Why do people leave child care to the last minute??

[Nannyto2]

I was contacted earlier today by a parent who found me on nannyjob who needs a full time nanny from next week for her baby of 8months. She told me she is returning to work & had known this for the last 3 months but had only started looking a few days ago!!!

WHY do people leave it to last minute?? Surely everything can't be arranged over a weekend!!!!!

Cos they are daft or over optimistic ?

I tried to arrange a childminder for when I go back to uni in September and was told it was too early, I needed to wait until a couple of weeks before to look! I hate not having it arranged as I like to be prepared, but that's what the childminder said. Looks like it works both ways.

Drives me insane!! Surely you would want to interview, and make sure that the person is right for your family and child??

Fluffy - that seems a bit odd, I know childminders who agree to take children months ahead!!

I have known about my new job which starts in Sept from about middle of March!!!

I think she may have been holding out for a full time placement. Either way wasn't very helpful to me!

Some folks just don't have a clue especially if its a PFB & they've only just put their head above the parapet!!

Maybe she was conflicted, Nanny, not sure the job would go ahead as planned.

It didnt seem like that was the case more like she had just started looking. As she really had no idea at all!!!!

Fluffy - the cm probably was, hope you find something

I know this may not necessarily be the case but she have known about going back to work but new hours/days/shifts have only just been confirmed?

Last year when I needed to start uni I couldn't look for a childminder until the last minute as I didn't know what days it would be. I will be starting second year in September and my days are likely to change so I can't tell my childminder and likely won't be able to until a week or so before I go back. So there may be circumstances you don't know about, it is pretty pointless finding childcare and then explaining you don't know how many days and which days you might want them!

Maybe she doesn't want to go go back to work and was in denial about sorting out someone else to care for her pfb.

I've never seen a job advertised or been contacted about one at that short notice before, unless they've been let down by someone last minute, so I think she may be in the minority.

I spent months trying to sort out my return to work and waiting for them to confirm what days/hours I could do - but I booked my childminder for 3 days and hoped for the best. I've never known anyone leave it that late tbh, seems odd but maybe she had her own reasons or perhaps she had been banking on family help or another provider and they let her down?

Perhaps she was avoiding trying to pay a retainer? I organised my childcare well in advance and had to pay a retainer for 8 weeks, which stung hard at the time. Turns out it was well worth it though.

Anna- she was asking full time days and days which to me sounds like she must of known before recently

Nanny - Just because the lady said she "only just started looking" etc doesnt mean that's the actual reason. Some times i personally just dont want to go into the real detail of the situation with outsiders, perhaps all she wanted to know really is your availability for next week, without having to explain everything.
Chances are she's either been looking for a while and hasnt found anyone she likes or her original plans fell through at the last minute and feels she doent have to explain herself to you.

In my experience, mums get let down by nannies at the last minute, who see a better opportunity and ditch the family they've already made an agreement with, often leaving mums with less than a weekend to find an alternative arrangement.

Wonder if she'd still be interested in you if she read this thread.

Is this really a topic worthy of its own thread?

I turned the job down anyway as I can't do what she needs, I felt it was worthy of a thread. If u don't then simply don't read it or comment

Just seems you got disproportionately excited about someone elses apparent disorganisation.

When I was due to go back to work after DC1, my childcare arrangements went to Hell 4 days before I was due back at work... That was fun.