Working and picking up the baby by 18.00

[needahand]

I work full time and the baby goes to nursery until 18.00. Pb is since I've had her I have found it near impossible finding a permanent job (was sacked when pregant). Even contract jobs are difficult to get. And when you do you are face with the problem of picking up the baby by 18.00 pm. When I work (in London) the commute is so bad I sometimes need to leave work at 16.45 2.5 days a week (my hubby pickes baby up the other 2.5 days). When I leave early I start work 45 mn earlier and work later on the no pick up nights. However for most employers this is not acceptable (even though they are not losing out). Any suggestion? Any mums in the same situation?

[taylormama]

hi - i am soon to return to work (altho' being made redundant/sacked altho' that is another story). I am dreading finding a new job as i commute into the city and my DS's nursery shuts at 6.00 pm ... not sure what to say other than i am in the same boat. Some more enlightened employers may not have an issue with this - with my current employers i had always worked 8 - 4 so was hoping to carry on with this ...

[blueshoes]

needahand, in my office, I know of one mum who negotiated her official hours to be from 0830 to 1630 ie shift them earlier. hopefully there are employers out there who can accept that.

[TeeCee]

I re-worked my hours so I could get eldest dropped at school, then youngest dropped at childminders and same again at home time. Latest I get to childminder now is 6pm, same as the other parents. However I dodn't have to rely on gettign a tube and work locally to where I live so jump in the car and get everyone picked up in an hour after finishing work.

[needahand]

I suppose you are right there must be some employers who are not so shortsighted (although haven't find them yet). I suppose in my line of work (law) it is more difficult as they consider that once you have children, you should stay at home.
Have any of you considered hiring someone to pick up the baby until you get home for 30mn to an hour? Is this feasible?

[LoveMyGirls]

would getting a childminder be an option? some work a bit later than nurseries. and some are cheaper too.

[TeeCee]

Would your childminder not do an extra hour rather than have to hire a seperate person to have to pick your child up and take them home for you. Can't think of anyone that would want half an hours work a day at about 6pm each day.

I think you need to speak to you employer and your childminder and all work soemthing out together.

[cece]

Why not use a childminder - they can be more flexible with their hours?

[GoingQuietlyMad]

Childminders are usually more flexible on hours than nurseries. As a parent of a child under 6 you have the right to ask for flexible working in order to meet your childcare commitments, I think. And although this always goes down like a lead balloon, it is one option.

I would try to finish earlier if poss, because otherwise it is very difficult to cope with a late homecoming time and a baby.

[needahand]

Hi Ladies

I thought I would give you a bit of an update. I didn't want to go to childminder because DD has been well settled in her nursery after she changed twice (so I thought she had had enough change) anyway advice was really appreciated and gave me food for thoughts. Turns out that I have been offered a new job and negotiated as suggested to be able to leave earlier some days in the week. And they said yes! I am really chuffed and hope it will work out fine!

Thanks again for all the advice though

[needahand]

Hi Ladies

I thought I would give you a bit of an update. I didn't want to go to childminder because DD has been well settled in her nursery after she changed twice (so I thought she had had enough change) anyway advice was really appreciated and gave me food for thoughts. Turns out that I have been offered a new job and negotiated as suggested to be able to leave earlier some days in the week. And they said yes! I am really chuffed and hope it will work out fine!

Thanks again for all the advice though

[TeeCee]

That's great news

[blueshoes]

That's great. Well done.

[GoingQuietlyMad]

Really glad that it has worked out so well. Sounds perfect.

[prufrock]

Well done.
Another option that I used to use was to employ one of the girls from nursery to take dd back to my house when they finished their shift (which was usually 5.30 or 6. It meant dd got care from somebody she already knew and the girls were happy to get paid for just an extra hour.