Childminder 3 weeks sick.

[OttilieStonelady]

My childminder is unwell and has messaged to say she is closed for a further two weeks. She's been closed for a week already. Not her fault of course. She's a wonderful lady and I have no doubt that she's actually unwell. I'm just a bit stuck as a lone parent. I can't seem to find any alternative childcare last minute, childminder doesn't know of anyone and all my family work full time. I only have half a day of annual leave left and can't afford to take unpaid time off. Also have a huge deadline at work. Not really sure how Mumsnet can help but could use some words of solidarity and hearing other people's experiences? Feeling extremely anxious about this! It's made me question my parenting ability and whether my child is going to end up in difficult positions in the future because I'm a lone parent with very little help. Thoughts running away with me...

I definitely wouldn't trust a student I've never met before to look after my child. Call me paranoid!

Yes, that's pretty paranoid & very unfair to most students.

My DD has been helping out at friends nursery since she was tiny as she enjoyed reading stories to the DCs. She has stepped up a few times to help people out who were stuck like this & had nothing but praise. She's not even studying childcare or medicine, but can still look after DCs more than well

If you can get over this. Try contacting your local childcare or nursing college, that at least might help put your mind at rest

@Scaredycatmoo76

Ask your childminder for her thoughts. She’ll have a very strong idea of local options

I would be tempted to do this too. We used to use a childminder who was poorly quite often, obviously not their fault but it was unmanageable. We looked for another one who was under ratio numbers and part of a network with others who were, meaning if she was poorly (she didn't have a day off sick, but her school age children did occasionally so she didn't open which is fair enough) we had the option of using one of the others in the network. It tended to be sorted out on the next months invoice but would cost us the same if it makes sense- it might be worth seeing if any in the area offer anything similar?

I definitely wouldn't trust a student I've never met before to look after my child. Call me paranoid!

I wouldn't call you paranoid, but then if that's the case I wouldn't call you desperate either!

I know you say your family can't help because they work, but would none of them take a day or two off to help a relative in need? Even if a few family members took one day off each, that would help.

It's something my parents would have done for me, and I'd do for my kids without hesitation.

Apologies if I intrude on anything sensitive, but is the child's dad or his family able to help with some of this (assuming he is someone who there is contact with and not violent or abusive)?

@newnortherner111

Apologies if I intrude on anything sensitive, but is the child's dad or his family able to help with some of this (assuming he is someone who there is contact with and not violent or abusive)?

I was actually going to ask the very same thing.

Perhaps the father is totally out of the picture or physically distant but does he have family nearby? Can he even cough up some additional money to pay for a creche?
This issue with your childminder may be something more long term and may reoccur so you probably need an ongoing backup option.

I was going to suggest messaging your childminder and asking her for local recommendations.

Also childcare.co.uk

What a nightmare OP! I do hope that you get something sorted.

Hi OP, I am also a single parent and have been there. It's tough and stressful.

I ended up registering my children at a nursery because then you can be more reliable as they will always have sickness cover (unless of course the whole place has to close because of Covid or anything awful like that - but it's much much less likely).

In terms of what you can do now, I have had some good people through sitters.org.uk and you can also try local childcare agencies. I also found some wonderful people through personal recommendations - I ended up becoming friendly with an older lady who is retired but had a lot of experience in working with early years and she has been a great help in emergencies although she wouldn't want to work regularly. I also think that students can be good and reliable if they are people you have a personal recommendation for - ask your neighbours and friends. I got to know an amazing girl who used to nanny for us - though only 19 she was hugely responsible and trustworthy, with a lot of experience as she had four much younger siblings and a disabled mother. The right person can be great regardless of age, just check references well etc.

You could also try approaching a local university and asking that they circulate your 'help wanted' ad to their early years degree programme students. They will be coming up to the end of term and probably you will find somebody who is keen to earn some money. I did find this was a 'premium' option though and out of my price range as - here in London - it seemed that £15 an hour was the going rate.

She obviously has fairly serious health issues or flu or Covid. People get ill you know.

I think you're being unfair to students tbh OP, I know some friends daughters who sit over the holidays and they are fantastic- I used to do it myself.

What county are you in OP? I work PT (2 days a week) and spend the other 5 looking after my 2yo and would happily look after another. I'm sure other women on here may be willing to help if you can give a rough location (I get not wanting to share specifics!)

OP - Honestly ask on any local facebook group for student recommendations; I know you said you wouldn't trust a student but many other mums will have good recommendations, particularly those who have younger siblings and have babysat for their friends.

