Ideas for flexible childcare?

[sparrowheart]

Hi All,

I currently work at home about 15 hours a week, but DS has an unpredictable nap schedule lately and I am really struggling to get enough work done during the day and by bedtime I am mentally exhausted.

So I am seeking suggestions for flexible part time childcare. I was using a nanny I like a lot, but my hours are inconsistent and not enough to support her so she took a full time job and cannot provide me with enough hours. My DS is pretty picky so I do not want a rotating series of sitters. I live in the Seattle area and have been looking for a combined workspace/childcare option as they have in San Francisco - but have not found anything here locally.

I would love any suggestions, ideas for how to get some support in this area.

Thanks!

[Peony]

I mostly work at home, with about one meeting a week that I have to attend. I have had great success with a local college student, she has a flexible enough schedule that it has been working out great since last summer. I know her class schedule and can schedule my things around it, we are the only family that she works for. She is graduating this spring and I do need to start the process of finding another child development major to replace her. I am hoping to start using a local homeschooled teen to come and hang out with kids while I am in the house because I am attempting to study for an exam this summer and I am struggling to fit it with everything else. While I love our regular sitter, I really can't pay the price of a sitter "just" to study, so I think it might work out well for those needs.

[Jael]

Worth a try!

Not sure if this would work because you may run into rotating sitters, but have you considered a babysitting co-op? Perhaps if you did it with just one or two other work at home moms, it wouldn't upset your son.

My best to you!

Originally Posted by sparrowheart

Hi All,

I currently work at home about 15 hours a week, but DS has an unpredictable nap schedule lately and I am really struggling to get enough work done during the day and by bedtime I am mentally exhausted.

So I am seeking suggestions for flexible part time childcare. I was using a nanny I like a lot, but my hours are inconsistent and not enough to support her so she took a full time job and cannot provide me with enough hours. My DS is pretty picky so I do not want a rotating series of sitters. I live in the Seattle area and have been looking for a combined workspace/childcare option as they have in San Francisco - but have not found anything here locally.

I would love any suggestions, ideas for how to get some support in this area.

Thanks!

[phathui5]

You could try posting in your tribal area to see if there's an MDC mom who would be interested.