do as good a job with children around. They would be paying you for a service not to childmind.

I think as long as the people you are cleaning for are happy with that it’s fine.

I wouldn't be too happy if my cleaners started bringing their child along. You are paid to clean not part clean and part look after your own child.

It might depend on the demand for cleaning services in your area. To be honest if I was looking to employ a cleaner and had a choice I would not employ someone who brought along a toddler. It doesn't seem realistic that you could look after DS3 and work at the same child. Your child could get injured or cause damage.

Sorry, I know that is tough to hear.

Could DS3 go to nursery a bit longer for a two days a week?

If I hired a cleaner I wouldn't want them bringing a DC with them.
I also think most workplaces/ independent small business will not allow this due to health and safety and all the risk assessments.

If your hourly rate reflected the fact you're bringing your child I wouldn't mind personally. But I certainly wouldn't expect to pay the going rate if your child would always be there.

I think it would be unreasonable. If your child (say) broke a valuable ornament, would you be insured for it? If I employed a cleaner (in my dreams!) I wouldn't expect them to bring a child.

Sorry but I'm afraid I wouldn't agree to that. The odd time over the school holidays as a necessity would be ok, but not ever time.

Not very fair on your DC either, our cleaner works incredibly hard and would not have time to be caring for her children at the same time, they would be bored and I would not be happy as we pay by the hour so you would get less done than a cleaner on her own.

The reason I got a cleaner was because I know how hard it is to get things done with a small child under my feet!

Can not change the nursery to morning sessions if that's more popular times? Do your research locally to see what's normal in your area.

It sounds difficult for you but I do feel that if I employed a cleaner I'd rather they didn't have their child there.

Sorry OP I would be happy if it was a one off but not a regular thing. As parent to DC's I know that the productivity of three hours with them is v different from three hours without.

Can you not swap his hours to mornings?

I wouldn't want my cleaner to bring someone else into my house. If you treat childcare as a business cost, what would your hourly rate be? I pay £14p/h.

No, sorry. I wouldn't be happy. And you'll need to think how school holidays will work too.

I wouldn't allow this. Plenty of businesses offering the same service sans half baked.

It's not fair on your clients (I'd fire you if I found out and you'd not declared it upfront) and not fair on the DC.

Also wouldn't be covered if you plan to get professional cleaning insurance e.g. to guard against someone accusing you of something, or when you break something etc.

I'd be worried about toddler breaking stuff himself, or even just distracting you so you do a crap job.

Absolutely not a good idea imho, if you're starting a real business. How many men would take their child along to client appointments?! Would you be ok if your home visit self employed mechanic or hairdresser turned up with DC and a colouring book?!

YABU. I wouldn't be happy with my cleaner bringing their child to my home whilst I'm paying them to work.

Sorry, I wouldn’t be happy with this either.

YABU, you'd need to sort some extra childcare out for DS. I pay for a cleaner, not a child as well

Appreciate it's not easy, but I wouldn't be happy with a random child running around my house

I was happy with our cleaner from years ago occasionally bringing his daughter, but he was someone we knew and liked, and had used for years, and having her there from time to time when there was a childcare problem had no impact on the excellent job he did. I wouldn’t hire a new cleaner who brought a child, partly because our house is no longer childproofed.

I'd also consider changing nursery to mornings, that sounds like a better option

Why can’t he go to nursery in the morning? My house is not small-child proof, I wouldn’t let you bring him here, it would be potentially dangerous. And I would wonder how much cleaning would actually get done.

I wouldn't be happy I dont have a cleaner but if I did it would be a luxury for me and if you brought you're ds with you and they made a mess or broke anything whilst you were suppose to be cleaning I wouldn't be happy at all. They are rolling out 30 hours childcare if you working and earning a set amount week so it might be worth looking at other work and booking him in childcare.

Out totally depends on your child - at that age some are able to play alone for long periods and some will destroy things if not watched. The clients need to give you permission - some won't mind, some won't want your child in their house at all, some will be sceptical about how much cleaning you'll get done. There may be an insurance issue too - your business insurance and their home insurance, so best check at least your business insurance - if your child is injured in their home or more likely if he breaks something valuable.

My cleaner brings her children occasionally when childcare is closed or they're off colour but not actually ill, and I'm absolutely fine with that but she still gets the work done (puts our TV on for them). I'm not sure it'd work every time, and going with you every day will be boring meaning increasing chance of mischief.

Do you need some kind of insurance to be a cleaner? Would that cover your child being there as well?

I wouldn't be happy about a cleaner bringing their child to work with them unless it was a one off

Extremely unreasonable. Not all homes are "child friendly" and you cant clean to a professional standard if you are havi g to make sure your child isnt making more mess/breaking stuff or is safe.

I've had to take my toddler on cleaning jobs occasionally.

Unfortunately I wouldn’t like this. Where would you be leaving the child while you did the bathrooms, for example? I wouldn’t want someone else’s toddler in my bedroom. Sorry, OP, it’s a no from me, although other customers might be fine with it so don’t let it put you off if enough people say it wouldn’t bother them.