Quick query re childcare options

[KatOD]

Hello all, I'm really hoping you can help me.

I've been offered a new job (took me by surprise a bit) which is exciting but would need me to work more than my current 4d a week and would lead to longer commutes meaning I wouldn't reliably be about to drop off/pick up DD (2) from nursery (DH travels with work).

I was wondering how easy it is to get childcare (CM? Mother's help? Not sure of other options) to help out getting your child to/from nursery so you have a bit more flexibility. Also what hourly rate would you expect to pay? (We're on the Surrey/Hampshire border).

Thanks loads, just trying to decide if it's feasible or not!

Congratulations on the new job! In my experience CMs don't really like/ want to do nursery pick ups and drop offs as it ties up a space that could be used for a full time child so you should expect to pay over the odds for this service. What might work is if you ask at your DD's nursery. One of the staff there might be interested in doing some babysitting (after nursery nannying?) and might agree to bring your DD home.The other thing that will make finding a CM easier is if the nursery is near to a school and the drop off/ pick up can be timed to fit with the school run. good luck.

Depends what you actually need. Can you give some idea of timings, such as needing someone 7am-7pm Mon-Fri?

Does DD have to go to nursery? It may be that you need to rethink that.

1:1 care at your home is costly. In Surrey/Hants area it can easily be £8-12 per hour for a nanny, plus additional costs.

If care is needed 8am-6pm roughly, then look at childminders. surrey and hampshire county councils can provide a list - look on their websites for Family Information Service. Depending on your exact location you may need to contact both councils, as sometimes there can be a childminder a short distance away who is in a different county.

Full time day nursery is another option to consider if timing fits, though what happens when DD goes to school? Try to think long term... a childminder may be able to do all day care now, before/after school care once DD is in fulltime school (age 4+).

Childminders vary, roughly 4.50/5 per hour. Ask what is and is not included, food and activities may be extra or may be included.

For all childcare options try to work out annual cost - different providers charge for different things, some will charge when they are closed, others only charge when your child is present.
Nannies are paid all year round usually, they get paid holiday leave. So look at things as an annual cost.

Thanks loads for help/advice. I'd prob need someone who could reliably take over from me when I'd have to get the train ie 7:10 until when I could get home ie 19:15. Was thinking of nursery as it means a single person wouldn't have such an influence on her (other than me and DH) and would mean a combo of nursery/childcare at each end of the day should be cheaper than a nanny (I think).

I doubt you would find someone to get to yours 7am for an hour or so am to look after and take dd to nursery - let alone pick up afterwards again for an hour

Ask the nursery staff but tbh a nanny is the easier option if working a 12hr day

Read threads about nurseries. One complaint is that keyworkers move rooms, children move rooms, staff turnover is high, causing children to be unsettled. It varies, some nurseries have lower staff turnover than others. However you don't seem to want your DD to get attached to anyone, so a high turnover nursery may be perfect.

Madness in my view though, why the concern about DD becoming attached to their carer? Childminder/nursery combo may work but DD may become attached to the childminder as would spend quite a long time with them. Childminders do not do the hours you need... some might but not all, as they will want to have time with their own family.

Could you shift yuor work day so there is only a problem at one end of the day? ie our nursery opens 7.30, so if you could drop off then, it would mean only one bit to sort out a day.

Could DD go to a nursery near work, so she commutes with you, and then has a shorter day in nursery? Not sure what happens when she goes to school.

I don't know about these things - Au Pair for the evening?

If this is a long term job, can you move closer to work, to reduce the commute?

By opting to work an extra day and having extra commute isn't it highly likely your child will get attached
To other people as potentially in a week day they will see them more than you?

What about an au pair?

As a childminder, I'd struggle to see the attraction of taking a child for what would almost certainly be the harder bits of the day when they are more likely to be overtired and grumpy whilst the nursery gets to have the more rewarding job (financially too) of caring for the child for the better part of the day. Logistically it would not work for me either, as I would have to be going out to do a nursery pick up while my own and the minded children are having tea and getting ready to go home (or having breakfast and getting ready for school in the morning). I think if you want a nursery you will have to think in terms of individual wrap around care = a nanny or au pair = though I suspect you would also struggle to find a nanny interested in these short and awkward hours. Might be wrong though. Good luck.

Personally I think an au pair would suit you best, followed by a member of staff from the nursery. Someone your child will build a relationship with.
Your OP makes it sound as though it all falls to you to sort out and also that if you take the new job, your DH will never do a drop off or pick up......
It's worth seeing if your employer will allow you to work from home one day a week so it won't feel like you never see your child Mon-Fri. It makes a small difference.

Thanks loads everyone. I think tbh I was looking for the moon on a stick when thinking about these options. It's a good opportunity but I like my current job enough and the balance of seeing my DD so I think I need to carry on a I am for the mo... There will be others (I hope).

Wrt DH, this has opened positive discussions about what happens when I do want to pick up my career in a more focused way again so all's good (and it showed me I hadn't gone off the boil so to speak so I'm happy).