Need ideas for childcare

[lisarabbit]

Hi there,
I am currently on maternity leave but am thinking about training to be a postnatal doula. The problem would be childcare as the work would not be regular and only for a few weeks at a time. I am trying to think of a solution without paying for regular childcare which I may not need (particularly until I get established) Has anyone any ideas please?

thanks Lisa

Try a childminding Network (if there is one by you?)

You could see them all in advance and when you get work ring arround to see if anyone had any spaces There would be no guarantees - but it's a biut better than ringing C/Mers just when you need them

Good Luck

I know of childminders who don't want to have "permanent" children, so you may be lucky enough to find one who could accommodate your needs.

You also might end up with a list of several minders who would be happy to do ad hoc care if they have a permanent vacancy that they haven't filled. This could be a bit difficult for your child to have different carers though - how old is your child?

I assume that you don't have family around who would help out?

You could try to get hold of a Nanny through an agency that would happily take on your child if you get work, maybe sum1 who has children in school. But obviously the family they work for would have to agree

Thanks for the ideas everyone, there are lots of childminders in our area so I could try those. My eldest boy is 3 (and is therefore entitled to a nursery place) and the younger is 11 weeks so I'm not sure how different minders would suit?
My hubby works full time as do my parents, my hubby's parents are older and live in sheltered accommodation.

Message withdrawn

A nanny share might be best option as the nanny would have regular work with another family anyway. I couldn't see that many childminders being happy to keep places for you, they might be happy to take a short contract but will the keep a plcae for next time, wouldn't fancy having to track down a space every time you get a contract yourself.

Another more expensive option would be to employ your own nanny, but they would have to want the irregular work, perhaps if you paid them for a few hours on the weeks you don't have work to help out like a mothers help I suppose. I suppose there might be some nannys that don't want to work full time all the time, perhaps one with lots of hobbies so they can go off sailing, horse riding or knitting for a week at a time .

lisarabbit, you are not going to have a lot left over after paying for 2 children with a childminder. Two children with me on flexible contracts would be £12 an hour. Permanent contracts are £5.50 and hour per child.

I am a post natal doula as well as a childminder, I know which one pays better.

It depends what area you are in too. Katymac's suggestion of contacting a network is good, I am in a network and our coordinataor phones us all up, but no one on the network ever has a vacancy!