I'm going to go back to work. I'm a terrible mum. Can anyone explain how I organize a child minder/nursery and do I get any help towards the cost?

[michelleseashell]

Says it all in the title really!

I'm going to go back to work when my baby is nine months old. I'm clueless about help or who I should talk to about it.

I'm just a big old shitty mum. I don't know what to do with a baby.

Is nursery better or a child minder. What are the costs like?

Can anyone help me please?

Don't we get the vouchers after the end of a months work and after he's already started nursery?

Yes, that's my problem at the moment - getting my first tranche of childcare vouchers in my payslip tomorrow but DS has already been at nursery for four weeks and we've been paying week by week (in advance). Just paid for next week when we are actually going to be on holiday - now that hurts! The deposit was four weeks' fees too.

Your dh can start getting them earlier though I think if he's being paid st the moment? Congratulations on finding your nursery, what a relief!

Just out of interest, how old are you all? I ask as, when I had DD and DS now aged 12 and 10, I couldn't wait to go to work, felt exactly the same as you all discribe, spent all day looking forward to DH coming home then spent all night snapping at him. I went to work at 4 months and actually didn't end up any financially better off once tax credits were taken off, but loved it.

Fast forward to now and I am PG again with DC3 aged 36, I had kind of thought now I am older and more relaxed I would be more likely to enjoy being a SAHM. Am I kidding myself?

I was thirty last month :(

33

I'm 29. I actually wish I was younger. I remember ten years ago I could go to a party and say out until 4am, get about five hours sleep, eat pizza, smarten myself up a bit and then go out to another party and not come home until 6am. I just don't have the energy to be on the go all the time anymore.

My main problem is lack of sleep and to make things even worse I have to do every single night feed/random wakening for no easily discernible reason :o ) AND I'm an insomniac anyway! So you might be much better off than me.