[olikat03]

Both my husband and I leave home at 6am to go to work. I have been relying on my mother to look after our 10 year old daughter while we work. But my mum has a life and she cant do this full time. I really need to get some advice on what options i have.

As we leave the house early, before school care is not an option because they don't open until 7am. Family daycare providers in our area don't start this early either. I have been looking at dial and angel but not sure about these places as i read they require a minimum of 3 hours or something like that. I really only need someone from 6am til 8.30am until she goes to school. And i am home in time to pick her up from school.

If we went through an agency would we be entitled to a rebate. And if there are no options for care because there is nothing available what else is there that we could do. The only other options is for me to quit work and then we would be worse off.

I cant believe it is so hard to find something. I can drop her off at her friends house and she will get a lift to school but that means I have to drive 15 min in the opposite direction from work. And then i worry about her friends mother getting annoyed at having to have an extra kid every day and then decided she no longer wants to do it.

Can any one suggest other options I'm not thinking of.

Edited because it keep adding the reply before i was ready to post it LOL

This post has been edited by olikat03: 20/01/2013, 03:50 PM

[OneMore?]

Our BSC starts 6.30am - does your school have that option ?

Other option is to hire a uni student or a retired person (or even another mother) and hire them from 6 - 8.30 (or whatever). Or a mix of your Mum, BSC, someone else ?

We use a uni student for ASC, she picks everyone up in the afternoon, does homework, afternoon tea and has kids in PJ's when I get home.

[mummy~2~two]

Try advertising on Gumtree. There are often before and after school jobs listed on that.
Otherwise try Find a babysitter but you do have to pay for that, though it would be much cheaper than Dial an Angel.

[mumto3princesses]

Other option is to hire a uni student or a retired person (or even another mother) and hire them from 6 - 8.30 (or whatever). Or a mix of your Mum, BSC, someone else ?

This. Offer to pay another mum or a neighbour or something? Or is there a neighbour with a High School student who goes past her school who can walk her to school on the way to their school?

[liveworkplay]

Since you leave at 6am you would want someone at 545am. 545am to 830am is nearly 3 hours anyway.

Tough situation. Looks like your only options are: change jobs/hours, rely on friends or pay for care.

[Aribika]

If there is no care available for the hours you need you should be eligible for in-home care and the relevant government benefits. (CCB and CCR) This is assuming that there is an in-home care scheme and an interested care provider in your area. Contact the Family Day care scheme in your area or the local council and see if they can give you any info.

Lorraine

[SeaPrincess]

If there is no other alternative, you may be eligible for in-home care with CCB/CCR entitlement. You would have to go through an approved provider, same as for daycare/OSHC. Contact the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305 to find out, and they will also be able to give you contact details of an approved provider.

There is a daycare centre local to us that provides 24-hour care. DD used to go there, but I'm not sure how they do it - I suspect that they are approved for in-home care outside of their normal operating hours (6am-6pm).

Another option, if you've got space for it, is an au pair. There are several families at our school with au pairs.

[AIR]

Hi I am in the similar situation , except I am a single parent, 1 st of my children goes to bsc. but my 2nd child isn't allowed to attended because her disabilities. I currently have a family daycare lady which we start with after next. But if things don't work out (3 rd daycare lady ) i need to find other arrangements.

I looked into in home care but you only get$5 something for ccb then you still have to pay the gap which is usually at least $20 an hr. so fairly $$ . Not working isn't an option for me.
I wish you luck

This post has been edited by AIR: 20/01/2013, 05:42 PM

[olikat03]

Thanks everyone for the replies, so much info for us to think about

I have found a couple of people through find a babysitter and gumtree. im thinking of putting my own ad on gumtree to see if someone would like to share childcare. I am willing to help out in the afternoons if someone else could do the same for me in the morning. Might not have to exchange money then for care.

Thanks Seaprincess for that number to call. I will ring and see what i can find out

[niggles]

Thanks everyone for the replies, so much info for us to think about

I have found a couple of people through find a babysitter and gumtree. im thinking of putting my own ad on gumtree to see if someone would like to share childcare. I am willing to help out in the afternoons if someone else could do the same for me in the morning. Might not have to exchange money then for care.

Thanks Seaprincess for that number to call. I will ring and see what i can find out

This is really worthwhile advertising within your school. There is a good chance there will be a family that needs after school care that could help you with before. Win-win.