Working shifts - are these reasonable hours?

[VivaLaVieBoheme]

Single, so, as working shifts, I need some overnight and unsociable hours care. Worked out what hours would be needed for a random 8-week period. As is often the case salary doesn't quite match the crazy hours - so AuPair + nursery seems like the only possible solution.

While there are lots of hours, these are mostly overnight and AuPair could do whatever they want (at home), e.g. study/Netflix, sleep - there are only 12.5hrs per week on average where AuPair would not to do any actual childcare. So my reasoning was that AuPair would work well and that should there be occasions where more 'awake' hours are required, e.g. illness, this could be paid extra.

What do you think? (Bold days are days I get to be at home all day).

Week 1: 14 hours (4 hrs awake)
Mon – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Tues – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Weds – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Thurs – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Fri – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Sat – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Sun – Nursery /, Au-Pair /

Week 2: 46 hours (4 hrs awake)
Mon – Nursery /, Au-Pair 19.30 – 07.00 (11.5hrs)
Tues – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair 19.30 – 07.00 (11.5hrs)
Weds – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair 19.30 – 07.00 (11.5hrs)
Thurs – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair 19.30 – 07.00 (11.5hrs)
Fri – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Sat – Au-Pair /
Sun – Au-Pair /

Week 3: 55.5 hours (22hrs awake)
Mon – Nursery 07.30 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Tues – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Weds – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Thurs – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Fri – Nursery /, Au-Pair 19.30 – 07.00 (11.5hrs)
Sat – Au-Pair 07.00 – 17.30, 19.30 – 07.00 (22hrs)
Sun – Au-Pair 07.00 – 17.30, 19.30 – 07.00 (22hrs)

Week 4: 59 hours (23.5hrs awake)
Mon – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair 19.30 – 07.00 (11.5hrs)
Tues – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Weds – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Thurs – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Fri – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Sat – Au-Pair 07.30 – 21.30 (22hrs)
Sun – Au-Pair 07.30 – 21.30 (22hrs)

Week 5: 23 hours (2hrs awake)
Mon – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Tues – Nursery /, Au-Pair 19.30 – 07.00 (11.5hrs)
Weds – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair 19.30 – 07.00 (11.5hrs)
Thurs – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Fri – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Sat – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Sun – Nursery /, Au-Pair /

Week 6: 14 hours (6hrs awake)
Mon – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Tues – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Weds – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Thurs – Nursery 07.30 – 18.00, Au-Pair 18.00 – 21.30 (3.5hrs)
Fri – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Sat – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Sun – Nursery /, Au-Pair /

Week 7: 20 hours (20 hrs awake)
Mon – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Tues – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Weds – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Thurs – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Fri – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Sat – Au-Pair 07.30 – 17.30 (10hrs)
Sun – Au-Pair 07.30 – 17.30 (10hrs)

Week 8: 20 hours (20 hrs awake)
Mon – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Tues – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Weds – Nursery /, Au-Pair /
Thurs – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Fri – Nursery 07.00 – 17.30, Au-Pair /
Sat – Au-Pair 07.30 – 17.30 (10hrs)
Sun – Au-Pair 07.30 – 17.30 (10hrs)

Probably very rare, but I would look into a childminder who does overnights. Usually your colleagues at work should have some recommendations if everyone works shifts.

I agree with PP - this isn't really an au pair job but more a nanny. Au pairs not usually expected to have sole charge overnight or for such long periods - they're supposed to be more like a mother's help than a nanny.

Are people reading something different to me? There are 3-5 days each week where the au pair has no responsibilities at all.

what are you doing for childcare at the moment ? is that not working if not I think you could try this but I do think it may not appeal to everyone I would imagine if they had a choice between what you needed and say someone who just needs a couple of hours morning and after school they will take that. Can you offer a little more money due to night / weekend work ? Also are you happy to leave in some charge over night? On the days when lo at nursery at 7 then au pair till 9.30 are you at work all that time or sleeping some of that? is their any option in your work place to do slightly shorter shifts ? Obviously no idea what you do but is there any options in your field that don't require so much shift work? Good luck in whatever you decide I was going to suggest a nanny but looking at the hours needed it looks like it would be too much for one person as need a break between shifts

"Attacking" you!! LOL .
As far as I can see, you list someone else caring for your child 7 days a week, 7.30 am until 21.30!
Au pair 7 days a week, on the days in bold, you say you still have an au pair.

