Child Care
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16402
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Topic: Child Care
Posted By: FionaO
Subject: Child Care
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 9:02am
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Morning ladies, Quick question, I am only in the early stages but already know when I will be leaving work and sadly when I will be returning. At what point did you start booking child care for after you returned to work? ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 9:18am
| I only had three months off so started looking when I went on Maternity leave (prior to giving birth). Wanted to look into all options - nanny, porse, creche. With creche, there were waiting lists so we put our name on the waiting list and luckily got a place confirmed just before I was due back. We now have two kids and I'm pregnant with the third so will now be looking to get a nanny as it is more viable with three children but as I'm only 6 weeks we'll wait till closer to the date. |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 9:50am
| Get on to childcare asap!! Depending where you are, it is near bliming impossible to get a place. |
Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 10:13am
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I went back to work after 4 months and luckily my Aunty came over each day and looked after my little monkey upuntill her 1st birthday. I started to look at day care when Zaara was 10 months (from memory) . Finally found the one we liked and put our name down.
We nearly didnt get in, but my very sad face convinced the manager and she put Zaara in. She still goes there now. This Day care is the cheepest and nicest of all the ones we have seen. We pay $185 and this includes nappies and Food. We are very happy with them. Def look around while you are free and find the one you feel comfy with, put your name down. Good luck! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Cassie
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 10:52am
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Yeah, get in there asap - child care can be hard to find these days. I waited 3 months to get my little one into her centre a year and a half ago. These days I know people are putting their names down as soon as they know they are pregnant as there can be up to a years wait! Seems crazy, but there is such a shortage, specially with the free 20 hours childcare that was introduced this year. ------------- ~Cassie~   
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Posted By: Redbedrock
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 12:37pm
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If you want a place at a specific and popular centre put your name down NOW, otherwise be prepared to compromise with your choices ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 4:30pm
What she said! And even worse, I had to enrol the gremlins in SCHOOL as fetuses to ensure they could get in! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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nikkiwhyte wrote:Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 4:35pm
WHAT??????  ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 5:00pm
That's crazy Emma! I have to admit I haven't even started thinking practically about child care... I will be taking from 9 months to a year off from work, so I guess I really should start getting my A into G. There is so much to think about, especially as I don't have a favoured option (i.e. in-home, day care, nanny etc at this stage). -------------  
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Posted By: gemsmum
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 5:35pm
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The daycare Cam is at said I'd need to put Bubs down 6-8 months before I'd get in! Eeek! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 7:12pm
| Oh my goodness - I'd better get cracking. I'm not sure how long we'll be able to afford for me to be off work but the longest is likely to be six months. The trouble in Wgtn (apparently) is that lots of places only want full time kids and ours would only be there part time |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 8:13pm
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The waiting list at our creche is currently 9-12 months for the under 2's section. It took eight months for DD to get an extra day when she was already attending one day a week. So, NOW would be the answer! It's unreal how booked up they get. ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 8:55pm
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I rung two creche's in Auckland. One had a two year waiting list and the other over one year ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 9:48pm
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I'd start looking asap, make sure you go and visit a few to get a feel of what they are like. Good luck - it can be a mission finding a good one ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: cat007
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 10:24pm
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Start looking straight away - our waiting lists are approx 2 yrs long. Enrol in your chosen daycare but also enrol in another one as a back up (just incase they dont have a place for you when you need it). I have 2 back ups but it looks like I will cancel both of them as my boy I think is going to get into a new one that has opened up. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  [/url http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Stephaniesmummy
Date Posted: 17 April 2008 at 11:34pm
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Hi ladies I am a home educator with Homegrown kids and have spaces now for over 2's full time live in One Tree Hill Auckland may be able to help someone out there
emmajbarnett@gmail.com |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 18 April 2008 at 8:47am
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I am a nanny/karitane who after children in my own home in Howick and surrounding areas
Charge $8 an hour look after children from birth Love babies. Kelly(caitlynsmygirl) should have another grandchild for me |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 19 April 2008 at 11:15am
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Thanks ladies - scary stuff but probably what I thought. I have started making lists and getting numbers to call. Can anyone recommend a centre somewhere between pukerua bay and wellington, we have to drive to wellington every day but I would prefer somewhere close to home. -------------
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Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 19 April 2008 at 1:18pm
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The great thing with childcare (not sure if this applies to every creche) but once you have a child in creche then siblings get in because they already have a brother or sister in. Love that but can imagine it is frusting for people that have there name on the list.
