advice from the experts about childcare options please!!!

[sallyrosie]

Sorry about long post:

I'll be going back to work FT in Feb. By then DD will be 3, DS will be 4 months. I work long and unpredictable hours with frequent evening and night shifts. DH works the same long hours, with no nights/evenings so would be home from seven-ish.
DD currently goes to a nursery which we're really happy with and which her cousins also go to, and we used to have an au pair to pick her up. However, clearly au pair can't look after a baby for even a short period of time so not an option.
We have space for live in nanny, but I am not keen on the idea and we would need more than 40hrs/week anyway.

What would you recommend? Do some CM work longer hours? Do any pick up from nurseries and work till seven? I know it is tricky with a baby as it limits numbers...not really sure what to do about this so any advice very gratefully received thanks...

I feel the main issue is likely to be the hours you require. Can you confirm more clearly as to what regular hours you would require childcare.

For example, could DH guarentee to collect children by 7pm, or 7.30pm (could he get back by then).
What time would you need childcare to start, or would it vary?
Would you need care Mon-Fri every week (minus your holidays) - thus need childcare 48 weeks per year?
Would you still want DD to go to nursery? Have you decided upon a primary school yet (depending on her DOB, applications may be due in shortly)?

i work 7.15am till 8.30pm each day

wow you work long hours but if you phone your local childrens information service they will give you advice on who is willing to work those hours

We had a daily nanny. I used to stay home until she arrived and my ex husband usually used to get home by the time she left and we swapped around where necessary and she babysat where necessary. I didn't like the idea of someone living in and we never had a spare room anyway. She also took the oldest to nursery school and back when she reached nearly 3 years old.

We have a nanny, fulltme/live in, her official hours are 7-7,( my DH and self are both docs ), x 5 days a week.She does often do extra hours but we always pay her xtra or give TOIL, whichever she prefers.We have 5 children, 5.5 yrs and under including a set of 5month twins,so we are thinking of employing an aupair aswell or maybe some nursery for twins, just a couple of sessions each a week....the elder three are in nursery ams/day school. Go for a nanny you will get used to it and it does give much greater flexi....

We have a nanny, fulltme/live in, her official hours are 7-7,( my DH and self are both docs ), x 5 days a week.She does often do extra hours but we always pay her xtra or give TOIL, whichever she prefers.We have 5 children, 5.5 yrs and under including a set of 5month twins,so we are thinking of employing an aupair aswell or maybe some nursery for twins, just a couple of sessions each a week....the elder three are in nursery ams/day school. Go for a nanny you will get used to it and it does give much greater flexi....

Pleeeeeease don't rely on Childrens Info Service giving out correct advice on childminders who work longer hours!! Many minders have their core working hours, which may or may not be on the CIS website, but that isn't to say that they can't be flexible.

Location may be a factor as well. From the look of it Sally, you are in the Durham/Newcastle area, which I personally wouldn't consider to be prime nanny location (not saying you can't get one, but I don't feel the area has as many nannies as say London or South East).

Your choice as far as I can see so far is either a nanny - daily or live-in, or childminder. You could combine nursery with these, though cost wise it may be better not to do so, unless you have a fully funded nursery place.

Hello - As a childminder, all I can suggest is you ask. I have provided care for a mum who was returning to work as a bus driver and she was given permission to work betweek 9am and 7pm only. I was happy to offer care til around 7.30pm every evening though I did charge a higher rate for the last hour and a half. On a positive note, the little boy and I had a lovely relationship, and of all the children I've cared for in the last 12 years, he is the one I miss most.

The best thing is to visit a local Mum and toddlers group. You can then seee childminders at work, and you can sift the 'coffee drinkers' from the good Childminders! Once you have a shortlist, mention the hours. Those that are happy to do it, visit a couple of times. Ask lots of questions, and see how relaxed the children are in her care.

Gut instinct is always to be relied upon too, in my opinion.

Happy hunting!

Sally

thanks for the advice

Sick days aren't a problem as my dad is retired and lives locally - he helps out if needed but I don't want to ask him to have a regular commitment.

I really like the nursery for everyday care - my DD can see her cousins and kids are played with - the local toddler groups (where the CM's go) tend to be just dump the kids and drink coffee, not playing with them so am not keen on that.
I know a few of the local CM, think will ask them what they think about it - ideal would be if CM would pick up from nursery each day and keep them till DH or me got back as then they have the same routine/security every day.

Don't want a live in nanny as if I'm honest don't want someone 'replacing' me. Au pair was ok(ish) as she was younger, but nanny would probably be about my age/older (I'm 27) and it would just feel too strange. Plus agree it would be hard to get a nanny in my area.

Thanks again

oh - re primary schools - my sister is deputy head of local primary school so DD's name is already down! Thankfully no issues with living in catchment area etc around here.