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.

[quote Rincewind1213]@mynameiscalypso I think it’s the definition of “childcare” which is open to interpretation.[/quote]
Only because people want to interpret in a way that suits their agenda (both ways). The guidance is pretty clear as to what does and doesn't count.

So far as I am aware there is nothing in the guidance that says it can only be used for work or emergencies.

It has to be for the purpose of childcare; no reason needed for childcare.

The people in the bubble are only allowed to mix for childcare (if all the kids have a parent present, is that still childcare? Debatable!).

You’re not allowed to be in another bubble as well (if you have a childcare bubble with your sister, her husband can’t also have a support bubble with his mum).

All adults in both households have to agree to the bubble. If anyone in either household gets covid symptoms all members of both households have to isolate.

@JellyBabiesSaveLives I am at home when my mum comes round to provide childcare. I am working ft. So she helps my youngest with his learning and makes them some dinner etc. So yes. It does still count.

@JellyBabiesSaveLives the guidance is very clear that you can have both a support bubble and a childcare bubble.

@JellyBabiesSaveLives and FYI you can be part of a childcare bubble and a support bubble.

I have a childcare bubble. DH and I are both teachers and live teaching at home. We could send older DS into school but younger DS can’t go to nursery so we’ve gone with a childcare bubble.

I drop from the end of the garden path, definitely don’t go in!

@Rincewind1213 your post has confirmed what I feared. A few friends (SAHMs) have created childcare bubbles in order to share the burden of homeschooling. They certainly don't need to create them for work purposes. Meanwhile I'm at work holding the hands of those dying from Covid, struggling with nightmares and flashbacks, homeschooling my children on my days off, and I feel like a complete mug for doing what I feel is the right thing and is for the greater good by not forming a childcare bubble.

You're right.
We have a childcare bubble(ils) and a support bubble.(df who's single )

I'm a sahm with MH issues and twice uve had to get childcare bubble to take the kids. And they collect dsd to bring here each week.

I think to require childcare there has to be a reason you cannot care for your child yourself, surely that's implied, that may be WFH, medical appointments, respite for children with SEN or disabilities. My neighbours have their parents/grandparents (a working couple early sixties) round for Sunday lunch every week. That's not childcare but they say it's their childcare bubble.

@HorseOfPhillipMoss you don't need a reason. No where in the guidelines does it state you need a reason. It does say you aren't allowed to use a childcare bubble for socialising, so your neighbours are using it incorrectly.

For it to be considered childcare you must need someone to care for your child, you don't need someone to care for your child while you cook a roast for example or watch Netflix.
Government guidance says you can only go out for limited reasons ergo there should only be limited reasons why people would require childcare. Working, essential shopping, medical reasons, support with children with additional needs etc.
I have a childcare bubble my mother looks after our son while we both work mostly out of the home, DH does the odd day from home but it's not there kind of job you can do while wrangling a toddler and he really cannot hear some of the things discussed on teams meetings.
DM arrives, I step out onto the drive, she goes into the house, we don't sit and have a coffee, she doesn't stay for dinner, because if over of us is at home and not working from home we dint require another person to care for our child.
People are interpreting things to suit themselves rather than in the spirit intended.

@HorseOfPhillipMoss below is the guidance taken from the government website. Please highlight where it states you need a reason for a childcare bubble

If you live in a household with anyone aged under 14, you can form a ‘childcare bubble’. This allows friends or family from one other household to provide informal childcare.

What a childcare bubble is

A childcare bubble is where one household links with one other household to provide informal childcare to anyone under 14. All adults in both households must agree to this arrangement. ‘Informal’ childcare means it is unpaid and unregistered.
Members of either household can provide childcare in a home or public place. This includes overnight care.
You can only have one childcare bubble with one other household. This means no household should be part of more than one childcare bubble.

You can only use a childcare bubble for childcare. You cannot use a childcare bubble to mix with another household for other reasons.

If you form a childcare bubble, it’s best if this is with a household who live locally. This will help prevent the virus spreading from an area where more people are infected.

It's in the word childcare, which is caring for a child. Which isn't required if the child's parents are available

Zigzagtothebeach your post shows the problem with this people are taking the Mickey. Thanks for your hard work, wish everyone would stop bending the rules so we can bet this

@HorseOfPhillipMoss just because they are available in body does not mean that they are available. I need a childcare bubble as I work. But I wouldn't blame someone for letting their kids stop over at a grandparents if they just need a night to themselves.

As I said working from home doesn't mean you are available, there are lots of jobs you can do from home but can't simultaneously look after a child.

As for a night to themselves, take turns with a partner to get a break, if you're a single parent you're entitled to support bubble anyway.

@HorseOfPhillipMoss I know for a fact if I am in the house I am default for the kids to come to. With the best will in the world. My parents haven't had them overnight since way before Xmas. But if they offered this weekend I would snap their hand off and wouldn't feel an ounce of guilt

@HorseOfPhillipMoss

I think to require childcare there has to be a reason you cannot care for your child yourself, surely that's implied, that may be WFH, medical appointments, respite for children with SEN or disabilities. My neighbours have their parents/grandparents (a working couple early sixties) round for Sunday lunch every week. That's not childcare but they say it's their childcare bubble.

Nothing is "implied" in govt guidance though; not everyone is going to make the same assumptions or inferences. If it doesn't specify that you need a reason in the govt guidance then you don't need a reason.

@mynameiscalypso

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.

There was lots of this with support bubbles recently. People seem to make up their own extra rules (like support bubbles must be local, or you can't stay overnight together), and then get angry that other people are "breaking the rules"...

@mynameiscalypso yes this is my point exactly but the guidelines aren’t clear as to what constitutes “childcare”. I won’t be changing anything but I was offended that the friend suggested I was damaging my child’s mental health.

I think it is because many people are making up bubbles. I was talking to someone the other day who said they have bubbled up with various members of their family, but they didn’t fit within any rules of bubbles. But because they see each other lots they are in a bubble. So many people are making up the rules.

But also we are meant to be staying in and if going out staying local. So even if you qualify as a bubble it doesn’t necessarily mean you should bubble especially if you are in another part of the country. We are trying to reduce the spread of this virus. Just look at what is now happening with the SA variant, they are trying to contain it, but it has already appeared in a number of areas.

Can everyone just stop judging everyone else now, it’s so fucking boring. There could be all sorts of valid reasons a parent needs childcare bubble support besides work (mental health issues, domestic abuse...). Just because they don’t shout from the rooftops why they need the support, doesn’t mean they should be judged.

But OP is being judged for not having one!