I know of friends that have there kids in the Early Years in Ngaranga (sp). Maybe, depending if you drive, it might be better if you choose a city creche, or something closer to the city, so you have the time with them into and out of the city and if you get stuck in traffic you wont have the stress of being late???. Always pros and cons with whatever you choose but as long as it works that is the main thing. Good luck |
Posted By: VannesaD
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 8:13pm
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In Auckland there's a long waiting list on all good daycare centres. The one my daughter goes to is in Newmarket - we have an 18 month waiting list for under 2's and 9 months for over 2's. Even though i have one already there I have to go on the waiting list. I'll just get preference over other people trying to get in for the first time. Our waiting lists doubled also when the free 20 hours came in - our fees are considerably lower than most eg$165 per week and the 20 free hours makes it cheaper again.
I went back to work when Bre was 3 months and put her into Strawberry Fields (second choice) because my preferred didn't take babies until 6 months - then transferred at 6 months when a position came up. I highly recommend booking into a couple - rank them though - and when you need to firm a date ring your preferred first and so on. -------------  
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 21 April 2008 at 6:40pm
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Right I got started - I am weighing up being close to town, saves on time and being close to home, no screaming child in commute. Nicer for the kid I think. I have started calling round and its so true about now is a good time to book for this time next year. I have now visited one in Plimmerton (Sands) and they seemed lovely, good play area, never more than 10 under 2's nice carers, having never done this before and having no kids its kinds of hard to know what to choose, but the place had a nice feel to it. Going to visit somewhere else tomorrow to compare. -------------
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 10:40am
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home carers are great, hehe, i;m biased tho, i'm a trained nanny and now working from home. I would deffinately suggest looking into what you would prefer fi. a home carer gives the advantage of one on one care and love and attention espesh if they stil only wee lil bubs. and prices vary depending who you go thru and depending on the carer's experience etc. prices as far as i know range form $3 an hour to $10 an hour (i think) i'm on 8. But have my own son, and have heaps of experience and am qualified. Depends what you want really -------------   
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Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 11:02am
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I whole heartedly agree chonny re home carers especially when bubbas are small where did you do you nanny training
I did mine at the Papetoetoe nanny centre |
Posted By: catie
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 11:07am
Hey chonny how can a home carer/nanny possibly be so cheap? Esp as the legal minimum wage is about $12 an hour? Or is it under the table? Just wondering, I'm not even pg yet, but I think we'd prefer a home-carer if/when the time comes but assumed it would be too expensive. |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 1:30pm
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I too charge $8 an hour as a trained nanny because of the fact i do it in my own home if I was nannying in someones home I would expect top get 15 to 18 an hour but i also feel that with alot of daycare centres i want to be comparible in price with them
because of doing childcare in my own home and even tho the area I live is sort of wealthy people dont like paying more than they have too |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 2:17pm
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catie, it's not under the table, and when it comes to childcare, there is a big difference with wages. And i agree susie with peopel not wanting to pay mroe than they have to. When i was working in one tree hill i started on 15 which was real low for my experience, but it was my first full time sole charge job so accepted it. I only got a pay rise two years later coz i finally confronted her about things since we moved out to south auckland. How sad is that! Anyways, i charge at the high end of the table for in home. apologies i put i charge 8, that was the last kid, i charge 7 to this family. but to get it at that price, it had to b a certain number of hours. as a carer, i worked out what i needed to earn to stay at home. (rather than b a nanny in someone elses home) -------------
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 2:20pm
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[/QUOTE]Hey chonny how can a home carer/nanny possibly be so cheap? Esp as the legal minimum wage is about $12 an hour? Or is it under the table?
