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Au Pair/Childminder for morning and evening work?

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  • 18-10-2012 6:34am
    #1
    McDonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 8 ✭


    Hi Boarders

    I need some advice/experience regarding childminding. Here's the situation...

    We have two kids - 6 months and 2.5 years. My wife and I work full-time. She works 9-5, regular hours, in Dublin city centre. I work irregular hours on irregular, but planned, days (including weekends).

    My wife has just done her back in and cannot lift the kids for up to 6 months, probably more, but can do everything else (playing, walking, cooking, working etc). Her mat leave finishes in January (when the baby is 6 months). The toddler has been in a creche until now (quite happy with it) and the creche is just around the corner from the house.

    So we need someone to be on-hand to mind the kids WHEN I'm not at home AND they are outside creche hours.

    That works out at:
    Early morning - 7am until they are in creche at 8.30am
    Early evening - collect from creche before 6pm and mind until 9pm
    Weeekends - all day saturday and sunday (not more than twice per month)

    Looking at my calendar for last year, that works out at about 12 weekdays of morning/evening/both (60 hours) and 2 weekends a month (24 hours). Total 84 hours a month - 21 hours a week approx.

    When I'm not away, I can do all pickups, lifting, putting to bed etc.

    Ok, the question...

    Are these hours compatible with employing an Au Pair? Essentially an out-of-hours Au Pair. She would be off most weekday daytimes and 2 weekends a month.

    If not, alternatives?

    Is there such a thing as a childminder-by-appointment that I could schedule on a monthly basis to be around on the days I'm not there and pay an hourly/monthly rate?

    (Yes, I could re-jig my working hours, but that would cost more money than employing someone else to be there instead of me and would not be 100% possible, so a backup would always have to be in place.)

    Any though MUCH appreciate. I need to have this in place by January 2013.

    Thanks!


Comments

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    #2
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,953 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    I think it is more a Nanny or Au pair that you need.
    You would want the minder to come to your house which works out expensive,min wage + their prsi.
    I think it would be an ideal job for an au pair ,they usually work 20-25 hours a week and would have their days free for studying or travelling.


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