Only need childminder for 2 hours???

[Feeline]

Hi!
We only need someone to look after our LO for 2 hours a day Mon-Fri.
What would you suggest is the way to go?
So far everything I have looked into charges for 1/2 day which is too expensive!

Why just 2 hours? Is that so that you can get something done, or for a regular appointment etc?

I'm asking not just to be nosy, but because some CMs have children that go to nursery, and they may be able to take a child during that nursery period without going over the hours, but occasionally (like during school holidays, or nursery closures) they may need to take the other child so it depends if you can be flexible or not.

Otherwise perhaps a nanny who has a before and after school job - but again a lot of employers want them to be full time during the school holidays

Sorry, I meant CMs not going over their numbers, not hours!

How old is LO? The CMs that i know would also charge for a half day depending on the time they are needed for as it would mean that they then cannot take on a full time child.

Would before/after school club be more suited to you?

LO is 5 months, will be heading up for 7 when we need someone to look after him. The reason for 2 hours is that I work shift work so the overlap between me being able to drop LO off my OH being able to pick LO up.

The hours would be about 3-5pm

3-5 is the school pick up/tea time slot. CM friend 1 often goes to school 2ith 1/2 and comes back with 7/8 inc her own. Most will stay until 5:30 so will have tea.

Hopefully someone else useful will come along in a minute!

I'm guessing you've looked on childcare.co.uk - that's where I advertise. It's just hit and miss as to whether someone charges by the hour or session though.

Maybe it's worth looking for a nanny with own child, who might say be working at a pre-school in the morning. They may need to do a school run but if you could do 2.30-5 that might fit ok.

Would be more costly having a nanny than say using a nursery or childminder. So cost wise it could be the same as if nursery charged for 1/2 a day.

Maybe look at childminders and see if any would consider it - they may have a morning only baby coming to them for example, so could then take your baby in the afternoon as long as you could fit drop off with school run timing.