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Covid

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Original poster

Please tell me there is a rule I’m missing

50 replies

Globalpandemicmum · 09/09/2020 17:13

I’m a parent of a 2 year old and a 3 month old so I am on maternity leave. My mum is married to my step dad and my husband’s parents are together, I don’t know any single adults. Can someone tell me if there is a rule I’m missing where I can get help with my children?!? (Or at least the toddler!)

OP posts:

YummyJamDoughnut · 09/09/2020 17:16

You can meet in groups of 6, indoors and outdoors. No reason your mum and stepfather or your husbands parents can't come to you, or you to them (assuming nobody else lives in either household that would push it up to 7 or more). Or that you can't meet up anywhere publicly.

golightlytoday · 09/09/2020 17:18

But you need to social Distance from them. You can be in a bubble if you're a single parent.

(That's my understanding of it all)

SweetHummingbird · 09/09/2020 17:21

Maybe not a popular opinion but if both parties are fine with it get the help you need

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 09/09/2020 17:21

You can meet as a group of six but there has to be SD in place so if you need childcare it would have to be from a nursery or childminder as they are a business and have different rules.

nancybotwinbloom · 09/09/2020 17:29

@SweetHummingbird

Maybe not a popular opinion but if both parties are fine with it get the help you need

I agree.

DoubleDolphin · 09/09/2020 18:09

Why do you need help?

OverTheRainbow88 · 09/09/2020 18:20

@DoubleDolphin

Maybe because Op has 2 young kids 🙄

SecretWitch · 09/09/2020 18:21

I bought two iced teas today. The thrill is killing me

BabyLlamaZen · 09/09/2020 18:23

You are a single person so can bubble with one other household. You have to choose a household e.g. mum and stepdad.

There csn be up to 6 of you, any of you, in the house but must be distanced. Unless any of those six include a bubble household, so you could hug your mum and wave at your dh mum say.

titchy · 09/09/2020 18:27

@BabyLlamaZen

You are a single person so can bubble with one other household. You have to choose a household e.g. mum and stepdad.

There csn be up to 6 of you, any of you, in the house but must be distanced. Unless any of those six include a bubble household, so you could hug your mum and wave at your dh mum say.

She's not single she has a husband! I'm not getting the angst though. One week your parents can come to stay, the following week your husband's parents. That's two households and 6 people at a time which is legal.

SummerHouse · 09/09/2020 18:27

Anyone who is agreeable can help with your children. So long as there's not more than six people in the house at any one time.

Jagoda · 09/09/2020 18:30

What do you mean? Yes, your parents or your In Laws can visit and look after the DC.

However, you need to take into account any health issues they might have in terms of vulnerability.

Original poster

Globalpandemicmum · 09/09/2020 20:12

I know we can still see both sets of parents which some people aren’t lucky enough to do but they can’t actually help because of maintaining social distancing.

I’ve managed this whole time but I think today’s announcement has made me realise there is no imminent light at the end of the tunnel.

OP posts:

ChickenwingChickenwing · 09/09/2020 20:15

I don't understand what you are asking, unless you want all the people mentioned together (which is not allowed) I just don't see what it is you are not sure about at all.

Kaffiene · 09/09/2020 20:15

I am in Scotland, 12 and under don’t need to socially distance. So grandparents come round and play with the kids and I keep y distance. Isn’t it similar in England?

RandomMess · 09/09/2020 20:17

They are allowed to provide childcare for you...

tappitytaptap · 09/09/2020 20:20

Just let them look after your children. We work, my parents have the DC 2 days a week. I can’t afford to double my nursery fees nor would my parents want me to do that. Almost everyone I know is using grandparents for childcare if they usually do. Some mumsnet posters would have you pay hundreds of extra pounds a month for childcare though just to comply with some ‘rule’ 🤦🏻‍♀️

LST · 09/09/2020 20:28

My mum had my dc multiple ti.es a week throughout lockdown as I was WFH and DP went out to work

titchy · 09/09/2020 20:40

Little ones aren't expected to SD from anyone so their grandparents can pick them up etc.

Bol87 · 09/09/2020 21:06

My parents look after my daughter & will continue to do so. My in-laws look after my niece & nephew & will continue to do so. None of us have any other choice. We cannot simply magic up nursery places. We both live in areas where nursery waiting lists are huge. I paid the deposit for my baby when she was 3 weeks old. And even if we could, it’s £57 a day. I have two children. As does my sister in law who pays £61 a day. Neither of us can afford 5 days a week as we’d need!

So what do we do? Not work? Juggle under 5’s & try to do high pressure jobs on the phones to clients etc? My employer ain’t keen. So we use parents or other family. There is no other choice. And I know SO many people who have the same no choice & are doing the same thing. Until the govmt can offer me some other alternative I’ll continue to do so.

I hate to be selfish but what else are we supposed to do?!

EducatingArti · 09/09/2020 21:09

@titchy

Little ones aren't expected to SD from anyone so their grandparents can pick them up etc.

This isn't true in England!

EducatingArti · 09/09/2020 21:11

@RandomMess

They are allowed to provide childcare for you...

But only socially distanced support and in Greater Manchester, also not unless it is in a park!

Chloemol · 09/09/2020 21:13

From the FAQ updated today on Gov.uk

2.7 Can I look after my grandchildren?
Yes. People in groups of up to 6 can meet indoors or outdoors, which enables you to spend time with your grandchildren. We recognise that grandparents and other relatives often provide informal childcare for young children, and this can be very important. Although you should try to maintain social distance from people you do not live with wherever possible, it may not always be practicable to do so when providing care to a young child or infant. If this is this case - and where young children may struggle to keep social distance – you should still limit close contact as much as possible, and take other precautions such as washing hands and clothes regularly.

If you have formed a support bubble with your grandchildren’s household, which is allowed if either you or they live in a ‘single adult household’, then there can be close contact and social distancing is not necessary

lifesalongsong · 09/09/2020 21:14

@titchy

Little ones aren't expected to SD from anyone so their grandparents can pick them up etc.

That's not right is it? Why all the threadsabout grandparents being able to hug their grandchildren then, I thought there wasn't meant to be physical contact, I don't think they should be picking small children up.

Bol87 · 09/09/2020 21:17

@Chloemol - thank you! That’s quite a relief to read!

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