Am I not reading it right?

crosser no I think it is generally excepted that '/' means none/not applicable.... and yes, exactly Tammy.

underneath, yes hours are right, but nursery is needed on nightshift days as I need to sleep at some point, though getting LO as early as poss to play, do dinner and bedtime before next shift.

I'd imagine you'd have to pay full time nursery fees rather than on just your working shifts. And au pairs really shouldn't have sole care overnight bapaa.org.uk/au-pairs/what-is-an-au-pair/

I'm not sure this is doable

Yes nursery is paid for full-time.

What have you done up until now?

Unless youncan afford a live in nanny and some nusery on top I think an au pair is your only option really with the flexibility you require. Can you get in touch with an agency and speak to them about how feasible it is?

Looking at your timetable I think this is going to be quite a gruelling regime for all concerned IMHO. . The au pair will be working all weekend some weeks and nearly every evening other weeks. Is she doing all the drop offs at nursery and preparing meals for your DS when she's on duty and getting your DS ready in the mornings and put to bed at night. I can't see this being workable personally.

Not sure what an alternative could be with those shift patterns. What are your childcare arrangements at present?

They sound like very difficult hours for everyone concerned. Is there no way to get your shift pattern more regular? If you had fixed days so you weren’t paying for so much nursery that you don’t need it might free up money for a nanny rather than an au pair. I think even if you get an au pair to agree to your hours they will be unlikely to stay for any length of time. It will be very difficult for them to socialise/join groups etc when their hours change every week so they are less likely to settle. I also think all day both days of the weekend is too much to ask an au pair to do.
I have friends who have offered to do more than their share of nights or unsociable hours as a trade off for fixing to certain days of the week.
Is your DS’ dad around at all to cover any of the weekends or nights?

Good idea Dubious, will get on that.

There will be either drop off or pick up most days AuPair is working, but I will precook all meals (I batch cook anyway).

Hours are changing (there is no way around this and will be the case for a few years, then easier), hence not an issue before. LO's dad is not an option for any childcare.

Hey OP,

Just wanted to wish you luck really finding something that works.

I am sure if you were claiming benefits people would criticise. I think it’s good to show our children a strong work ethic and it sounds like you are working really hard with tough circumstances.

Sorry that’s not really advice just wanted to lend support.

Hey Gin - thank you, that is very kind of you. Sometimes life doesn't work out the way you ideally want it to and then you just have to find a way around it, don't you?

Hi VivaLaVieBoheme, I think if you pay appropriately, are upfront before they accept the offer and you find an au pair who is homely & not out partying every week end (they do exist) then what you have proposed sounds ok.

Whilst people say au pairs should not have sole care of children under a certain age or overnight care, these are guidelines and not legal requirements.

Plenty of au pairs have sole care of young children and plenty do overnight care when parents are away.

Good luck with your search,

roses That was my reasoning. The question is how much is fair (and feasible). Minimum is £70 a week. So was thinking £100? Not in London, nice room, not far by bus from beach, easy access by bus to city centre. That works out as around £8 per waking hour and then obvs free food/accommodation for spending some evenings/nights at home (doing whatever they want).

Was actually thinking this may also be an ideal set up for uni student? I know I would have loved this (I'm not a big party person though) as essentially getting free accommodation in exchange for studying at home in the evening?

This is probably all over by now but I just came across it.

I'm not sure I get this. Are you asking whether it's okay to leave your child overnight with an au pair, but to only pay the au pair for the hours she is likely to be awake?!

Anyway, these are nannying hours, not au pair hours. 10 hours of continuous childcare in a day should not be an au pair role, really, especially not for a 2 year old.