I need to discuss (Poss at length) all childcare options, their pros & cons and then the liklihood of suiting my situatiuon.

[MascaraOHara]

I am a WOHM. Currently I use a childminder and family to split my childcare..

I now might need to investigate alternatives, but what are these? I think (perhaps niavely) that I would struggle to accomodate an au-pair as I live in a 2 bed house BUT I really could do with an au-pair type person who could incorporate my housework etc.. Do/Will nannies also run the house?

Besides nannies/au-pairs/childminders are their any other options?

What are the chance of finding a carer who could possibly do some nights?

Oh please help me.

how old are your DCs and what hours need covering? when do you (and DP/DH if around?) leave the house and return? Can you work at home?

our fantastic nanny has taken on all the cooking and also does the cleaning (separate agreement, she wanted to step in when our cleaner left). But I think this is unusual (and she is leaving this summer, sob sob).

My dd is 5 and currently work 9-5:30, I leave the house at 8 and get home at 6. My childminder is fantastic but for reasons out of my control she may not be around much longer. I will be gutted if she can't continue to look after dd.

My job is about to change and I will be expected to travel regularly both within the UK and around Europe. I will struggle to manage this with the current set up so I'm thinking that if she does give me notice maybe I should start thinking about other forms of childcare

I don't have a significant other.

So it sounds like the basic daily requirement for DD is pre-school and after school, plus holidays, but the key information is that you may have to travel. So your hours will be more unpredictable and you might be away overnight?

What is available from family? Could DD sleep over at family's house when you are away? Otherwise you are going to need live-in care, aren't you? Or at the very least, someone who is willing to stay overnight in your home from time to time.

If the sleepovers are covered,an au pair or au pair plus sounds like what you need, with extra arrangements over the holidays. Some au pairs do live out, but obviously they would not usually be paid enough to afford to live out.

see this guide to au pair plus

can you re-arrange your house at all? eg have separate dining room to turn into bedroom?

I think so, pre-school and after school deffo. School Holidays, all day

Yes I may have to travel with overnight stays - I have no idea how I'm going to accomodate this as yet. I have no room for live-in care as my house is teenie.

How much are we talking for a full-time live out nanny or au-pair?

I will look at the site, thanks

Haven't read the whole thread but a childminder could do all of that if you wanted them to, saving the need for live in. Having said that, some areas people struggle to get overnight care childminders so I suggest looking on the Childcarelink website to see if people offer it in your area.

Good luck

Thanks LT, my current CM doesn't do overnight... she is completely fantastic though

where are u?

On the Bucks/Beds border. why?

shame im in watford, bit far for you, could have helped if nearer