Why is Part Time Care So Hard to Find?

[Anonymous]

OP, the only person I know who has done this found a nanny who wanted to stay home with her own child but still earn a little money. So the nanny watches her own child and my friend's child 2 days a week. She found her through the network of nannies in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I found the one on care.com while living in Alexandria. She had little experience with babies but I worked from home so I could help direct things. I definitely sorted through lots of applicants. She was a part time college student getting ready for grad school in a couple years. I had also requested only eligible citizens who were willing to have their income reported apply. I paid $22 an hour. I also worked around her schedule so she didn’t have to come everyday. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am about to start work part time and I have an 17 month old. I haven't been able to find a single daycare center, in home daycare, nanny, OR nanny share that will consider part time hours. Everyone wants full time. I am not about to pay for care I don't need but am about to just give up out of frustration. Does no one else work part time with young children? If so, how do you make it work? How did you find your person or center? Any great resources that I must not know about?
I live in Alexandria for what it is worth. I am just shocked by the lack of options.. and by that I mean none. I am panicking a bit.

Most people need a full time job with full time pay! What is it about this that you cannot understand? If you want part time, you will pay premium wages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually you are about to pay for full time care you don’t need.

+ 1 million. This is what we ended up doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your best hope is an in-home daycare. They can afford to be a little more flexible.

Even in-home daycare have very limited under-2 spots. Good luck with part-time care. After age 2, you will have more luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found someone who was willing to do mornings only because she had another family who just needed her after school. But it was every day. When you just need someone on specific days can be very hard. It surprised me, too - don't let the people who call you "dopey" get to you. It was my assumption I could find part time help easily, too, until I actually tried. But we did find someone, and she stayed for 7 years. Have faith.

Thank you I appreciate that

Just mornings are possible because there are nannies who pick up after preschool and stay all afternoon. OP, you may need to see if you can find one person who happens to have Monday off and another person who happens to have Wednesday off. With Grandma babysitting on Friday, this will actually not be a good situation for your child. Consistency is key.

The people who work as nannies generally need full-time work. The preschool teachers are semi-retired teachers or are moms with kids in school and a part-time schedule works out well for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you were working Monday through Friday just part of the day- like 9am-2pm, you would have an easier time finding a nanny who takes care of her long-term family's kids after school. Lots of nannies are looking for these types of hours.

But if you're working a full day just two or three days a week, that's pretty difficult.

+1000 Maybe you can change your schedule at work?

[Anonymous]

This is OP - I ended up finding a nanny who could do mornings as part of a nanny share and just rearranged my work schedule with my boss. It’s early but its working so far! Thanks to everyone for your suggestions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think bouncing your kid between you for two days, your mother for one day, and full day daycare for two days is going to be an easy transition. Kids thrive on routine.

This. The MWF thing is especially hard. It would actually be easier if you did something like work M-W and then off on Th/F. Then it's at least 3 days on with childcare and 4 days off.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had to hire a whole au pair (lol) to work my very part time split schedule. No one wants crappy hours. No one can fill the other half of your part time daycare slot.

Absolutly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually you are about to pay for full time care you don’t need.

Many, many people are forced to do just that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually you are about to pay for full time care you don’t need.

Many, many people are forced to do just that.

I would say I probably only use about 75% of the childcare days I pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am about to start work part time and I have an 17 month old. I haven't been able to find a single daycare center, in home daycare, nanny, OR nanny share that will consider part time hours. Everyone wants full time. I am not about to pay for care I don't need but am about to just give up out of frustration. Does no one else work part time with young children? If so, how do you make it work? How did you find your person or center? Any great resources that I must not know about?
I live in Alexandria for what it is worth. I am just shocked by the lack of options.. and by that I mean none. I am panicking a bit.

I don’t know any childcare providers who can afford to live on PT wages. Do you? Most of them are living paycheck to paycheck on their FT wages.

[Anonymous]

I had a nanny 2 mornings a week for 4 hours. It was $200/week. From what I've read on here, I could have gotten full time in home care for about that price. I supplemented with part time preschool.

[Anonymous]

11:43 and 11:45 are correct. Moms in this area want to pay $10 an hour or some crap regifted "gift" - yeah, no one wants that. Nannies and sitters have to eat, too.