Baby n°3 on the way - Which childcare arrangements?

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Hi ladies
So here is the situation. We have
1ds born in 2013
1ds born in 2015.
Now the 3rd one is on the way totally unplanned.
The boys go to a private nursery.
Ds1 full time 9 to 5
Dd2 part time 9 to 2
It costs us around 2k per month.
Before Ds2 arrived we had a full time nanny which obviously cost a bit less.
My husband travels regularly for work and so not having any family in UK, its always helped.
We're now trying to plan childcare before Dc 3's arrival and i cant decide what would be best.

Part time nanny/hsekeeper (£800-1100/month)
Live in Au pair (£300/month)
...anything else I'm not thinking of?

Any advice appreciated thanks!

I meant "DS1 goes to nursery fulk time and DS2 goes part time"
Also quite important detail is im a SAHM so no work to go back to after DC3

Surely if you are a Sahm they don't need to go to nursery other than usual preschool age?

As above if you're a SAHM do they really need so many hours at nursery?? Surely 15 hours once turned 3 is enough?

I'd go for a live out nanny/housekeeper for the easiest life. I wouldn't want an au pair to trip over and they are very young and often hard to ensure you get a good one.

If I'm honest I'm a bit about so much childcare when you are at home.

Just keep them all with you and hire a mothers help / outsource other stuff.

I really don't want to ask this nasties but what do you do 9-2?

Surely the point of being a SAHM is that you don't need childcare?

I would go for normal 15 hour preschool sessions for your oldest, maybe two or three mornings a week in nursery for your toddler if you can afford it and you want some time with just the baby (personally, I don't think they need to go to nursery purely for their benefit i.e. socialising before 3 yrs) and then get a good cleaner twice a week.

Hahah i think some people get confused between Giving advice and Giving opinion...this is not let me know what you think of my life choice kinda thread.
I'm having a third child and asking around for advice on whether an aupair would good rather than a nanny.
Why I have "so much" or so little childcare is not the point because its not anybody's business.

I reiterate, my post is about advice on childcare arrangements. We all.live different lives and i find it very inappropriate that some ppl allow themselves to tell me what i should "surely" have time for or ask what i do with my days...

I'd have thought you'd be ok with just the free hours if you're a SAHP, sounds like quite a good set up! That way you could spend a bit more on groups and/or activities and maybe a cleaner as well.

Congratulations on baby number 3!

Thanks Elodie!

And I gave advice......send the eldest to usual preschool sessions (15 hours a week). The other 2 can stay at home with you as you are a Sahm.

I'd get a nanny/housekeeper, but be aware it may be hard to find one who is happy to work alongside you. Many nannies prefer sole care.

You could maybe keep the boys in nursery but just for the mornings, then get nanny to collect them and either take them out for the afternoon, just take one so you can spend time with the other, or she could do housekeeping if you have plans with both boys. Again, when baby is here, she could be around in the morning to help (if you wanted it, although she could be part time and start at 12 for nursery pick up).

The evening help would be invaluable for bed/bath time with three.

Well, I'll rephrase then. My advice is that your eldest goes for the free hours and the youngest two stay with you. Send the middle one for a couple of mornings if you'd like time with just the baby.

Ok my advice on childcare is to utilise the free offerings for the kids that qualify and cover the rest yourself.

Use the 2k per month on other stuff.

My two are the same ages as your ds 1 and 2.
In your situation I would be sending ds1 to free hours at nursery and possibly some extra, and ds 2 to part time nursery, maybe 2 days or a few mornings. Dc3 would be at home with me.
Unless money really is no object a nanny seems ott, though an au pair would probably be useful.

When does DS start school sept 17 or 18?
When is baby due?
What hours of childcare do you want for DS 3?

As your oldest 2 are already settled in the nursery I would be tempted to keep them there but cut down their hours drastically and get a nanny. My DS is 3 and does 12 hours a week preschool but I rely on my mum to do drops offs, pick up etc as i work,

But the problem for you with having a nanny is if you are at home too how do you not get involved? Would you be out of the house for most of the day? Might be worth getting a nanny now as you will use her indefinitely so a good investment and someone to help when baby comes and juggle the nursery pick ups/drop offs without having to take the baby out.

I suppose it depends whether you would be happy to have an au pair living in your house with your family, or would prefer a nanny to just come in during the day to help with your dc. Do you want childcare for the baby too? I would personally prefer to keep the older two in nursery, unless you are planning on being out of the house most of the time, as having a nanny/au pair there while you are also there may be a bit tricky.

If you are a sahp and want to do childcare yourself then get a HK/cleaner

If you want some childcare then prob a mothers help

Most nannies don't like shared care /parents at home so will be harder to find one unless newly qualified

If children are happy at nursery why change it and when ds2 is there you can spend time with baby

In your situation I would send the eldest to preschool for free hours, the middle for a day or a couple of mornings so you get 1-1 time with the baby.

I would then outsource other stuff, cleaning, ironing etc.