What would be best childcare set up

[Coconutmummy]

I am a mum of three. Going back to work next month. Baby will be 7months and will be going to nursery full time. 2, older children, aged 8 and 4.5 in primary. I am wondering wether I should get a nanny to help from 4-8, mothers helper, or au pair. I anticipate needing help with laundry, tidying girls room, and feeding girls. I can deliver all kids to school and dad collects older 2, I will pick up baby from nursery.

If you are taking the kids too and from nursery/school would.you be better off with a cleaner willing to prep a meal for the kids and leave on in the fridge to ping when you get in/ or in the slow cooker.

Thing that puts me off an aupair is having a teenager/3rd adult in the house so no evening alone time when your own kids fo to bed.

True, I am not keen on having live in help. Is this enough work for a live out nanny, helper? Cleaner may not suitable as help with bath time or supervision of older siblings will be required.

if you can get a nanny who will work 4-8, that is great. but good part-time nannies are often hard to find (at least near london) because the nice ones all want & get full time jobs.

in a similar position, I have advertised flexible hours & see what I can get. you might need to increase the hours to get a good person.

I am south Coast not London. Would this be the kind of thing a mothers helper would do? I will consider increasing hours. Would the late finish limit the number of people interested?

I think you could easily find a mother's help to do these hours. They, and nannies, work all kinds of weird and wonderful hours. Otherwise, you could get somebody in earlier - say 2.30-6.30pm each day who does the laundry while you're all out, gets food ready for all the children, gets their PJs out and outfits for next day etc. then when you step through the door, most of the rubbish jobs have been done. If you've really got the cash then get a nanny housekeeper. Good luck, am sure you'll find somebody. There's agencies or good old gumtree

Thanks for your responses. I got a mothers help for 6 hours per day. So far this is working well.