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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

What kind of childcare is available for a month old?

32 replies

pinkprincess · 08/01/2010 14:35

I have recently found out I am pregnant. I am very happy, but I'm already looking towards the future and trying to prepare myself for when baby comes.

In September I will be starting my third and last year of my degree. I really don't want to take a year off from my studies as I am not really enjoying my course at the moment, and I feel if I took a break from it, I would never get round to finishing it off. But I am due at the end of August and the university's nursery only look after children from 3 months old, which won't be til November time. DH works full time, so it will be highly unlikely he will be free on the two days I need to go into university, and I don't know how he or his work would feel about him taking two days off a week through holiday for the first couple of months.

So I was wondering if there were other options I could look into for the two days I need to go in? We don't have family around here that we could ask. I will speak to my tutors around the third month check once we know everything is fine to see what they suggest and say. But then saying that, I already feel guilty for considering having childcare so early on for newborn, when I spent 2 years as a SAHM for DD who's 7 now.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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looneytune · 08/01/2010 14:52

I'm a childminder who takes children from birth and if I had a space and was in your area, would be happy to help on those days. A lot of childminders won't take children under a certain age but don't rule out the option

Failing that, would a friend be able to come to yours for those days?

Good luck

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 08/01/2010 14:54

Your DH should be able to spread out his paternity leave to cover those 2 days a week.

Whereabouts are you?

CMOTdibbler · 08/01/2010 15:01

DH saved all his leave up so that he could have 2 days a week of for 5 weeks after his paternity leave and a full week off. His work were fine about it, and it was really nice for him to spend more time around.

I'd book a place at uni nursery from the minimum age they will take, based on your due date so that you are holding it (since they are prob v busy), and get DH to see what he can work out.

Depending on your course, and your baby, it might be possible to have a baby in a sling in lectures, esp if you were breastfeeding so could just feed them when they woke up

Ceebee74 · 08/01/2010 15:01

Fab - paternity leave has to be taken in blocks of weeks so can't be spread out. However, it can be taken anytime within the first 56 days of the birth - so he could not take any for the first month and then take the 2 weeks once you have to go back to uni and that is 2 weeks covered. It would be hard for you though.

I don't know about childcare but I would get your DH to ask at work about using his leave - they might be more understanding than you think. Once the baby is born, he is entitled to put in a request for flexible working so could do it under that umbrella and his company have to have a valid business reason why it wouldn't be feasible.

Original poster

pinkprincess · 08/01/2010 15:14

I live in Hertfordshire. Thank you for the advice on the paternity leave and about flexible working. They may be more open to it if it's just for a couple of months.

I have heard that some people have had their children in lectures, so that's something I would have to ask about. I will have to look around for local childminders too. I wasn't sure if any did look after young babies too.

Thank you for the advice

OP posts:

madcows · 08/01/2010 15:28

You might want to speak to a personal tutor about seeing if you could take the term 'off' and come back after Xmas. (So not lose a whole year). Depending on how the credit system works on your course, there might be some room for manoevre.
I'd be inclined to do that rather than cobble together childcare for 2 days - if only because there will be work to be done outside those 2 days, and it might be v tough with a newborn.
madcows

frakkinaround · 08/01/2010 15:35

If you can't take your DD or find a childminder and you can afford it then a temp nanny might be a solution. There is a very experienced nanny and mum, sometimes on here who is in Hertfordshire. She's here as mummyknowsbest which is also her website I think. Or there might be others around.

kkey21 · 08/01/2010 15:38

Hi pinkprincess, where abouts in Hertfordshire? We live in Hertfordshire and i childmind aswell as have years of nannying behind me. My son would be 2 in September and my older child at school.

My email address is kje 1979 @ hotmail dot co dot uk if you would like to discuss further?

Thank you

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/01/2010 15:59

congrats

i would try and find a temp nanny/a nanny who works 3 days (like me) who can do the other 2 days for 2/3mths and then use nursery from jan 2011

dont forget to book/reserve your place

NaccetyMac · 08/01/2010 16:32

I had my first baby in the October of my final year. I was planning to go straight back in, but she was 2 weeks overdue and a traumatic birth, so I went back in the January.

TBH, I needed that semester off, and I wish in hindsight that I had taken a little longer. She was 12 weeks old when I was back in FT study.

I did have to sort the childcare while still pg, which was odd. I was fabulously lucky to find a CM who was happy to wear DD in a sling, feed EBM (I have met some carers who are funny about that ) and generally pander to her, which is how I like to raise my kids.

