Help with twins

[needmorecoffee]

Friend is expecting twins and is single mum (has older kids). I remember seeing a prog about nannies and rich people and one woman had a night-help person. Can't remember what they are called. Where could we find one to help with feeding the twins at night and how much would it cost for a month maybe? Am planning to raise money (no idea how yet) to help my friend. We've both got disabled kids so I can't help at night and she will also be up with the disabled one and we're both on benefits but I can't see how she's going to cope with newborn twins alone.

Hi NMC,hope you had a peaceful Christmas.Have seen some of your posts on sn.Hope dd had a lovely time xx

Re twins stuff.SIL has twins and an elder one with sn.She was offered Homestart iirc,dunno if they do nightsits though.It could be worth your mate contacting TAMBA (TWINS AND MULTIPLE BIRTH ASSOCIATION)sory for capitals.Must go liittle un crying,Wrinkly

I think the person you are talking about would be a maternity nurse/night nanny.

I'm not sure off hand how much it would be a night but you could do a google search as some of the agencies have there prices up. Also you could look for a person looking to break into maternity nursing as it would be good experience and they may charge less.

A night-help person, would be a Maternity Nanny, Maternity Nurse, Night Nanny. They are a costly option, can be easily £600 per week.

Does your friend have a disabled child? If so, make sure your friend is getting as much respite care, DLA, direct payments (for a 1:1 carer) support from local/national charities etc.

HomeStart may be able to provide someone who can visit occasionally to give practical help. May not be for many hours per week, but every little can help. Tel: 0800 068 63 68 (general information line). Ask Health Visitor to refer - your friend's Health Visitor may also know of other local organisations who can help.

TAMBA have a Listening and Information line - 0800 138 0509 - which can help with general questions about twins.

Night Nannies agency covers Somerset area (think you may be that direction, thus your friend may also be in that area). Looks like cost is £85 per night. Advantage of using an agency, is that your friend could just use it as and when required - the twins after all may be great night-time sleepers.

Where abouts is your friend based as I am a qualified nanny and would be happy to do maybe one night a week to help out free of charge but it would depend on where she is based

Thnakyou all. We're in Bristol btw. Am going to help her get decent respite cos at the mo she gets 2 hours a MONTH to help her with her son and she's doing it all alone. The council here are very reluctant to part with money and the services are poo. I know, cos I struggle with my disabled dd and I'm a wheelchair user myself. Its taken 3 years to get any help!
The Nigh Nannies thing looks fab and its less than Direct Payments would pay for a night. Its just getting social services to assess her as needing night help. And thats where the obtsacles lie. Once you've been assessed as needing help, DP pay for it but its getting the assessment to say you do is the issue. There's that scary line where you ask for help bt they decide you're not 'coping' and remove your children.

When is your friend due? Am a qualified Maternity nanny and would do it for reduced rate for the twins experience!

i think she's about 12 weeks. so theoretically end of june but who knows with twins.

I definitely don't have any bookings that far ahead so please do pass on my details

I can be contacted on fen532 at bham dot ac dot uk (replace the "at" with @ and the "dot" with . - don't want spam!)

I do have lots of twin experience and I live in Dorset. I have been working two nights for a single mum in my area who had twins until recently. I'm available April/May/June.

Thankyou ladies. I will pass on your emails. She is going for an amnio cos sadly she couldn't cope with any more disabilities but should that be clear then its getting everything ready. Been checking freecycle for double buggies/car seats etc. Dunno how she'll push a double buggy anda wheelchair with her 6yo in!
Frannikin, how did the lady cope with twins as a single mum?

I'm sure I've seen a double pram at back and a single pushchair attached to the front, twins and multiple births might be able to help you on the pushchair side of things.

Ooh and 'Homestart' are brilliant, i've had them for 4 years when my twins were born and have a special needs older child, but he is able!

the disabled one is 6 and in a wheelchair which makes it tricky. Heavy lad too.
4 years!!! We had Homestart for 6 months. Thats all they allow here. Despite the fact I'm disabled and was struiggling to care for dd who has severe cerebral palsy. 2 hours a week.

Think you want yogimum not me, needmorecoffee!