childcare question

[peachyfox]

Hello, hope this is the right forum..

I'm 24 weeks pregnant with our first baby. I have a question about childcare and wonder if anyone has any bright ideas about what would suit us.

I am 100% freelance, my work comes in two parts: days booked on assignments, (i.e. I go there and will know my hours) and work from home, on my own computer, as and when the phone rings, so I might have nothing all day, or I might start work at 5pm and work late, etc.

DP works from home all the time but we don't really want him to look after the baby during the day because he has to earn our money.

Obviously, lots of things will change when the baby comes, and something may have to give, probably inc working in the evenings, but I was wondering, do you always have to book regular times at nurseries, or are there 'drop in' nurseries that are more flexible and might suit us? Basically, I will have to go back to work, but I don't want to pay for childcare on a day when no work comes in, in which case I would obviously choose to spend time with baby

Hi - I work freelance, but have DS booked in x2 days a week with a childminder. She is great also if I need cover on extra days and she has a space, I just pay her as and when, but I don't think all CMs do this.

Most CMs will want regular days / hours. Nurseries will be even less flexible really.

Do you have any family members who could look after your LO occasionally? Or could you work your hours around your LO, so you could work evenings / weekends, when your dp is able to look after him/her?

It is difficult. I've just had three weeks of working all day, every weekend and every evening. Now my projects have finished so have DS in childcare 2 days next week without any work. There's no easy solution.

There is a freelancers / SE forum here (under work), it may be worth posting there too.

Good luck

Thanks likessleep, interesting that you're in the same situation. I'll check out that freelancers forum,

Hi Peachy

I'm a shift worker, so not the same situation obviously, but has similar problems. We use a nursery, but it does sometimes take some juggling, and I do end up paying for far more hours than I actually use because I need the flexibility (I collect DS early afternoon after an early or a night shift, drop him off before lunch for a late shift and keep him home entirely if I'm on a day off)

A Nursery will generally require set days/hours to set, however should be flexible about drop off & collection times within the nursery day. Many nurseries will also offer "extra sessions" whereby if you need childcare on a day that your child is not booked in, you can pay for a one-off additional session, often at a slightly reduced rate, providing they have a space (keeping to child:carer ratios).

Hope you can find what you need - I've discovered it's near on impossible to find the perfect (and most cost-effective) solution if you work irregular hours/days, but it is possible to find a reasonable compromise.

Thanks MrsK, it's tricky being freelance isn't it. I comfort myself that like you, I'll have extra days off to spend with my baby...

Try posting on 'Childcare & Work' section under 'Freelance/Self employed' Good luck