Just wondering, I'm not even pg yet, but I think we'd prefer a home-carer if/when the time comes but assumed it would be too expensive.[/QUOTE] A nanny isn't that cheap. the reason home carers are cheaper is they get to do their own thing and b at their own house. As susie says, i nanny is between 14 - 20 an hour depending. A lot of home carers charge based on what they can offer the children i.e pre-school activities, newborn care, single child placement (no other families for example i charge what i do for x-hours so i can only have their child) -------------
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Posted By: catie
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 2:39pm
| Thanks, that makes more sense. I didn't realise that when you say home-carer you mean in the carer's home, not the child's. Doh. |
Posted By: dramateyz
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 5:22pm
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Can anyone tell me what the difference is between home care and creche? I will be going back to work full time either after 6 months or after a year so need full days.
Also are there places where you can opt in each morning? One idea I had was relief teaching for months 6-12 but with relieving you often cant plan when you will be oferred work ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/"> 
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Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 5:35pm
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Yes i charge what I do so that I can only have their charge.
A home carer is ax chonny says someone who looks after babies/toddlers/preschoolers in their own home/ Daycares are full day places where you take your child for a full day usually A Nanny goes into your home Creche where you can drop your child off for a morning or an afternoon |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 5:35pm
| Usually creches are community creches like for instance the very good Uxbridge Creche in Howick . |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 6:42pm
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as susie said. If you are relief teaching, i don't know where you live, but i do know of a place in onehunga i think it is (possibly little angels?) where you can do drop offs at the drop of a hat. if you know what i mean.
I home carer has the disadvantage for the family where the child isn't in their own hoe, but advantage for the carer where they are in their home, can charge less, and stil do what they like during the day etc. -------------
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Posted By: Istabe
Date Posted: 25 April 2008 at 8:19pm
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I am a supervisor at a daycare centre, and am amazed at some of the things that you have been told by other daycares! Whenever anyone rings me to ask how long our waiting list is, I say that we can't give a definite date, as we don't know when children are going to leave. Also, some people who go onto our waiting list find places in other centres, so they end up not wanting a space. How can a centre say that noone will leave for a whole two years?!? Parents move towns, take maternity leave (therefore not needing care for older children), or just have changes in circumstances.
I know that there have been instances before when I have told perspective parents that it could be up to several months before a space would be available, and then ring them back only a couple of weeks later. One piece of advice - if you really like a centre, keep ringing them to check on availability. Centres don't tend to mind you ringing again and again. ------------- 
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 26 April 2008 at 4:37pm
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Well to hedge my bets our unborn child is on a waiting list for a daycare centre and I will e registering with home care and that way I can make a decision nearer the time without getting stressed. Istabe I did wonder how they could say for definite but lots of them do. -------------
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 26 April 2008 at 4:56pm
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that sounds like a good idea fi -------------
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 27 April 2008 at 3:32pm
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I think so, at least its one thing off the list of things to do now, which is always good and by registering for both then I can choose nearer the time which care I would prefer. The prices well there isn't much in it really. DH and I have figured out we will take alternate fridays off which allows us each to have a day alone with the baby and we are going to be strict about our working hours, so it should be fine. Still weird to plan this far ahead, but better than getting really stressed later on. -------------
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 27 April 2008 at 3:59pm
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deffinately. espesh since day care can be such a hassle to get into if you have a set date you have to go back.
good on ya -------------
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Posted By: VannesaD
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 11:29am
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Every day care is different.
Our daycare has a 12-18 month waiting list for babies and runs on the policy that if you put your name down you must keep ringing monthly (after baby is born) to ensure your place is kept and that way they know that you are serious about a place. If a place comes up and the next person on the list has not called for several months - it goes to the next person who HAS called recently (eg. in the past month). So many parents put their baby names down in several places and you can never really tell how many genuine places you have on your list - except by those that keep ringing. -------------
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