Who is able to take care of your child when you go away for a weekend or holiday?

[PeppyPiggy]

I'm totally clueless, are nannies able to do this? Or childminders? Babysitters? obviously this is something I am looking to for AFTER lockdown and when it is feasible.

DD is 5. None of her family on my side or her dads side are interested in spending that much time with her so our support network is pretty much non existent. Whenever I google search "nannies for overnights" it only ever brings me up results regarding purely night time nannies for babies.

I want to work out a way of having my DD with someone trustworthy for a couple weekends a month and maybe also one night a week, can anyone point me in the right direction? I just have no idea.

Before this gets to be a pile on, can I just point out that OP hasn't said why she needs this? It could be work or illness related for example.

In point of fact she did say ”Who is able to take care of your child when you go away for a weekend or holiday?”. That’s the actual thread title.

It is a slightly surprising question for the parent of a five year old to ask.

Not many people would hire a stranger to look after their child for an extended period, and that’s really the only option for a one-off, unless there are friends or family available.

Why? Is it some kind of respite care ? Because that works differently.
Otherwise, I'm puzzled as to why you would want to leave your child so frequently.

Some of the nanny agencies have the role, Weekend Nanny. This could be a feasible part time job for someone.
It would cost you about £500 a weekend, so about £1000 a month, £1200 a year. I’ve seen a few agencies with this sort of role advertised.

In point of fact she did say ”Who is able to take care of your child when you go away for a weekend or holiday?”. That’s the actual thread title.

Ok I stand corrected, I was reading the body of the thread not the title.

I do still think people shouldn't judge without knowing the full facts though. I see how often people get hurt when something becomes a pile on 🤷‍♂️

They’re not. I remain deeply jealous of anyone with overnight childcare options, particularly those who qualify it with “oh, it’s not much, just once every couple of months or so” not understanding that it’s going to be at least ten years til that’s a possibility for me,.,

I do still think people shouldn't judge without knowing the full facts though. I see how often people get hurt when something becomes a pile on 🤷‍♂️

Fair enough but it would help if she supplied the full facts, or otherwise explained.

That sounds a LOT of time you're wanting away and to be covered. Even if you could find a service (maybe they exist?) I imagine it would be very, very expensive to have every other weekend and another four nights a month on top of that.

As someone said above, that's what you'd expect a parent who had moved out to have not a relative/friend etc.

My in laws have my kids maybe 4 weekends a year. And have them for a mon to fri once a year. They have their other grandchildren MUCH more frequently as one SIL is a single mother and the other SIL is a CF. My parents have the kids for about 3 hours once a year.

Getting anyone else to look after kids you either have to pay heavily OR exchange (ie you have their kids for a sleepover one time, they have your kids the next), BUT you have to match with kids ages expectations etc etc aced that definitely won't be more than once a month.

No one :( One of my children has autism who refuses to sleep anywhere else without me or hubby. In laws struggle with the three of them anyway. I do get very grass is greener when I see people having nights off. We get no respite at all x

I can't imagine a 5 year old being willing to stay with a stranger tbh. In theory my BIL and SIL are willing to help out but there are only available once a year or so!

I can't imagine I'd find someone willing to give up so much time to look after my child that I would trust to have them so much. In fact I wouldn't know were to look. I haven't even been able to find a casual babysitter 🤷‍♀️ good luck though!

I'm also confused? Are you seriously considering doing a google search or a post on a childcare forum for a TOTAL STRANGER to look after your child overnight so you can go away for a holiday?????

No one. I'm a LP.

When I go away for a weekend or holiday my child comes with me. Isn't that normal?

I hope this is a wind up

Nobody. We’ve had two (begrudging) nights off in 5 years and my parents can’t have them any more

“A couple weekends a month and maybe also one night a week” !!! Just send her to boarding school when she’s 7, since parenting doesn’t sound like it’s for you

What is wrong with people acting like OP is committing a crime by leaving her kids.

It's ridiculous, stop being so judgmental.

If OP wants to leave her kids it's her choice - she's asking what options there are not for you to judge her.

Maybe leaving your kids some weekends could be a good thing and lose them less needy as adults and more independent did anyone give that a thought?

OP, I think you ought to consider a nanny or google weekend nanny and see what options you have although like some posters mention, you're going to have to have deep pockets.

Maybe leaving your kids some weekends could be a good thing and lose them less needy as adults and more independent did anyone give that a thought?

Yeah, dumping them every other weekend will do that I'm sure.

*Maybe leaving your kids some weekends could be a good thing and lose them less needy as adults and more independent did anyone give that a thought?

Yeah, dumping them every other weekend will do that I'm sure.*

What evidence do you have to suggest it wouldn't?

I'm a childminder and have done overnights and the odd weekend at a child's house. Once for a funeral which was a fair distance away and a few times in order for the parents to attend child-free weddings. Sometimes the child is known to me but sometimes they are not. Usually pop over to meet a 'unknown' child the day before so they know what's going on.
It's never been a problem for any child I've minded, we have had loads of fun.

@malovits exactly although on mumsnet that would be considered child abuse.