No childcare on work day

[ssunflowers]

Any advice at all would be appreciated. Aside from my usual week days, I’ve been on a rota to work alternate Saturdays covering an office since going back to work after having my first DD. MIL has been our childcare for these Saturdays. She has now told my DP she won’t be having our daughter on these Saturdays anymore. She’s planning on moving 5 hours away this year, so I’ve known this has been coming but as I’m due on mat leave in September for DD2, I haven’t given too much thought to it.

I’ve told my bosses of my situation and that I have no childcare alternatives. They’ve simply said they don’t know what to suggest and said maybe I should look into a childminder on those Saturdays. I know alot of people that use childminders but I’m not comfortable with it seeing as she will only be there one day every other weekend. DD won’t be familiar with a childminder and isn’t the type of toddler than can be left with anyone as she gets very upset. Saturday is the only day of the week DP is required to work in the shop he works out of and he earns £350-£500 on a Saturday so there’s no way we’re losing that income.

Basically, what I’m asking is do I have any leg to stand on? What do i do!!

In that case I’d check the contract terms. If it says for example you will work x amount of hours Monday - Friday
or your working hours are 9-5 Monday - Friday or whatever then I think you don’t have to do the Saturday at all. And surely changing the terms of your hours and job whilst you’re on mat leave to arguably worse conditions that you can’t meet would be considered some Kindof discrimination. I am absolutely not a lawyer though

It’s your problem not that of your employer.
This is what the rest of us do, sort our own childcare.

Ask at your usual childcare provider if anyone would like some babysitting work at the weekend? TAs at your local primary school might be interested if you know anyone who knows any of them?

Another option might be your local secondary school. We have fab sixth formers studying child development who would be great and would jump at the chance of gaining the work experience.