What to do!!!!

[SteakChips]

Myself and hubby work full time, I was luckily enough to get a role where I can work two days a week from home.
Work have told me as my projects have come to an end, I'm no longer can work from home. My 19months goes to his Nan (in law) for the three days I'm in work. She already said she likes her two days off from her grandson and gives her a break as she isn't as young anymore. Physical I don't know how we can afford childcare or nursery fees, then if I put him nursery have the battle who will pick him up. We are already struggling with cost of living and also trying to move as a family of 5 in a cramped small 2 bed flat. I'm not in title to benefits (to help) as our wages go over the threshold.

I really don't know what to do? How do you all do it? Sadly my patents don't drive and in there mid 70's and my son isn't the easiest child to look after.

Would nursery not have him until you’re finished work? Usually their hours are enough to allow parents to leave work at a normal time.

Im afraid you’ll have to look for affordable options and although I sympathise, this needed to be thought out.

My employer is very much aware and HR as well. It looks like I will be going part time, I don't want to compress my hours as I won't see my son. Part time is the way I think.

We put our DC in nursery all the days I work. That’s just how it is, you cannot expect to do a job and look after your child at the same time. Your work are perfectly within their rights to make you work in the office if needed and you should have childcare in place for this.

Honestly you need to pay for childcare like everyone else does. I'm suprised your work has allowed working from home with a toddler for this long. It's expensive and it's shit but it's what working parents do. Either than or you and your husband both go down to 4 days so you only have 3 days to cover, which your mum is doing already.

Regarding collecting him...what time do you finish work? A lot of nurseries stay open until 6:30pm. You could choose a nursery near your work to make it easier to collect him aswell.

You get 30 free hours in 7 months time. Just stay afloat until then.

Her child is 19 months, you don't get 30 free hours until they're 3, so it's about a year and a half away.

Childminders tend to be a little cheaper than nurseries and you can still use the tax free account to pay them.

DH and I both WFH full time but we still paid for DS1 to attend nursery/preschool and have DS2 booked in for when mat leave finishes in June. Surely it’s impossible to wfh productively with a child around?

When will your child’s funded hours start? Some children can have them from 2 but I don’t know the eligibility criteria as we weren’t eligible. Tax free childcare will save you 20%.

With my first DS, my wages were pretty much cancelled out by childcare fees at first. However it meant I had no gap on my CV, continued pension contributions and was luckily able to secure a promotion. Then the funded hours kicked in. I did the drop offs/pick ups with my oldest as DH couldn’t but now I will be doing drop offs and DH pick ups.

Oh and I went to 4 days, this time DH is compressing his hours so DS2 will also go to nursery 4 days.

Op may qualify for FEET funding which is from aged two.

I'm confused at why you didn't foresee this as a problem?
Surely when you were thinking about / working out the logistics of being pregnant, you factored in needing to pay for childcare?

I'm currently pregnant with DC2, who was a very lovely surprise - but I spent a long time thinking about the affordability of 2 in nursery...

@pinkunicorns54 we did, at the time my mother in law was having him full time. Few months went by and a new job in the company came. Our son started to develop some needs which he is finally seeing someone about (1st appointment next week) then he started becoming poorly, every 4-6 week and started fitting which he tends to have stays in hospitals. This is also being addressed. Also my in law has her own issues, then she said she can't have him full time, and the new job allowed me to wfh two days a week L. Sadly, that isn't happening any more and my in law won't take him full time again. It's more likely I'll be going part time.

You will spend all your income on nursery until you get the 30 free hours the term after they turn 3. The point of it is to retain your income level/seniority and future employability.
Yes it sucks. We're all doing it.

I don't know anyone who works from home with a child that age to look after too. So I think you've been very lucky up to now. People do it by paying for nursery care, most people for each day they work , I know it's very expensive but you should get the free hours when he turns three which will help?

Unlikely if both parents are working and not eligible for benefits.

But might be if child has additional needs

If your child has a disability you could claim DLA for them, Carers Allowance for you and that would qualify them for 30+ hours earlier.