Any suggestions for how to arrange emergency child care in the middle if the night

[BumptiousandBustly]

Ds1 has various medical issues and sometimes we end up in a and e at times when normal nanny agencies aren't open and friends are asleep. I need to get something in place by the time dh goes to work in the morning.

Amy suggestions?

Derby mitts, that's a really good idea. I don't need someone on retainer, just need another option. All made harder by the fact that dh leaves for work at 7 am!

Sorry, did say derbynotts, sodding autocorrect!

B&B - I have got the landline numbers of a couple of local mums who aren't my best friends but are the closest to me geographically, know DD, seem kind & sensible. They also have mine and the deal is that, if we need to do an middle of the night A&E run or similar, we can call each other. The reason we've got each other landlines as opposed to just mobiles is that, in the middle of the night, the landline tends to be easier to hear, you can't turn it off etc. If I was desperate, I'd simply ring on a neighbours doorbell until they heard.
If I was your friend then I don't think I'd mind helping you out more than you helped me out as it sounds as though its a situation where its pure luck that I have healthy DC who rarely (touch wood) require middle of the night A&E trips.

where are you - maybe a nanny/cm on here can help - but as someone said without a retainer then may be busy but worth a phone call

I'm in kent and would be happy to help if you are local to me, as would most nannies I know

You might find that not all childminders want to do emergency childcare in the night for children they dont usually child-mind. How old is ds2?

When you return to work, it might be easier to find a childminder for ds2 that will also take him in the night, and if you book the childminder on the basis that she will be his childminder when you return to work, but emergency childcare until then?

Assuming you plan to work and not be a sahm.

Smiling, do you mind saying where in Kent. Quint, can't return to work due to ds1's issues.

I don't usually need someone to take ds2 in the middle of the night, it's just I need them to take him from 7am (when dh leaves for work) so have to arrange at 4/5 am. Have contacted a local cm who might be able to help and spoken to local nanny agency (though that will be expensive as would have to pay agency every time too) but the think they might have a couple of nannys who would be interested if they were free.

So feel like I am getting somewhere, the childminder would be my preference though, as so much cheaper compared to nanny rates and agency fee.

I'm in medway, work in maidstone

Also a kent girl - Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

Are you local to us op?

So you don't really need 4/5am help / more like 7am through the day help when dh leaves for work while you are at hospital

Would friends not help out then? Though guess you still need to contact whoever at 4/5am

A few temp nannies may be the answer but obv run the risk of them going to their normal daily job

nannies will find it hard - their contract of employment is likely to require that they have at least 10 hours off between work "shifts" as they will put their employer's children at potential risk if they're working a 10/11 hour day then up at 4am doing emergency cover. Unless your husband is an air traffic controller, he can take up some of the slack and dropping DS2 with a friend for breakfast is no major favour to call in.

I think most nanny employers would be ok with the odd emergency cover, mine certainly would and would be happy to have an extra child around for the day if needed. I already get up at 5 so wouldn't be much earlier for me and don't work everyday anyway so there are nannies out there who could help

I wouldn't have that in my contract. What I do out of hours is nothing to do with my employers previding I turn up for work fit for duty

The odd night with lack of sleep doesn't put employers children at potential risk

I had a bad night last night and awake till 3.30am and up up 7 - yes I'm tired and enjoying peace now while lo sleeps

He certainly isn't at risk

Surely saying that - then all mums who have 2nd/3rd children up at night are putting their other children at risk??

And yes sure my employer wouldn't mind me bringing an extra child in an emergency to my work

Blondes - it's normally put in the cnotract for the NANNY'S benefit so that the family can't keep them to unreasonable hours. No reason why teh family can't turn it to their benefit though if nanny is fair enough - and yes, a nanny operating on 4 hrs sleep is not what I want driving my children around. Your employer is clearly far more understanding than I am if she is happy to pay you to bring extra unknown children in to her house, on her dollar, on what is apparently a reasonably regular basis.

An emergancy is different - it's not like I would be bringing children every day or week

And yes that clause could be in a contract but I know many nannies who bs for their employers till 11/midnight and back in at 7am - so not a long break

Personally I would stay over and get a bed to myself and no snoring oh