Childcare worries!

[gemmap27]

I plan on returning to work after about 9mths of maternity leave. I might have to reduce my hours if they let me, or will have to return full time. My OH works shifts 6am-2pm and 2pm-10pm.
We did plan on my mum looking after the littleone for a few hours 3 days a week (when oh is at work) and then a nursery for the other 2 days, unfortunatley my mum has Emphysema (cronic lung disease) up until just recently she seemed quite well, but her health has taken a rapid downturn. She wont be able to look after the baby and I wouldnt let her if she offered, it would be too much for her.
How much can I expect to pay for childcare? I have a surestart centre near where I live but have no idea how much they will charge or anything!
We cant afford for me not to return to work...

 

[Nic'n'Keeley]

Would you not qualify(sp) for working tax credits?
Keeley goes to nursery and i pay £120 for three days a week

 

[DebbieM]

I honestly don't know about the childcare situation but just want to say sorry to hear that your Mum isn't well xxx

 

[Babylicious]

You can also get childcare vouchers through work (government incentive) that way you don't have to pay tax on what your childcare will cost.

We will have the same problem, paris goes to the afterschool club at the moment and thats over £200 a month

 

[andreag]

Our local Surestart is £30 per day for under 2's, for a full day (8am-6pm)including breakfat, lunch and tea), £14 for a morning 8am-12pm (inc breakfast), £16.50 for morning 8am-1pm (inc breakfast and lunch), £19 for an afternoon 12pm-6pm inc tea, £16.50 for an afternoon 1pm-6pm. I'm not sure about working tax credits, but there is a childcare element so that might cover some of the cost.

Hope this helps.
ANdrea

 

[littlepip]

i worked in a nursery for 2 years a year ago and for a full time child from 8am-6pm 5 days a week it was around £630 a month

 

[kellysomer]

Isla went to surestart near us for a while while i was training for my current job, they charged £22 a day from 9-5pm and the other local nurseries in the area charge around £700 a month full time including food and nappies. Hope this helps....

Is there any way that you could do what i do and work more hours in less days to save childcare costs? I work 30 hours which is 4 days work but i squeeze it into 3 days to save on the cost of the 4th days childcare. This means i dont loose wages, sure 10 hour days are hard but as i work from 11am - 9pm it means i see isla and spend time with her in the mornings and OH picks her up at 5pm and spends time with her in the evening, it means she is only in childcare for 18 hours a week out of the 30 i work. Also she is asleep at 7pm so doesnt have a clue that i dont get in until 9:45pm.

Just an idea i know how hard it is?

 

[muppetmummy]

It might be a good idea to start looking at nurserys before the baby arrives and find out how long the waiting list is, and how soon before hand you should put the babys name down.
James' nursery was about £25 a day but we got tax credits to help with the cost. It is very expensive, I think at one point I was only making £30 a week working 23 hours after the nursery was paid for.
It helps hugely when they get several free sessions a week when they're three.
Kelly made a good point about squashing as as many hours as you can into as few days as possible.
At the moment I'm working about 23 hours a week over Sun, Mon and Tue so I only have to pay for an afterschool club on Mon and Tue.

 

[gemmap27]

Thanks ladies!

I dont think I will be able to change the hours I work - I dont even think they will let me come back part time - just down to the nature of the job. I work in Export and Shipping. I think I may have to look at changing jobs

I thought we would have it easier with childcare as other half works shifts but its harder than I thought - trying to work out where littleone will be at what times is a nightmare. I am not going to get stressed about it though we will work something out!

My MIL doesnt work - but I didnt really want her to look after the baby - as she would want to have it at her house and she has a big black hairy german shepherd that I dont trust and malts all year! She has a 6mnth old grand daughter and all her blankets and toys are covered in hair! I really dont want this to be my only option! and in March she goes to stay at her caravan for the summer and spends most of her time there so it would only be temporary anyway. OCT - MAR then I would be stuck again.