I went back to work FT over a year ago, when my DS was 12 weeks old. Since then, he has been being cared for by my best friend's parents. They are very supportive of my parenting choices, and wore DS in a carrier, used to cuddle with him to help him nap, and keep him away from TV and other things I'm trying to avoid. I'm super-happy with the arrangement.
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But I now think I'm going to have the opportunity to switch positions (and therefore shifts) at work. I currently work afternoons, starting at 2 pm. DH works midnights, from 11 pm to 7 am. Right now, DS only goes to his "grandparents" house for 4 hours or so, from 1 pm til 4:30 or 5-ish. Same deal on weekends, except he goes to my mom's or my MIL's. If I go to a first shift position DS would need to be there for about 7 hours, but for fewer days per week, since I would have weekends off and DH works a rotating schedule and often has weekdays off. My current sitters have offered to work with us, but I feel like I am seriously imposing on them because they have an at-home business to run as well as taking care of DS. And if we have another child (might start TTC this summer), my friend's parents just couldn't watch two kids.
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So... I contacted by birth doula to ask if she knew of anyone in the area that she could recommend. She said she'd try to make contact with some people, but if that doesn't work out, I'm not sure where to turn. Craigslist? Newspaper ads? We're not in a very "crunchy" area, and because of the schedule I work, I haven't really connected with any other like-minded people/parents.
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Any thoughts?
