Mother's help - anyone do this / anyone got one?

[Pennies]

I'm thinking of this to try and just give me a little break because quite frankly as I have no local family support and a DH who's out of the house form 7am - 8.30pm is really taking it's toll and I need someone to help me out a bit here.

So, what does a mother's help do?

How much should I expect to pay?

How do I go about finding one?

I had a post natal doula after having ds so similar I'd guess to a mothers help. She did anything & everything - took my toddler to soft play, cooked, ironed, changed beds etc - was an enormous help. It was expensive, though, something like £15 an hour.

a mother's help is about £6-£7 an hour I think, depending on where you live.

A mother's help is someone who is experienced with children, but is not qualified. She will help you round and house and with the children.

Agencies can help you find mother's helps, but you may also be able to find one for yourself on the internet - I found my au pair on Gumtree, so you may get some luck there.

Not sure I want to use an agency as I expect taht will require a) more money and b) a more formal arrangement than I'm planning.

I suppose what I'm looking for is either a local granny (aka Mrs Doubtfire), a childcare student or a mum with school age kids who wants to earn a bit of cash.

contact your local college and ask them if they will allow you to put up an ad in the childcare department, that's how I got my lovely babysitter.

I advertised in my local paper for a 'mature, enthusiastic, energetic fairy godmother to help out exhausted first time mother (as I was at the time)'. I didn't have any one to help me, DH works long hours and my parents have passed away.

I had 3 applicants - 2 I wouldn't have left my cat with and the 3rd was a Godsend, we are now great friends.

She helped me twice a week (mornings) for 2 years, I paid £20 for 3 hrs (7.5 yrs ago) She had a key to the house and if I was out let herself in and found a job to do - ironing, cleaning etc. If I was in she would look after my DD.

She used to pick flowers from her garden and leave them in jamjars on my front doorstep to cheer me up, she was great.