Childcare bubble - can you see anyone else outside the bubble?

[RoomAtTheEndOfTheWorld]

To cut a long story short, my DM (71yrs) will be a single household for the duration of lockdown (She is married but my stepdad has to go abroad for the next few weeks)

My DSIS is on Mat leave with a 6 month old and is planning to ask our DM to be her childcare support bubble (DSIS is married but her DH works away and overnight 80-90% of the week so is alone herself a lot of the time with her DS)

This is fine but DSIS wants to request that DM does not see anyone else or go to the shops etc. (She is getting food shopping delivered anyway)

Is this actually the rules, or a reasonable request, or is my DSIS just being extra paranoid? If it's not the rules, do you think it is ok to ask that of someone?

I would have assumed DM could be childcare support bubble but also see people outside for a walk etc in line with the rules, but happy to be wrong about that. I can't find anything on GOV website that says either way if you are in a Childcare bubble.

Thanks in advance.

It’s not the rules and she’s unreasonable to ask.

Nope you can see people outside for a walk as well.

She can’t follow another bubble, but can see another person outside for exercise

Follow = form

Your sister is being unreasonable. Those in bubbles can still meet one other person outside for walks

I think she’s mixing things up anyway. She can have a childcare bubble (where the child is the only person mixing) and a support bubble (where the households essentially merge). You can only have one of each type of bubble. So your DM shouldn’t be looking after someone else’s children. But other than that she’s allowed to do anything that anyone is allowed to. Your sister can of course ask her to do whatever, it’s up to your mum whether that’s acceptable to her.

@PTW1234

She can’t follow another bubble, but can see another person outside for exercise

yes, that's how I understood it - DSIS has asked if I am ok with it because that means DM then can't be my childcare bubble (I am WFH with homeschooling DS - DH at work as normal) But I thought it was unreasonable to expect her to have zero interaction with anybody else, when she only wants DM to provide childcare a few hours a week.

Is she asking her to be a childcare bubble (in which case DS and your Mum can't socialise together) or a support bubble (in which case they can).
Either way your DM can still meet 1 other person at a time for a socially distanced walk.

@WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo

Is she asking her to be a childcare bubble (in which case DS and your Mum can't socialise together) or a support bubble (in which case they can). Either way your DM can still meet 1 other person at a time for a socially distanced walk.

She's using the term Childcare bubble but what she actually wants from this is for DM to come to her house one day a week for eg. and look after the baby so she can get on with other household bits/have a bit of time to herself (Which I feel is perfectly reasonable) but is this more of a support bubble do you think?

Actually I thought the childcare bubble was seperate and additional to support bubbles?
So she could be your childcare bubble bit she could be your sister's support bubble as long as you sisters/ kids don't overlap

I guess if they don't mix whilst DM is in DSs house then it's technically still a childcare bubble.
But I think what @SleepingStandingUp suggests would be the most sensible solution. They can be a support bubble for each other and DM can still provide childcare while you work.
That's pretty much what we've done. My mum is my support bubble (I'm a single parent). She also looks after my nieces occasionally to give my DB and SIL a break.

You can have a support bubble and then a separate childcare bubble comprising of different people to the support bubble. I don’t think it matters what she calls it really! Your DM can be in a childcare bubble with your Dsis and a support bubble with you for instance. Totally unreasonable and mean for her to ask your DM not to go for walks with others though! I’m in both types of bubbles and still walk with other people.

Mom isn't actually single, so officially it's a new baby bubble with DSis as none of th are single. Then childcare bubble. The names don't matter except to show it's permissable.

However if DSis doesn't want your Mom to leave the house on the off chance she'll bring the baby round, presumably she'd moan about her seeing you too

Op I'd go with ""Hey DSis, great news. Turns out you can have a support bubble with Mom because the baby is so young, and it doesn't impact my childcare bubble with her. So we can both see her, but not at the same time. Fantastic hey?""

Thanks for the replies.
I think DSIS is confused anyway - she thinks you can only be in one kind of bubble full stop. I've explained for arguments sake that like many of you have said, in theory DM could form a support bubble with me then a separate childcare bubble with her for example, or vice versa. (Not that I want to do that) But she absolutely wouldn't be ok with that as it's too many people and households crossing over, even if not all at the same time.

I have told DSIS that while I am fine if she has DM in her bubble, I do think she is BU to ask her to not see anyone else.

That's not v fair on your DM tho who is essentially being told to choose which child and grandchildren she's allowed to see for the next 3+? months, let alone not being allowed out the house unless your sister decides she wants a visit.

Also it’s your DM who is the vulnerable one in this whole situation - unless your sister or her family have a particular vulnerability - so it’s really her decision who she exposes herself to.