Childcare for twins

[Julie2083]

Hi..
I was hoping to get some advice regarding childcare; I am currently eight and a half months pregnant with twins. At the moment I am planning to return to work at the beginning of November next year and have given my employers this as an approximate return date. This made me think about childcare options for my return- at the moment I would both want and need to return to work.

We live and work in Dundee but are not from the area. My mother in law has kindly offered to help out a couple of days a week – she lives in Aberdeen- which will be a great help. At the moment we hope she will be able to help out two days a week.
For the remaining 3 days therefore we will need to book them into a childminders (preferably). I am little bit worried as I hear it is difficult enough to get one place let alone two places – they say start looking early and am concerned that most childminders are not able to have more than one child under one (they will be just under one).

Having looked online there is various views but was hoping any twin parents/childminders may be able to offer some advice? It seems odd to be worrying about it given they are not even here yet but am a little bit worried.
Thanks,
Julie

Normally I'd say 3 months is plenty but as there's usually a lot of movement in CM places in September (as younger children move up to school or some to pre-school) you may want to start as soon as 6 months prior. I usually notice enquiries for September start coming in around May/June as people tend want childcare sorted before the summer holidays. You don't need childcare until November but may find you have to reserve a place for a few months (most will ask for some sort of retainer often 50% of fees) or at the very least pay a deposit to secure the space.

A childminder can get a variation for 2 under 1's if it's twins as long as she can demonstrate she is able to care for them along with any others she may have so I wouldn't worry about the under 1 rule too much.

And absolutely none of my business, but 2 days a week with twins is a very full on & big commitment for your MIL so you might want to consider asking any CM if they had the space for 4th day should you need it in the future.

Thank you for your advice - really useful. It's good to know what we are looking at and how much time in advance we will need to start looking for childcare. Yes, regarding the 2 days my MIL has offered to help with at the moment I have said this to my husband that it might be too much for her but they are both insistent at the moment anyway. I am also a little concerned, so it may be too much for her so that's a good idea asking about the fourth day. I think because she helped out with her grandson she wants to do the same for us but it is a bit different with twins and being in a different place.

Thanks, Julie

You may find a nanny is easier to find than two places with a childminder. And not necessarily much more expensive. I pay £4 per hour for a cm per child and £8 per hour gross for a nanny. I do have to pay extras (NI etc) but it's much easier to arrange hols and the nanny doesn't have to close down when her children are unwell.

I would definitely have a look at the cost of a nanny for two babies. If you use a childminder you will need to think about what you will do if one or both of the twins is sick and cannot go to the childminder. Also bear in mind in November you will be going into the winter months and so you would have to be getting two little ones dressed and out into the cold mornings( and that Dundee wind >)) to go to the childminder whereas if you had a nanny the nanny would just take over from you . I do think that there are some great childminders out there btw.

I don't know the cost of a childminder or a nanny in Dundee, but if it's comparable there are a number of advantages of a nanny.

-no pick up/drop off - they come to you
-will care for them when they're sick
-will do nursery duties e.g. children's laundry, tidying toys/bedrooms, changing beds, shopping for their needs etc.
-many will do other household bits e.g. taking stuff to the dry cleaner, walking the dog, waiting in for a parcel/workmen, putting away the online shop, cooking extra so there is something for you in the evening etc.
-you have much more control over what they eat, where they go, what they do etc.

There are also disadvantages;

-not suitable if you don't like other people in your house
-you become an employer and have to deal with pay, sick pay, holidays etc.

I agree with pp about September being your best bet. I have my own dd and also one mindee starting school next year so will have two fulltime spaces to fill at once, which has never happened before. I'm going to start advertising from January and expect to have at least one space filled by Easter. If you are willing to pay from September I would make this clear when contacting childminders otherwise they might hold out for someone else with a September start.

Agree about maybe having to start paying something in September. I will have 2 full time spaces next September, which will probably be gone by November.

A couple of other advantages;

-no need to pay a deposit or retainer.
-can choose the hours you need. If you need a very early start or late finish it can be hard to find a childminder to do these hours. If you need a slightly shorter day e.g. 8:30-5:00pm, you may find you're charged a daily rate e.g. 8am-6pm even though you don't need these hours.

Agree with others who say a nanny who be a good option rather then a cm

Cost roughly the same

Nanny will get children up and dressed etc and you will just do yourself - compared to all 3 of you if use a cm

If twins ill nanny will look after - a cm won't

Fab mil wants to help :)

I'm a childminder in Dundee and currently looking after twin girls twice a week. Granny does the other 3 days. I give sibling discount so am cheaper than a nanny. I would maybe start looking for child care a bit sooner than September. A lot of child minders have spaces around august due to children moving on to school. Some may ask for a retainer to keep spaces. Variations would be granted for twins as long as risk assessments are in place to cover having 2 children under 1. Feel free to message me for any information.