Mums, dads.. People with young children. Looking for some advice

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Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Would it be easier to find a nursery/childminder where you work so you wouldn't have to drop your child off until later - 7.15 ish? Also you could collect your child possibly 45 minutes earlier when you finish work and before the drive home. That would save you up to 2 hours childcare every day but there's the disadvantage that your husband couldn't drop your child off at the nursery as it's an hour away from home.

There is one nearish to my work however doesn't open until 830

onlyroz

Remember that parents have the right to request a flexible working arrangement - have you asked if you could have a later start time? What's the reason for the 7:30 start?

theoretica

Could your OH put in a request for fixed days, and or later hours? Businesses need to consider all requests for flexible working, but can refuse if it doesn't work for the business.

Could a child minder do the very early hours, and drop off at nursery?

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onlyroz wrote: »

Remember that parents have the right to request a flexible working arrangement - have you asked if you could have a later start time? What's the reason for the 7:30 start?

I wasn't aware of this. Head office in Australia so early start to catch end of day there.

duchy

It isn't like school where the child will miss out on progression in learning if they skip days so most nurseries are quite happy if you pay for days but don't use them.

My first thought was as your husband starts later ( and leaves later) that a nursery near HIS workplace would make more sense.

The really good childminders aren't likely to have floating places available as their limited places will be in demand - however whereas in a nursery your child will have a variety of carers with a childminder just one but still gets social contact both with her other charges and when taken to toddler groups etc but still has a homely environment.As noted it's a long day for a child to be out and childminders tend to work more to the child's nap schedule whereas nurseries have to have more regimented nap times with all the children resting at the same time.

Up to the age of 2 I preferred the childminder option for my son - after that he benefited more from nursery.

Kynthia

Don't feel guilty as there's nothing wrong with wanting to work, or nor wanting to work. However I think this role might be too difficult if I'm honest. Trying to get ready and out in the morning to drop your child off at childcare and then get to work yourself is hard. To do it by 7.30 will be excruciating. What time will you need to wake them in the morning and what time will you need the childcare to start from as around here the earliest is 7.30am? A nanny would be good but even they might baulk at tgat start time and you've said you can't afford that plus I wouldn't want an au pair for a child that young (I'm assuming they aren't qualified in childcare but excuse me if I'm wrong).

I hope you find a solution or another great job oppotinity.

Person_one

onlyroz wrote: »

Remember that parents have the right to request a flexible working arrangement -

Everybody has the right to request flexible working, but only after 26 weeks in the job.

System

view wrote: »

Hi

I will start to investigate however wanted to put a question out there in the meantime.

We're parents to a 15 month child. OH works full time and, although every penny is watched extremely closely, the plan was for me to stay off as long as I could with our child. I am really enjoying being 'off work' looking after the wee one.

However, a fantastic role has come up with a great company and I'm really considering it. We could really do with the extra money as well as are trying to save for a deposit for a house/hoping to get some sort of a decent mortgage offer this year.

So starting to think about nursery/childcare. The issue is we have no family (nor friends off work or nearby) and OH works shifts. The company I'm considering has a start time of 0730 (so I would be out of house by 0630) and OH would need to get a train at 0730 also. His work days are 5 out of any 7 and he often doesn't have two days off together.

From an initial web search seems most nurseries (central Scotland) don't open until 0830 (or at earliest 0800) which makes it impossible for me to do a 'drop off' and OH's train is at 0730. OH doesn't drive (I do and we have a car).

Really stuck as to how to make it work? Also feeling so incredibly guilty at even considering nursery however our child does love to play with other children and I'm sure they would be very happy at a nursery.

So I guess my questions are
Do nurseries offer 'pickups' - hoping it's an experienced driver!

Do nurseries allow you to say pay for 4 days but then only take a child in on a random (paid for) day which would change every week? (As when OH had days during in the week our child wouldn't go to nursery as OH would like to spend the day with our child).

Do I have other options?

The new salary wouldn't allow for an au pair and I think we're both happier with the idea of a nursery vs an au pair anyway (no offence to lovely hard working au pairs out there).

I'm really unsure whether to take the role or not. At the moment it brings tears to the eyes thinking about being separated and I feel incredibly selfish and guilty :-/ :-(

On the other hand I think our child would love being around other children and grow and develop. OH and I were at nursery young and I have wonderful memories (I know you can't guarantee it). The extra salary would also be great to hopefully allow us to move into our own family home.

Just looking for advice from those who have experienced similar.

All comments appreciated

From a bit of a heartbroken mum.

You may also want to consider whether you are psychologically ready to take the step at this moment in time. Going from looking after your child at home all the time to leaving him/her with others from 6.30am onwards is a big change, for both of you.

Financially you would need to do a budget and work out the cost of reliable childcare versus take-home pay, including any tax credits or benefits you may gain or lose.

LilElvis

Have you asked whether your husband's employer, and your prospective employer, operate a childcare voucher scheme? This could save you quite a bit of money in paying for a nursery place or childminder.

heuchera

The employer might even have a creche, - that would help. I can't see it working otherwise.

I would personally never leave my child with a young aupair girl whose fluency in English is likely to be somewhat elementary. (The main reason they apply for jobs like that is that no previous experience is required and it helps them to learn the language/culture.) There's a reason they're cheaper than a qualified nanny!