Can I hire someone to look after my child when ill?

[AmberHollow]

I’m probably being really silly but we’re just coming out the other end of a really nasty virus that my poor toddler has been suffering with. So pretty tired and frazzled! We are wondering if there’s such a think as an ad hoc nanny, basically.

My husband is a small business owner so it’s not easy for him to take time off at short notice. I’m a manager in the corporate world for a big org that has decent policies, but in reality it’s an incredibly busy time and I have a very heavy workload and will be letting lots of people down with unplanned absences.

We have limited family support and all of my friends work.

Am I missing out on some amazing trove of childcare for those days when they’re too unwell to go to nursery but missing work is not an option? Or will cause major issues?

Also I just realised the title is a bit click bait ish, sorry. Obviously if really unwell I wouldn’t ever want to be absent or bring someone else in. I’m talking more about colds that are just that bit too tough to send her to nursery, but she’s largely fine to play and potter at home

There are probably Nanny agencies who would do adhoc care. It would probably be quite expensive.

You’d have to pay for a nanny or babysitter but it would cost you a small fortune.

When I worked in a nursery (part time- was a student) I use to help out a family who were doctors so not easy to take time off when their children were ill. They did pay me very well!! Anyone similar you could ask?

You can hire short term nannies via agencies, often on very short notice, but I think the last time I did it cost about £400 for the day (I was in a and e, husband abroad, no family support and had just moved to a new city so no choice!).

Now we have some local babysitters, use them often enough that the kids know them, and then hope that if we need urgent help one of them can manage it.

Thank you all for the suggestions, I’ll have a look at agencies. We dont even have a babysitter yet as she hasn’t been old enough (and we never go out ) so I think we have some work to do to research local options.

So…does everyone just take time off work?

Yep - take time off, work from home, juggle between the parents all day long. There’s no easy solution.

No seems that way! My mother can’t understand why I can’t “just” ask a mum friend to help like hers did when I was small…but they all work. I don’t think the village is a thing anymore

Where do you live amber?

Oh scrap that you probably shouldn’t be getting randoms off of the internet!

This is one of the main reasons we forked out a huge amount to have a FT nanny instead of nursery - we didn’t have jobs where realistically we could keep taking time off every time DC couldn’t go to nursery.

Look at the “Back Up Care” app by Bright Horizons. Your employer must be signed up to the scheme but it provides emergency childcare. I’m not sure if Bright Horizons offers another scheme you can use personally not through an employer.
Maybe you can ask your HR department if it’s a benefit they’re willing to offer?

Yes there are emergency nannies - example here https://littleoneslondon.co.uk/nannies/temporary/emergency-nanny

If you’ve never had a babysitter to have an evening out, even though she’d be healthy and asleep in bed then would you really honestly want you to leave with a random caregiver she doesn’t know when she’s unwell??

If mine have a cold they go in. If it’s a fever or stomach bug then we take turns taking time off/working from home and just muddle through as best we can.

This is one of the many reasons why we chose a nanny rather than nursery. Nannies will look after your child even when ill.

Bear in mind a poorly toddler may not take too kindly to being left with someone they’ve never met before.

Have a look at childcare.co.uk

i used to offer this service if I wasn’t already working before I had my own children

We have a nanny, full time. She has been wonderful when DS has been sick. Although I have to say, your toddler won't be very happy suddenly being cared for by someone he doesn't know when he is poorly! I don't think ad hoc works well in this scenario.

You can get nannies/babysitters off the Bubble app too.

When I worked for a large firm they offered up to five days of free emergency childcare (or elder care). Yes, they paid through the nose but it meant that I went to work in the middle of our busiest time of year when the childminder was sick (and earned the firm far more than they spent!).

Ask your HR if they’d consider it? Otherwise we had a childminder who only had ours and one other family so would take them when ill. Amazing, amazing lady (DS2 still does wrap around with her 12 years after she first had DS1). Even took them with chickenpox as the other family’s DC had had it!

Where do you live? The Bubble app does on the day nannies and babysitters in London

Does your mum think that if a friend of yours had a sick toddler and asked you to look after them on a workday, you'd be free to do that?

Depending on the level of sick it's even pushing it asking local grandparents etc to help out - with the best will in the world not many people want to get the guaranteed sharing of D&V or a bad cold that comes from close contact with a sick toddler.

Avoid little ones !

yes there are temp /ad hoc Nannie’s. I was one for a few years

cost would be anything £15/25ph plus agency fee of maybe £25/30 a day

tho a sick toddler /child is likely to want their mum and not a stranger

This is partly why we opted for a small, childminder with a "home from home" set up instead of a "larger" nursery chain. She would take him (and give calpol etc) when he just wanted to feel sorry for himself on the sofa with cuddles as he had a cold, as she knew we both had careers and no local family to help out. She was essentially like our local grandma (and was actually one herself) except we paid her, and we go to visit her when we are back in the area. When he was/is too ill for that (which wasnt often, fortunately) then yes, we just managed depending on who had the most "important day" that day. Fortunately both of us worked for very understanding teams/employers, who were willing to move things around where possible as we did when the shoe was on the other foot.

What do others in your team/work place do? Presumably you aren't the only person with a child/caring responsibilities in your organisation?

And yes, I would not be employing the services of a stranger for the first time if your toddler is also ill and not used to being without you/dad/known nursery staff.

Massively echo this, it was a lifesaver when DS was younger.

It may be area dependent but basically my employer subsidised emergency childcare and I only had to pay £15 per day. I could use up to 10 days a year and could choose between day nurseries (great for last minute random ‘training days’ DSs normal nursery held!), in home childcare where they’d send you a nanny for the full day, or even Bright Horizon registered holiday camps.

Thanks all, and agree I wouldn’t be looking to bring a stranger in if she’s unwell. I was thinking more along the lines of finding someone flexible that we could bring in to do some pre-booked childcare so my daughter gets to know them, then book ad hoc or at short notice. I just wasn’t sure what type of person that would be or what others do - sounds like a mix of babysitter, child minder or FT nanny with lots of us just juggling as best we can!

Bright Horizons looks great, I’ll look into that.