TBH, if you can find someone you are happy with, I would stick with them rather than changning to a nursery.

Best of luck, and congrats!

kkey21 · 08/01/2010 17:00

Just to add to my above post-i would only be caring for your baby and my 2yr old, no others. I only ever childmind for 1-2 children whilst my own are so young. Thank you

Original poster

pinkprincess · 08/01/2010 17:11

Hi again, thanks for your posts.

Kkey21, I'll email you in a bit.

Frakkinaround, thank you for that, I will have a look for her as well.

I hadn't thought about trying to get the first semester off. I will have to look into that too. I do realise it's going to be a lot to take on and maybe nearer the time I'll have a change of heart about going back.

And NaccetyMac, that is a very good point about sticking with someone I'm happy with rather than changing.

OP posts:

cookielove · 08/01/2010 17:22

Are you attending the university of hertfordshire

lilylu22 · 08/01/2010 17:25

pink princess. i am a part time nanny, and occasionally, when my seven year old charge has been ill from school - but not devastatingly ill, her mother has asked me to take her with me to my lectures.

I've done this on several occasions no problems at all. I'm sure this little girl was 10 times more 'trouble' than your little baby will be (more than likely asleep in its capsule the entire class). I'd check with your lecturers, I'm 99% sure you may not end up needing childcare..

abbierhodes · 08/01/2010 17:34

Can I second the advice about taking a term off?

I'm a teacher, and for school aged girls there is a certain number of weeks they can be away from education. I know you're not school age, OP, but your uni should have a similar policy.

Congrats on your pregnancy by the way...I'm sure you'll work out the practicalities!

cookielove · 08/01/2010 18:05

If you are attending the uni of herts, i would suggest that you apply now, the waiting list is really long, and if you want to get a place early early early is my advice. The nursery is lovely by the way

scottishmummy · 08/01/2010 18:11

apply now!baby room nurseries have long waiting lists.does the uni offer nursery?congratulations and good luck with your studies

CloudDragon · 08/01/2010 18:24

If it's your first baby youy may be in for a bit of a shock at how much hard work the first couple of months are.

I went to uni part time when DS2 was 4 months (DS1 was 20 months so a bit different) but I could bring him into some lectures as he was mainly asleep / happy to have his toes tickled.

Depends on the no. of hours a week you will be doing.
Can you do it part time?

FluffyForLifeNotJustForXmas · 08/01/2010 18:27

I know that with payed employment, it's illegal to allow someone to return to work before their baby is 5 weeks old, you need to check this with the University as it is a course, not employment.

xoxcherylxox · 08/01/2010 18:29

i thought it was a minimum of 2 weeks

FluffyForLifeNotJustForXmas · 08/01/2010 18:32

No, I'm sure it's 5. I may be wrong though, it's been a while since I did my degree.

scottishmummy · 08/01/2010 18:33

minimum of 2wk before return to paid employment.no provision for studying.do book a place asap and with organisation it is achievable

scottishmummy · 08/01/2010 18:37

compulsory maternity leave =2wk or 4wk if work in factory.this is provision for mat leave from paid employment

raindroprhyme · 08/01/2010 19:20

i haven't read whole thread but am in the middle of my degree and am due in 4 weeks. All my tutors have agreed that if i have to be in lectures or tutorials i can bring baby with me. It is my 3rd tho so i am quite confident about having the baby with me in this kind of situation. they are also happy for me to correspond by email for a few weeks if this is necesssary.
Baby has a place at my childminders with his brothers and she is able to have the wee one from birth so will use her if i need to go in to uni for a couple of hours.
hoping by the time bubba is 6 weeks it will go to child minder the 2 days i am at uni.

Original poster

pinkprincess · 08/01/2010 19:36

Hi again,

cookielove, yes it is the Herts Uni, I will have to call them next week if snow hasn't kept everyone out still. Thanks for the warning!

CloudDragon, baby will be my second, so I know roughly what I'm getting into. Hoping it'll be easier though, as I was a single mum raising DD1 up so hoping (or being too optimistic) that I will be able to cope with DH being here. I'm not sure if I can do it part-time, but I want to see if I can find out what the third year's timetable is so I kno roughly what times and days they do, though I'm sure it's bound to change when I start, as our schedule changed from last year.

It is good to know that quite a few people have had babies in lecture as well. I will have to speak with my tutors and find out what they think.

OP posts:

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