TTC and can't figure out how childcare will work with my shift pattern!! Help!!

[HarderToKidnap]

If TTC goes all well, then I would be going back to work when LO was about 7 months. I would be working two long shifts every week, 7am - 8pm. I don't get my shifts more than a month in advance. I anticipate my mum will do at least one day. The other shift could be a week day, a night, or a weekend day/night. I will only need childcare if it is a week day shift, as my DH would be home at the other times.

So I am in a situation where I may need 12 hours childcare a week, or I may not, and if I do, I only have a month to sort it out. Ideally I'd like a nice childminder who I would ring up at the beginning of the month and tell her when I needed her and she would agree, but this isn't going to happen, is it? What do other shift working mums do?

you would have to pay for the 12 hours regardless every week ithink

What do other people at your workplace do? I work shifts, but when I went back after dd1 was born I requested fixed shifts so I could easily arrange childcare. Would it be possible to request that one of your shifts is always either a night or a weekend? Then you would be able to just use your mum and dh for childcare.

You may be lucky as some childminders are happy to do ad hoc care like me. I do charge more per hour for this sort of care. If its only occasionally there are always agencies.

Most of the other girls at work have either got fixed contracts which are no longer issued, or just use family, or work short shifts and use the onsite nursery, none of which would work for me. And tbh I would like to set up the childcare rather than working unsocial hours every week, if I can. I would be happy to pay for the 12 hours every week but under 1s are a goldmine for CMs aren't they, can't see any CM being willing to accept my 12 hours when it means they can't take another under 1 the rest of the week?

Most of the other girls at work have either got fixed contracts which are no longer issued, or just use family, or work short shifts and use the onsite nursery, none of which would work for me. And tbh I would like to set up the childcare rather than working unsocial hours every week, if I can. I would be happy to pay for the 12 hours every week but under 1s are a goldmine for CMs aren't they, can't see any CM being willing to accept my 12 hours when it means they can't take another under 1 the rest of the week?

where do u live? id take them :D

Do your work have a childcare advisor? (I think most NHS trusts do if that's who you work for). They may be able to tell you about local childminders who are happy to work flexibly with shift workers.

Maybe you could find a few local childminders, then at the beginning of the month when you get your shifts call round them all and see who can do the hours.

Depends how busy CMs in your area are though.

think you need to find a few ad hoc cm/nannies and then once you know your dates to ring round and see who can do the date

i do ad hoc/temp work and have a mum who is a pilot who rings up and gives me her dates, some i can do, others i cant

what area are you in?

have a look on nannyjob and netmums and there are several nannies normally working part time wanting a bit extra every now and again

DH works funny shifts and I alter my hours to accomodate - maybe your DH could change his hours round each week?

Anyway you're worrying about this in the wrong order..... good luck with TTC!

You might find a Nanny with her own child happy to do this especially if you would pay the twelve hours even if she wasn't needed.