OP I'm so sorry you're putting up with all this self-righteous horseshit on this thread. I can only imagine how hard your situation is right now you just came to the wrong place for sympathy. Any chance they can pull you off of shift work for a while? Until things level out? Ignore all the 20 year olds on here with no job training who tell you they're worth $25 an hour, there are plenty of people if you read through the threads that work for $15 an hour

Anonymous wrote:How about a live in babysitter? She can live for free in exchange for child care- especially for your tricky night time schedule? You would still pay her a salary but it might be more affordable.

OP said there's no room for another to live-in.

How do you think that a single Mom who is a public servant probably making between $45,000 to $60,000 a year can afford an au pair at a cost of over $20,000 a year? Plus all the other misc expenses incurred.
Mortgage or rent, plus bills on one income doesn't leave over enough for an au pair.

How about a live in babysitter? She can live for free in exchange for child care- especially for your tricky night time schedule? You would still pay her a salary but it might be more affordable.

I would seek out a college student (maybe even someone who is interested in child development, but not a requirement). Since he is in school, you are not necessarily looking for enrichment, but rather someone to keep him safe. I would not have been bothered as a college kid to work strange hours (especially if I was able to do my reading / write papers once kid was asleep and get paid at the same time). I also would not have minded leaving my "job" at late hours, like 1am. Since you know the schedule a month in advance, you could set up the dates you need the sitter for the non-school hours in advance, and then you don't "waste" hours in the same way as if you pay for guaranteed time. I know you might run into a few situations where you can't find someone because the sitter is busy / out of town / not free, but if you are a good family to work for, people who like steady work will make time for you.

I think people are right about not looking for a nanny, but looking for 18 -22 year old who is looking for side work. I also wonder about the feasiblitiy of working out a share where you watch someone's kid on days you are off, and they watch yours when you are working (plenty of jobs are shift work and have overnight components - L/E, nurses, taxi driver..) so there are probably others in your shoes - but how easy to find, I don't know.

Good luck.

I am sorry - that is hard. I agree that you need multiple people you can rely on. Neighbors and babysitters and Friends. You'll need backups anyway even if you find a great nanny.

My husband and I work relatively normal hours, but we have to leave very early and use preschool, but there are still issues (illness). We have used a combination of everything. I watch my neighbors kids to in exchange for them watching my child - often at the last minute and often starting at 6:30am. it is easy for all because they are neighbors. Id do it for a neighbor in your shoes if I could sleep on the couch, and you wake me when you walk in and I walk home and sleep. Even for free, if you watch my kid sometimes. We have a previous nanny that will rearrange her schedule for us in an emergency (and I pay well for this.)

College kid who lives down the street watches early morning sometimes before school. She often does this while watching her little sister before school. My son just thinks it playtime! (She gets paid very well - $20 from, me plus she is also helping her parents at the same time.)

For stability though - I think you should consider an AP - if this is a long term career, move so you can accommodate an AP.

Where are you located OP? I am the above PP in L/E. I have a coworker who works the midnight shift and his wife travels a lot. They have their 2yo at a home daycare where she does overnights as well. I dont know exactly where but its in Moco and I can find out if youre in that area.

Anonymous wrote:What are your hours/days OP?
I work in L/E too and have a spouse who is about to start working the 3-11 shift.

For the summer we have hired a teen to watch our 3yo from 2.30 until 6.30, 10 days a month ( our overlap days)
and then in Sept one of the Moms from my Moms group is going to watch her those same hours.
Do you need all 3 shifts covered or or just different days each month but same shift?

I work 4 months of evening shift but that bad part is I work 10 hour shifts so my shift starts at 3 and I'm not off till 0100. That's been my problem area

What are your hours/days OP?
I work in L/E too and have a spouse who is about to start working the 3-11 shift.

For the summer we have hired a teen to watch our 3yo from 2.30 until 6.30, 10 days a month ( our overlap days)
and then in Sept one of the Moms from my Moms group is going to watch her those same hours.
Do you need all 3 shifts covered or or just different days each month but same shift?

A nanny is a luxury not a necessity.

Seek out a cheap babysitter, or a mom in need of extra pay.

Lady why is it ok for you to earn a living but not the nanny?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You'll have to beg your friends or family to help you. Good child care is very expensive. Who can afford it?

Omg it's crazy!!! Like they want 600 a week seriously that's cutting it close to wtf I make smh. No friends that can help they live to far and no family in the area.

[b]

I'm very sorry the person caring for your child is asking for a living wage. That's very selfish!! I mean surely they can afford rent and a car (that I'm sure you'd ask her to use) on a salary of $100/week! These nannies really need to be more accommodating. Why can't they just pitch a tent under the highway and sleep there for free? Hitchhike to work too!! The really uptight nannies even want things like health insurance. The nerve!!!!

Amazing!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you say the AP program "isn't the best option" for you and your child? Sometimes, you don't get to have everything exactly the way you want it. Sometimes you need to compromise. It sounds like in your situation you may need to

A) Suck it up and pay a lot of money for a nanny--even if that means forgoing some of your other wants/needs
B) Getting an AP, even if it isn't "the best option"
C) Removing your child from the preschool so that you have more money to pay for the nanny

No space/extra room for ap
Paying less for the school than what nannies are asking for.

No dice

Then you need to find a daycare that is open during the day, and a sitter who you will need to pay guaranteed hours every week for overnights, whether you use them or not.

Why are you looking for a nanny?

Nannies are the most expensive form of childcare.