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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

How much of a market do you think there would be for a 'Saturday night Au-pair' in North London?

60 replies

KatyMac · 05/08/2013 21:18

DD (15 nearly 16) is studying in London at the weekends. She needs to stay over Saturday night

Would marketing her as a babysitter/au-pair be a good way to solve her problem. She is fairly child savvy (I run a nursery from home)

Obviously this is slightly tongue in cheek but I'm just canvassing in case it might work(& DD's safety would be my priority)

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HSMMaCM · 07/08/2013 08:23

Is there anyone else on her course who could help (for a small fee). If I lived nearer I would offer, but DD would keep her up all night chatting!

Original poster

KatyMac · 07/08/2013 11:31

HSMM

Umm she's around the northern line finishing at 4:30ish starting in central London at 11

I'm still not completely convinced it's a great idea.....but I'm playing with it

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Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 20:20

Bump as it's coming closer and I need a clever solution

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Nannyme1 · 20/10/2013 20:49

When does the course start?

OldRoan · 20/10/2013 20:58

YHA seem to take under 18s? You have to be in a room with an adult if you are under 13, but I've got through to the booking/payment page just putting 1 under-18 in and it hasn't stopped me. She could have a private room or a shared room of women (who would probably look after her!). There is one opposite King's Cross which isn't a fantastic area but would be handy for travel?

Would that be an option for a few weeks until she has made friends, then she could sofa-hop with them?

OldRoan · 20/10/2013 21:00

Wait, sorry, have just seen you have to be 16.

Not such a brilliant plan after all. Do you know any studenty types who would stay with her? You could get them each a bed and the student would have a free weekend in London?

Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 21:13

But wouldn't I have to pay for their train fare too.....mind you it might work- let me think

YHA - I got that far too - she will be 16 soon; but she is a bit wary of a dormitory

I've agreed to just this next half-term 9th Nov-7th Dec she will be knackered

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OldRoan · 20/10/2013 21:23

They wouldn't necessarily need to be on her train, you could get them cheap advance tickets. They just need to be there for the evening really.

It would bump the cost up, but might still work out cheaper. Or even the two of them in a travelodge room.

petitdonkey · 20/10/2013 21:27

Someone suggested asking the school if a teacher would be interested and I think that's a great idea - no way I would want a 16yr old in a central London YHA on their own... I think a family is the only way forward. I would also have that arrangement happily but no longer live in London.

Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 21:38

The school is looking for me (& I am somewhat of a worry wort so I need it to be very safe)

But I have to agreed 4 hrs travelling 6hrs course - collapse in front of telly, 6 hrs course the next day & 4hrs home sounds better than coming home & going back mind you only doing one course sounds better

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ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 20/10/2013 21:39

Katy - I'd much rather have her staying with an MNer than in a youth hostel. Why don't you post in chat and see if anyone wants a permanent Saturday night guest/babysitter. If I lived in London still, I'd be happy to have her for the half term. Probably not longer tbh, but only because I like my own space too much!

Aupairtrouble · 20/10/2013 21:46

If I lived in London, I would definitely be up for this if I had the spare room. Best of luck x

Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 21:47

Aw thanks Chipping - if I could do the au-pair babysitting thing with 3 or 4 than a guaranteed night out once a month could seem attractive to someone(s)

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WellWoman · 20/10/2013 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 22:46

Thanks Wellwoman - I pm'ed you

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SoonToBeSix · 20/10/2013 22:55

15 is very young to a) stay in London alone and b) be responsible for other peoples children.
My dd is 15 and I wouldn't let her babysitter her younger siblings for longer than an hour and only in the day time.

Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 23:01

Really?

Goodness - In a year she could be on a childcare course and working part-time in my nursery.

I was regularly babysitting from 14; I wouldn't let her do 'overnights' and tbh if anyone said they were going to be a long distance away I wouldn't let her do it. We were offered 1 yr old twins & I said no to that as there is too much potential to go wrong - but Junior school age and within 30 minutes distance with the proper phone numbers and back up plans I think would be fine.

Siblings can be a bad idea anyway because of personalities and familiarity, but you know your children best and what would work for them.

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Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 23:05

I'm hoping it will be good practise for when she leaves home next September

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OldRoan · 20/10/2013 23:41

You know your daughter, and from what I've seen of your posts on here she is pretty together. I think 15 is fine as long as the conditions you've suggested are in place.

I went away to school and we used to babysit for teachers at the weekend (for the bargain price of a night off homework and a frozen pizza) from about 14. The youngest I ever looked after was 3, and he woke up and started playing with his toys (as they had said he might). What they didn't say was what to do then, and when I checked on him he had fallen asleep on the floor. I was so worried about picking him up I left him, and just sat in his room watching to check he was breathing. They thought it was hilarious when they got home, until they realised I hadn't ever looked after a young child and genuinely hadn't known what to do. Then they were very apologetic.

Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 23:49

Oh bless

She is fairly good with children & quite pragmatic; often the nursery children 'came first' so she is used to looking after them & can distract, distract, distract with the best of my team. She can record accurate & insightful observations - which means in the holidays extra obs get done when we are run ragged. & can normally get a reluctant child to finish their tea with the promise of a story from DD (which is a treat) or a dance session

She isn't perfect - but she is pretty good - I think she would have played with his toys on the bed encouraging him to as well or unless a very large 3 yo she would have put him back to bed or just covered him with a blanket & made sure the stairgate was closed etc

It is hard making the decisions but a night a week now (termtime only) will hopefully prepare both of us for next year - which will be hard

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Lighthousekeeping · 20/10/2013 23:52

Is she going to ballet school? My cousin is looking at me for her daughter next year. Sadly, I'm in the Styx so won't be able to commit.

Original poster

KatyMac · 20/10/2013 23:57

Not quite - she wants a performing arts/dance college. She has a place at a top school for an Associate Scheme & on Sunday she is in a sort of Dance company/training - she has had leave from the Sunday class as she had exams & 2 shows but she wants to start back after half-term

It might be too much for her; but I just had a reference from her teacher (to go with a college application) and it made me cry. She made DD sound so grown up and sensible - I almost didn't recognise her

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Lighthousekeeping · 21/10/2013 00:03

It's very difficult when all the opportunities seem to be London based isn't it? I feel guilty because I have a London address but flat is so tiny I can't imagine having a teenager living with me. I hope she finds somewhere soon.

Original poster

KatyMac · 21/10/2013 00:07

Thanks

Hopefully college will be OK - they have college flats and lists of 'digs' where they stay with a family. One college I particularly liked informed them at an Open Day "If they didn't turn up for college he (the head) would phone their parents...& if they didn't like it they could go somewhere els!!"

Teens can be very big can't they? & you wouldn't be able to ship them home at weekends because of the work load

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Original poster

KatyMac · 21/10/2013 17:42

Well I have 1 of the next 5 dates firmly booked. Only 4 to go.....

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