My husband started travelling for work after a long time home working due to covid. He did a week in the states a few weeks ago and I was left parenting solo for a whole week, and when he came back he was quite jetlagged so I still did a lot on my own. Timing was pretty bad as it was Easter and our regular activities were not happening so it was a struggle to keep baby entertained for a week with no help. We don't have family or many acquaintances in the area so it really is just the two of us.
It made me realise that we need to find a trusted carer (or several of them in case they can't fit us in) for our ten month old baby. However I'm struggling as it wouldn't be someone we'd need all the time / on the same days every week for example. I'd like them to come some days of the week regularly but I'd need more of a hand / presence when my husband is abroad or when we are sick and need a helping hand for example. How would I find this sort of childcare in the first place?
Secondly it makes me worried to leave such a young baby with someone I never met! I'm sure this has been the struggle of most mums when hiring childcare but how did you appease your anxiety over this? (For context I even selected a nursery rather than a child minder for him for when I return to work as I wanted him to be somewhere where there would be many adults not just the one). Any tips on overcoming the anxiety of leaving him with a babysitter when he's so young and wouldn't be able to tell me if something is wrong?
I've even thought about installing cameras at home! Lol 😂