Talk to me about chldcare

[EnjoyItAll]

I’m just over 12 weeks pregnant but have been thinking a lot about childcare when I return to work after maternity leave. DH works shifts on a 5 week rota basis and I work mon - fri 9-5. I assume I will need to get childcare mon-fri as DHs days off vary week to week. We will have very limited grandparent help as they work. My worry is the child will be in childcare 9 or 10 hours a day which seems a lot! I don’t think we can afford for me to reduce my hours either which is really frustrating as 4 days a week seem better than 5! So how many hours do your children go to childcare? Is there a flexible childcare option for shift workers and has full time childcare had a negative impact on your child?

DD has been at nursery full time since I went back to work when she was 15 months. Most days she does 7.45am-5pm except on the 2 days a week when she has yoga and music then we pick her up at 5.15pm. She loves it so much she usually tries to hide in the dressing up box at pick up! So definitely no negative impact for us.

We started at 4 days a week 9-5 and had to increase to 5 days a week when DD was 18 months. I find it hard but DDs development flourished at that childminder and out born feels as strong as when I was at home all the time. For me the the important part is making sure that the time I do spend with her is quality time.

Our bond I mean

Dd was full time at nursery from 9 months, she settled in really well and loved her nursery. She started school in September and still talks about her nursery friends and carers.

Brace yourself for the financial cost though. We are in the midlands and used a community cooperative not for profit nursery and it was £43.00 a day, they didnt charge for the week they closed over xmas but did for bank holidays and any absence our side. It came to £913 a month and thats relatively cheap, lots of nurseries charge between £60-80 a day.

It depends how much you earn - you might be better off or the same by doing 4 days a week. Nursery is about £55 a day where I am so it depends what the difference in earnings is for you between 4 and 5 days when you take tax, national insurance, student loan, etc. into account - the Salary Calculator is a good website and you can do a pro rata calculation.

Thank you. Nurseries here are 50+ per day. Thank you for suggesting the salary calculator I did a rough estimate and it works out about 300 worse per month once tax etc is taken into account so with petrol and nursery it might not be as bad as I thought to go to 4 days. Definatly something to consider. It’s great to hear if hasn’t effected bonds and children flourish there I’m just finding it all a bit daunting having my baby handed to a stranger for so many hours a week

I care for children 50 hours a week. They have a fabulous time here with their friends, but are always excited when their parents arrive.

Thank you @SMaCM it’s good to hear about experiences from both sides

I’m now really considering dropping down to 4 days a week is possible so I get more time with the baby. Its frustrating dh can have quite a few week days off but we would need to pay for childcare as it changes week to week but hearing how childcare helps children maybe it’s a good thing to keep routine

I know that this wasn't your question but a bit of advise. I'm currently sorting out childcare for my DS from September (he will be one just after starting). I strongly recommend looking into both nurseries and childminders. I was adamant that nursery was the way I wanted to go. I looked at 6 and was only happy with 1. Unfortunately after tax free childcare I'd still have to pay £1100 a month😱. As a single parent on a good salary I still couldn't justify it. So I reluctantly started looking at childminders. I found an amazing one who is happy to do term time only and different times for each day. She works out at about £450 cheaper a month. She has a very similar set up to a nursery and an outstanding Ofsted but only five children at a time. I'm really pleased that I eventually considered this option and would strongly recommend to anyone to consider both. I did look at another childminder who I would never recommend and if she was the only option then nursery would have won instead.

You might be able to find a childminder who will be flexible with shifts?

I have looked at child minders as well. I’m hoping to find one that can accommodate dh shifts but we’re pretty much resigned to that fact that will be unlikely

There are some shift work nurseries, near us the brands are called BusyBees and Tops, so there may be some near you too, however they do tend to be more expensive than your average nursery, if you are able to reduce your hours or even work the same hours but over 4 days I do think having a week day off with a baby is lovely...its such precious time that you can't get back...but obviously it has to be financially possible. All the best with your pregnancy and little one