Au pair for small baby

[ghis]

Hi,
I'm desperte for some advice here, I have been reading so much about au pairs and childcare everywhere that I am even less clear about the best way forward that before.

Here's the situation: I have got a 8 months old DD who currently goes to nursery 2 days a week. I have gone back to work 2 days after my maternity leave.
For financial reaasons and carreer developemtn I have to go back to work full time. DH works full time too but flexitime and can do 4.5 days a week.

I am not sure DD is old enough to go to nursery full time, would be a bit intense for her so thinking of getting an au pair as one to one attention and learn French (I'm French).

Dur to our work she would need to do more than 25 hours a week. I was thinking she could take DD to toddler groups and NCT coffee mornings, groups etc for something to do. She would get all her w/e free and no babysitting nights as already busy with DS for lots of hours.

Do you think this is expecting too much of an AP?

would be really grateful for your opinion(s).

au pairs are not allowed to have sole care of a child younger that 2 IIRC, you would need a Nanny

agree with cd, this is way outside job description of an au pair (and you need someone imo who's trained/skilled at looking after a small child)

that's that plan out of the window then...

what about a childminder on the other days?

back to the drawing board.. and the calculator...

yes bundle, I think that's the way to go

I've never used one, but many people I know do, and are v satisfied (both my girls went to nursery from 7 mths, 3 days a week, they're now 3 and 6)

wht's the best way to find a child minder?

your local authority should have something called the Children's Information Service, they can issue you a list of all childcare providers in your area. we got our nursery through yellow pages though! personal recommendation is obviously the best route. whereabouts do you live?

near Reading

there's a number here

thanks!