last minute, ad hoc childcare???

[samigirl]

Hi I'm just wondering if anyone can help me on this matter. I am a freelance personal chef and am just returning to work after 9 months off to have my baby. Basically, my clients call me for dinner parties, photoshoots, business lunches etc etc and sometimes with not very much notice........i have no idea how to sort childcare out as i have no set hours, no set days and most of the time will need childcare without much notice. Can anyone advise me or have found a solution to this, if they are in the same boat as me? I am only going to do part time and my partner will look after our daughter evenings and weekends.

Let me know your thoughts

sam

[Belle]

My midwife found a childminder who would do 'on-calls' - so similar to what you need (tho not sure if she had to pay some kind of retention fee) - from the list of childminders which you can get from Southwark Council. i've not personally used it but know others on the forum have found their childminders that way.

[samigirl]

Thanks, I am looking at lewisham council's list as i am in honour oak park - i will see if any of them do 'on- calls' Thanks Belle

[cactus]

The babysitting agency, Sitters, can sometimes offer daytime childcare.

You register and pay a quarterly fee, approx ?15 I think, then you pay an hourly rate on the day,

usually around ?6/?7. Worth a try.

[choc]

i have similiar working patterns and have found a friend who will do our childcare for 6/7 pound per hour. (depending how long short he stays). we are both very happy with this.

[EmilyE]

I have similarly random working patterns and found a couple of different student-types to do hours for me as and when. Through the forum actually. One absolutely fantastic one, but has since moved away. Between them and friends and family we get through. I investigated childminders and couldn't find anything suitable, though I do have 2 children. Maybe it's easier with one.