No grandparents for childcare!

[torbs]

Hi everyone :)

This is my first thread here.

My partner and I are hoping to start a family soon.

We are both from the South of England, but moved to the North a few years ago, where we bought our first home.

Unfortunately, both of our parents still live down south - making childcare prospects difficult!

What did those of you who didn't have parents/grandparents/family as an option for free childcare do?!

Thanks for your time and I look forward to your replies.

Pay for it

Nursery and childminder.

Paid a childminder.

Grandparents are not there for free childcare.

Pay for it

Err pay for childcare. It’s rather presumptive to think that even if your parents / pil lived close by they’d be on tap for FREE childcare. How entitled.

Nursery, childminder, nannies.

Loads of families where the grandparents work ft, have health issues or just don’t fancy putting their lives on hold to do free childcare anyway no matter how close they live.

Paid for nursery and then became a SAHM.

We pay for it

Many many people don't have the option of using grandparents for childcare, we didn't even live in the same country as our parents when our children were little. You will have to do what those many people do and pay for the childcare that you need, be it at nursery, childminder, nanny or some other solution. For more ad hoc care once your child starts nursery or school and you get to make other parent friends you can sometimes swap around for occasional days.

Pay for it or one of you take a career break.

Many,many people don't have parents who are able to provide childcare,you're extremely fortunate if you do.

I was a SAHM until the youngest started school, then used breakfast club and after school club.

We planned carefully so we can manage.

is this a joke? Most adults dont factor in using there parents for childcare when planning a family. Its a big expectation. I have always paid for childcare as do most of my friends and family.

Paid for nursery whilst working. Never went anywhere socially until they were older

All surviving grandparents live near us. We never use them for childcare.

I only know 1 family who use the grandparents for childcare and they pay them.

Really?!

I'm not one of the lucky ones with grandparents that helped out. I gave up my job to be a SAHM for a few years.

No grandparents/family live within 2 hours of us.

We pay a childminder who is amazing with our daughter. Probably better at teaching her the world than I am!

Paid for nursery for DS1 and then when DS2 was born became a SAHM.

I know it seems hard when others have grandparents on their doorstep but plenty of grandparents have their own lives and have no wish to commit to regular childcare.

You are not alone

Is this a joke?

Paid for full time childminders until one of us went down to 60% and then paid for childminders for 3 days per week.

Yes, we paid for childcare so we could work. It's really not unusual, and people with willing family nearby are very lucky!

Pay for it …

I was a single mum for years before meeting DH and didn’t live near my family. I relied on breakfast club, childminder and would use a baby sitting agency.

occasionally my best friend would offer to have ds1 if she had free time and I had a very important work event but otherwise you pay for it …

I never even considered using grandparents for childcare, even though they don't work anymore. They are enjoying the freedom of their retirement as they should be. We have enrolled our future baby in ft nursery while we are at work.

🍿