Childminding Support

kilinaboy

Hi i'm living with my 12yr old child and i'm in a relationship with my partner whom lives in the same area. Childcare is so expensive so does or has anyone ever came across a service where parents can support each other and take turns in babysitting each others kids free of charge or for a small fee?

Me myself would have no problem in looking after someone else's child in my home or their home for in return they do the same, and of course, that i would be able to take my child with me when looking after their children. I simply currently couldn't be paying out €15 plus or what ever the going rate is.

Sapphire

I havent seen anything like that in my area, but I've often thought it was a great idea! Maybe a credit system where you 'bank' the hours you babysit and then get to claim them back down the line.

Big Bag of Chips

Do you know any of his friends' parents? 12 is old enough to not need much minding, it'd be more just hanging around with his friends. Do you mean you need childcare for after school and during school holidays or do you just need babysitting occasionally? I have a core group of about 4 friends and we'd regularly call on each other to take children for a while here and there. No charge, just swapping favours. I collect my neighbours 11 year old child from school everyday and keep her until someone comes home. Sometimes her dad might be home by the time we're back from school so I just drop her in. She could be in our house an hour, or 3 hours, or not at all! I don't charge them anything. I'm passing their gate anyway and she just comes and plays with my gang after school if nobody is home.

I suppose it depends on if you're looking for occasional watching him, late night babysitting, which case you could just ask some of his friends' parents for a favour, or if you're looking for full time childcare during the summer, in which case you'd probably need a more permanent arrangement with someone.

kilinaboy

Big Bag of Chips wrote: »

I suppose it depends on if you're looking for occasional watching him, late night babysitting, which case you could just ask some of his friends' parents for a favour, or if you're looking for full time childcare during the summer, in which case you'd probably need a more permanent arrangement with someone.

Its mostly in the evenings from 8.30 till about 12am. My neighbour said she will call the guards if i leave her on her own again, i've left her twice during the day for a couple of hours. I'm finding it very frustrating having no one i can rely on without charging an arm and leg.

December2012

childminders usually charge between 5 to 10 an hour. So you only need 35 max.

Could you mind children during the day to pay for that?

Big Bag of Chips

If your daughter is ok being left on her own, then I don't see what issue your neighbour has. If she was 8 or 9, maybe she'd have a point. But a 12 year old, in my opinion, would be very capable of staying on their own during the day. Even at 12, she might be ok with staying on her own at night, but might just like a bit of company.

Are there any teenage neighbours around who might come and sit with her for a while at night? Around 15? I've always has teenagers babysit (one was 14 when she started, she was very sensible and her mam was up the road if needed... She never was!) I'd give them €20-€25 and my children are still under 10. The teenagers were happy with that amount, as were their parents.

Your neighbour is a busy body.

Hazydays123

kilinaboy wrote: »

Its mostly in the evenings from 8.30 till about 12am. My neighbour said she will call the guards if i leave her on her own again, i've left her twice during the day for a couple of hours. I'm finding it very frustrating having no one i can rely on without charging an arm and leg.

Something sounds a bit off about this. You're going out until the early hours of the morning (presumably socializing with your new partner) and leaving a primary school child on their own?
At the very least, I imagine it's lonely for a child to be alone all night long.
I'd imagine there's more to this story considering your neighbour's reaction.

lazygal

kilinaboy wrote: »

Its mostly in the evenings from 8.30 till about 12am. My neighbour said she will call the guards if i leave her on her own again, i've left her twice during the day for a couple of hours. I'm finding it very frustrating having no one i can rely on without charging an arm and leg.

Are you looking for babysitting so you can go out with your partner every night? I'm not surprised neighbors are concerned if you're leaving a 12 year old alone so you can socialise.

deisemum

Although there's no minimum age to leave a child alone if something happens the child then you can end up in trouble and possibly charged with neglect or at the very least have social services on your case.

When I lived in the UK and was a member of the National Childbirth Trust parents could form small groups who took turns babysitting each others children so it only cost time that you could claim back when you needed a babysitter.

Hazydays123

kilinaboy wrote: »

Its mostly in the evenings from 8.30 till about 12am. My neighbour said she will call the guards if i leave her on her own again, i've left her twice during the day for a couple of hours. I'm finding it very frustrating having no one i can rely on without charging an arm and leg.

I actually read this and assumed the OP was a troll who was trying to have a bit of a laugh by putting on that she's some feckless parent.
Who tells this primary school child to go to bed if you're out that late? Presumably they have school in the morning and should be asleep themselves by 10.

eviltwin

The OP says that he or she has left the child alone during the day, no mention of night time or anything like that. I can see their point, I'd rather have a private arrangement with another parent where we help each other out rather than having to rely on a baby sitting service. I don't see why people think the OP is a troll, 12 is fine to be alone for a few hours during the day.