Working mum needs help!

[Undiscovered]

Again I turn to the lovely EDF.

So..... I'm back at work after girl no 2 (currently 14 months and other is 3 next month). They're in a 8am-6pm nursery at the moment, but am moving to term time only in September for both. The wrap around care is good but only 8am-430pm.

I work 4 days but am hopefully about to get a promotion which, I believe, will be full time.

I need help...

My ideal would be a housekeeper/nanny. I don't have enough hours for a nanny alone (except in holidays) as they both have nursery, but I could still find enough for someone to do - shopping / cleaning / house management. Does anyone have this set up? If not I think there's a real gap in The market!!

As always - thank you!

[Saffron]

Do you have the space for an au pair? Otherwise maybe a nanny share, plus cleaner?

[Undiscovered]

It's something we've considered, we kind of could have space. However my babies are 1 and 2 which I think is too young for an au pair (I was told there was an under 3 rule - may be completely misinformed!!) thanks hun

[Saffron]

Suggested British guidelines are that an au pair not have continuous sole charge of children under 2 yrs. So, it might depend on how many hrs you'd need out of term time. Mother's helper/nanny with own child might be another option, particularly if you want someone to run errands/shopping. xx

[Monkey]

We had this set up when we were at Ducks. We looked for someone twice and each time had just one applicant who luckily turned out to be great. Because you're not offering many hours, applicants tend to be people who have another job, making it complicated during the holidays. It will be around ?10 an hour, which again makes it very expensive during the holidays.

It could be that your nursery allows staff to work for parents - that would be your best bet.

[Fuschia]

The restriction re au pairs isn't fixed legally ...any au pair you recruit will be working here as an EU citizen, there is no specific au pair visa. I now have au pairs (2!) and lots of their au pair friends are looking after quite small children, often for long hours.

I would think you could easily find an au pair to do that wrap around and some general household stuff as being an AP in ED would be quite attractive. Holidays are likely to be the issue though.(there are childminders who have holiday spaces because they care for the children of teachers, but it would be hard to find space for 2

Could you negotiate to work time only, yourself? Or at least, extra holiday?

Could you afford and accommodate two au pairs? Looking after small children when you are not a qualified child care

worker is much easier if not alone

If you look for au pair/s I would recommend advertising for one who has already completed a year here, person will then be a) used to London b) good English c) used to the job d) a bit older e) you can meet them and get a reference in person from previous family

That's how it worked out for us, we have 4 children, the youngest was 2 when the au pairs started and in nursery only from 9-11.30

It's worked very well and in the holidays they have all 4 children 2-3 days Pw

[Undiscovered]

Thank you all, really helpful. We ideally don't want to go down the au pair route (yet) simply cos while we could accommodate, it would be a bit of a squeeze! I think a loft conversion is needed before that!

Monkey - my youngest is going to DUCKS and my elder DPL. It's nice to know I am not the only one who's been through this (although sometimes it feels like it!).

Fushia - negotiating with work will be tricky. I am hoping to be able to pick up one day a week (and drop off all days) but other than that I don't think I'll get much more.

Fun fun fun....! X