Childcare when working shifts

[Ethlinn]

Probably a silly question.. I'd like to go back to work when DS is 7 months. I will work silly shift pattern, 7-3 or 3-11, sometimes weekends too. OH cannot help (he's away too much). I don't know much about possible childcare arrangements, is it even possible to find childcare for such hours? Any advice will be much appreciated.

talk to people. some nursaries andchildminder have different contracts for shift workers. no way of knowing til you ring and ask.

If an au pair is an option I would suggest putting LO with a childminder during normal working hours eg 8 til 5/6 - they could drop off on the days you're doing an early & collect when doing a late then could family/dp cover weekends?

No family nearby and OH will be away for a couple of months at a time. I'll be pretty much on my own. And the house is too small to have an au pair. I will need to start looking for a childminder perhaps.. Or start begging friends for help ;)

You can find a nanny to do these hours. Especially if they know the schedule in advance. I'm a nanny for parents who both work varying shifts so my hours are only when their shifts happen to overlap. It is very confusing at times but I get my monthly rota about a month in advance so it works out well.

I doubt you'll get a childminder to work until midnight with a 7 month old baby. You need a nanny who will be able to put baby to bed.