What defines a childcare bubble?

[Rincewind1213]

Sorry to put this on the AIBU section but I wanted to garner opinion. So the “childcare bubble.” How do you define it? I’ve had a lot of parents ask me “who I’ve bubbled up with.” Most parents where I live have either bubbled up with a grandparent or bubbled up with another family to share childcare duties. My definition of childcare is when you need someone to look after your children because you are either working or because you have an emergency (ie doctors appointment / no way of taking child with you.) I’ve now discovered that a large majority of people who are bubbling up do not work and could technically stay at home with the children but are choosing to split time with another family. Another friend suggested to me that by keeping my son from bubbling up with another family I may be “damaging his mental health and was being selfish.” I GENUINELY thought that the childcare bubble was to cover those parents working or for emergencies. Have I misunderstood this? It seems so incredibly common where I live that I’m the only person not doing it.

YABU- This is the definition of childcare bubble

YANBU- This is not the definition of childcare bubble.

Childcare bubble is to cover work / emergencies

Bubbles should only be used if you really need them as the virus doesn't know you are in a bubble! You don't need to be working to have a childcare bubble (in England) but it must not be used for socialising for the adults, so you should drop the children and run basically.

You are correct op

Guidance here: www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-childcare-bubble-with-another-household

There's no requirement for it to cover work or emergencies.

@Peace43

Childcare bubble is to cover work / emergencies

I don't see that in the government guidance.

FWIW, I agree with you and we don't have one although my parents would be willing and able to form one with us but it seems like a pointless risk to take when we can manage without. But it wouldn't be against the 'rules' for them to provide childcare so we could sit in another room watching Netflix if we wanted.

My neighbour basically uses the excuse of a childcare bubble to socialise with her parents and sister whenever she wants. She is a SAHM and her husband works flexible hours from home. It’s so infuriating.

You're right op, they're just twisting the rules and I'll be anything they have a whole plethora of bubbles so they can see everyone they want

It never says that it needs to be or work or emergencies. It can be in a home, in a public place, it can be overnight. What it can't be is paid, or for anything but childcare (so the adults aren't meant to mix at all).

I don't have one, but totally understand why others might even if not at work each day. This is really hard going for pretty much everyone, it's sad to see so many on here tear strips off each other for imaginary misdemeanours.

There is a government definition that can help here, for those who have self-defined what is and isn't allowed.

www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-childcare-bubble-with-another-household#what-a-childcare-bubble-is

@SleepingStandingUp

You're right op, they're just twisting the rules and I'll be anything they have a whole plethora of bubbles so they can see everyone they want

They're not twisting the rules so long as the arrangement is just for childcare.

My understanding is similar to yours, I thought it was for when someone other than a registered childcare provider looks after a child whilst their parent is working e.g. little Timmy goes to nursery 3 days a week and granny and grandad look after him for 2 days, that arrangement could continue. Or in an emergency where parents have no option but to ask a family member to look after their child (aka the Barnard Castle exemption 😉). I could be wrong though, luckily we’ve not been a position where we’ve had to rely on childcare outside of our usual nursery. I have a lot of sympathy for parents who have needed to study these rules and try and make their own situation fit within them so they can continue to make ends meet.

I don't really understand why people comment on these threads with a definitive (wrong) answer when it takes literally 12 seconds to google it.

It's also one of those things, all because you can doesn't mean you should.

I agree with you OP. I look after my grandchildren when their parents are working. They are dropped from the car and I go out to get them. Parents don't not come in even for a few minutes. However. around here everyone else seems to interpret it as an excuse to socialise with their families, stay for lunch or tea or even go and stay for a few days or have countless sleep overs.

You are correct OP. My sister works on Monday so I have her DD. She drops her off and picks her up without coming in. She doesn't drive so I pick DN up from nursery and drop her off home. My sister lives with DM and DM has both girls on a Friday. I never go in their house. They never come in mine. We never have the other child unless necessary. One family helping another family as by the rules.

I find it odd you say a lot of people have asked you? I've literally not been asked once if I'm bubbling with my daughter to help with childcare, not a single occasion whatsoever. Not work friends or actual friends or family. Bizarre.
You know what the rules are though.

While the rules don't explicitly state what a childcare bubble should be used for, the fact that we are not meant to leave the house other than for work (that can't be done from home), essential shopping, health reasons, exercise, and whatever else I might have forgotten, it is implied.

ie you are not meant to take your kids to someone else's house because it would be easier for you to get work done or easier to shop alone, or you fancy exercising alone.

@mynameiscalypso I think it’s the definition of “childcare” which is open to interpretation.

Do the people getting the guidance wrong not feel embarrassed when they get it so wrong?

No where does it state you have to work or have an emergency.

I am wfh, my mum comes every day to help with homeschooling my dc because she is furloughed and I couldn't cope. Totally within the rules

@Subeccoo Maybe it’s just where I live or just a growing sense of “had enough” but I’ve been asked by at least 4 people and had about 8 people reveal in my daughters class their arrangements.

You could look it up in the guidance... neither guidance nor law specifies any reason needed to use a childcare bubble. If someone wants to use their childcare bubble to have a night off parenting, to dance round the living room naked or to do the washing up in peace they are entirely legally allowed to do so.

We are not in a CC bubble. I love some help with my autistic son but thought it was just for work childcare. I havent got anyone to bubble with anyway.

I have never been asked either.

I have a childcare bubble - my DCs Granny & Grandad look after them when me and DH are both working (2days a week, I’m PT, both key workers). We’re lucky to have this arrangement this time around as the first lockdown was a logistical nightmare and we both got in trouble at work for changing hours, balancing shifts and working through lunches to cover childcare.

We drop shopping in to them/ pick bits up from them like nappies if we didn’t get any on our online shop order and they’re going to the supermarket and manage to get some. Granny pops in every few weekends or so, so that we can have a few hours sleep to catch up (pre-school DC). Neighbours know about the arrangement and Granny’s car so all above board etc.

We’re using the bubble appropriately and the constant ground hog day is a challenge with small DC trying to constantly think of new ideas. Fingers crossed for the vaccine. Feels like we’re getting somewhere now.