Oh, there's also the Bubble App too if that is launched where you are.

@Juststopasking

Love how a Mumsnet solution always includes a nanny. What if the op works at a supermarket or was an admin assistant on £20k a year? Not everyone is earning big bucks.

in my experience a nanny is about the same cost wise as a nursery or a childminder. at least here it is anyway.

I would put this on a local facebook - to search for CM / nurseries with space or ad hoc arrangements.

I used childminder for years and loved it but my CM had a back up plan - ie. relatives who would do the caring when sick - I actually don't think it's acceptable for someone who does childcare to be unavailable with no back up plan.

I'm afraid I'd be choosing new childcare immediately - register your 2 year old with a nursery and that way you won't be let down again.

I think a CM who might be randomly sick etc is just not reliable enough for a single parent.

This is why i wouldn't use a childminder sadly. I'm sure there are many who are fantastic but i'm a lone parent too, have a mortgage and not much savings and I would be extremely stuck in this scenario

Though it's a good point made above that CM can be so so flexible in other ways. I am self employed and my CM was just so incredibly flexible over the years - let me swap days, if I was rarely late she was absolutely lovely about it. even ran down the road and collected my older child from after school club once when I got on the wrong train home from work and rang her crying!

Our CM was like family - so I think it's a wonderful model of care - but I do think going forward she either needs to get herself back up (lots of CM do have reciprocal back up relationships with fellow CM) or you look elsewhere.

Depending on whether you are city/ town etc I would iimagine there is a childminder near you who will take your kid - there would be in our area.

I think in her line of work being closed for three weeks in unacceptable to be honest, I know it’s not her fault but she should have some back up, perhaps she should employ an agency worker like nurseries do.

I’d move to a nursery if I were you, you need reliability.

@ememem84 not sure where you are, but nannies usually earn £10-£20 an hour, whereas childminders are about £4-6 an hour and nurseries maybe £40-£70 a day.

@Wondergirl100

Though it's a good point made above that CM can be so so flexible in other ways. I am self employed and my CM was just so incredibly flexible over the years - let me swap days, if I was rarely late she was absolutely lovely about it. even ran down the road and collected my older child from after school club once when I got on the wrong train home from work and rang her crying!

Our CM was like family - so I think it's a wonderful model of care - but I do think going forward she either needs to get herself back up (lots of CM do have reciprocal back up relationships with fellow CM) or you look elsewhere.

Depending on whether you are city/ town etc I would iimagine there is a childminder near you who will take your kid - there would be in our area.

Yes same here, and mine was so reliable. If she was going to take holidays she lets us know very well in advance and she was part of a network of other childminders who could cover for her, or in any event we had plenty of time to make other arrangements. My DDs remember being there fondly.

@TheRebelle

I think in her line of work being closed for three weeks in unacceptable to be honest, I know it’s not her fault but she should have some back up, perhaps she should employ an agency worker like nurseries do.

I’d move to a nursery if I were you, you need reliability.

Childminders aren't legally allowed to employ an agency worker to cover them.

@Wondergirl100 "I actually don't think it's acceptable for someone who does childcare to be unavailable with no back up plan."
To be honest it's the parent's responsibility to have back up childcare, not the childminder or nanny. What kind of back up plans are you expecting childminders to have that parents can't organise for themselves?

[quote zoeydollie]@ememem84 not sure where you are, but nannies usually earn £10-£20 an hour, whereas childminders are about £4-6 an hour and nurseries maybe £40-£70 a day.[/quote]
But if you have two plus children then nannies can be more economical.

Yes, maybe if you have 3 children needing childcare in an area with expensive nurseries/childminders and can find a cheap nanny it might be more economical.
But generally you have to be a high earner to employ someone earning £30k, plus pay for payroll, activities kitty, mileage, employer's NI, their holiday, maternity cover, insurance and so on.
Nannies are really not the same cost as other childcare.

A lot of college students finishing up their quals in childcare? a college administration won't always send details out to the students but they might. It'd be a great boost for a person doing or completing those quals to have a reference.

[quote zoeydollie]@ememem84 not sure where you are, but nannies usually earn £10-£20 an hour, whereas childminders are about £4-6 an hour and nurseries maybe £40-£70 a day.[/quote]
Channel Islands. When we did the maths it worked out we’d be paying more or less the same when you take into consideration taxes etc too for being an employer.

Not helpful now. But this is one of the issues with childminders. I'd recommend looking at a nursery once you get though this.

If you have a local mums group could be worth asking if any childminders have any emergency temp places?