Does anyone use 'split' care?

[dizzycringles]

DH and I have been left in an unfortunate position with our CM giving us her notice. We're distraught as she was brilliant and the girls loved her - she only had our girls and 2 others on a Thurs so she managed to take DD2 to her swimming lesson and would work 2 days a week whatever 2 days we needed due to our changable shifts - am aware we were spoilt but it was a situation that suited us all as she only wanted to work part time and unless we desperately needed her on a certain day during the week she could pick what days she worked

none of the other CMers in the area will provide the same level of flexibility due to wanting their spaces full - fair enough

the nursery wants the girls to have set days and we can't afford to pay for 5 days a week just for the sake of needing 2

so (getting to the point and well done if you've got this far) one of the CMers has a Mon/Tues free and if she has the girls on the Mon will take DD2 to her swimming lesson as her DD goes to the same one

and the nursery can possibly take the 2 days a week which (subject to availability) they'll swap about to accomodate us

am I mad even considering it? will it disrupt the girls too much to go from 2 days with one CM to 1 day with another CM and 2 days at a nursery?

we're at the stage of thinking that no one solution fits our needs so why not try a mix of both?

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I'll take that as a no then!!

you can but try!! only you know how your children will settle and if its the only solution then thats the answer.

I don't know your children but I did once look after a little one (ages around 2) who went to another CM on different days, worked out fine for us. You know your children best, I hope you find something that works

A child at DS' nursery did 2 days childminer & 3 at nursery and was totally fine with it

He was I think 18 months when thye set it up

thanks guys - am just so all over the place trying to work out what's for the best and considering we only need about 7 days child care a month I can't believe its all this complicated

the nursery can't take DD3 at all unless its on an ad hoc basis which am not keen on as I'd like her settled, she's on the list and will get priority as DD2 will be going

they're both going to go to a CM on a Mon and DD2 will go to the nursery 2 days a week which the nursery are prepared to swap about if we need to. We'll just have to sort something for DD3 if and when we need it either by taking time off work, asking the CM if she can help out, asking our old CM if she'll nanny and if we're really stuck an ad hoc day in the nursery

come on the Euro millions

never easy is it?!

I do have a split situation with one nanny two days a week and another nanny in a nanny share situation. It is complex - but works very well

Not quite the same situation, but my DD aged 3 goes some days to her nan's house, some days to the childminders and some days to the preschool (from the childminders, or from her nan's). It works because my DD likes going to all her childcare settings (she only does mornings). As these change each day, she just asks where she is going that morning (two mornings at my mum's, three mornings at the CMs).
HTH

spotted and ello thank you - am desperately hoping its going to work but haven't heard of anyone around here doing it