How would it work working these hours with a 9 month old?

[Em1503]

Hi, I'm a teacher and looking at options instead of going back to teaching when my maternity leave ends. My DD is 9 months old and I have been offered a private tutoring job whereby I would be working from 3pm onwards maybe 3 evenings a week. I would be tutoring for up to 3 hours so would be finishing around 6.30. It seems like the perfect solution to me as I can be at home with DD for most of the day and the money would work out quite good too. It would mean sorting some sort of childcare for whilst I'm working though. Would a child minder be the best option for the hours i'd need?Also would working until that time then picking DD up afterwards affect her dinner and bedtime routine too much or would we just adapt?

Sorry, it seems like the perfect solution to me but I just want to consider the practicalities before taking it up!

Sounds like a childminder would work for you, although many don't work beyond 6/6.30, which might be an issue for you if you have to travel back to the childminder from somewhere else. The childminder would feed your dd dinner so all you would need to do is the bedtime routine when you get home. Not sure how long that takes you or what time your dd would get to bed but it's probably quite possible for her to be a bit later in bed three times a week.

Another alternative would be possibly a nanny in your own home? The hours you are looking for are those worked by after-school nannies.

Some childminders are very flexible, others not so much, ask around.

I think you are going to struggle to find a CM to do it unless they are really quiet round your way. Under 1 places are hard to find as CMs can only take one under-1. So they would rather give that place to someone who is going to pay for 8-6 or 7.30-6.30 all week rather than a total of 9 hours.

If you can find someone to do it, don't worry about routines etc, CM will give her dinner, you put to bed fairly quickly after you've picked up, babies are really adaptable at that age.

Do you have a DP and could he/she ask for flexible working on those days or do 3 short days and 2 long days?

Some childminders can look after more than 1 under 1, mine can as she had twins before. Or you might find the under 1 only goes certain days so it's not a problem.