Shift work and child care

[sophabulous]

What do people do when it comes to working shift work and requiring child care?

DH works shift work, and this varies from week to week. Every week means a different series of days that he will be working. This means that if I go back to work P/T eventually, even though I will have set days, there may be days when DH isn't working and therefore able to take care of bubs.

So, I guess I'm asking - does child care work for this option? What do we do? Can you book in for irregular care in advance based on the shifts DH works, and not book in for those days when he may not be working, as it would vary from week to week? How flexible are centres in this regard?

[kmh]

Childcare dose not really work for shift workers you have to book them for set days unless you can find an occasinal childcare centre that will let you chose your days or you can see aboutfamily day care.

[~Leanne~]

We are sort of in the same boat, where hubby's roster changes from week to week. WE're still going to be putting DD in for the four days, but he will be picking up / dropping off on the days when he's off. He's also then going to be able to do more housework without a baby in the house... LOL.

[sophabulous]

Childcare dose not really work for shift workers you have to book them for set days unless you can find an occasinal childcare centre that will let you chose your days or you can see aboutfamily day care.

Fantastic... just as I thought. Unless we can find some FDC then, we're absolutely stuffed...

[shellbell3]

I also do shift work and can't have a set roster once I go back, we also are looking at family day care. I e-mailed the council bout my situation and she told me I could get different days but would need back up as places fill quickly and I may not always have a place. maybe contact your local council and ask them what the go is.

[tiggy]

When I was working with the girls I had two set days with our childcare and if I was working on other days I tried occassional care, if there were no other family members who could help out.
I am going back to shiftwork in January, although it's only night duty, the days will still vary. DH has decided that he will start late and work back late from when I start back so that one of us will always be home.
Could this be an option for you? Vary your starting times on the day DH is working? Eg; start early if on afternoon shift and finish early?
Don't know if that'll work for you but hope that you find a solution, I know it's very tricky.
I don't want to give up work altogetheer for fear of losing my skills plus the money will come in handy, we had to do major re arranging for me to return and it means that some days, the kids and I won't see DH until the following day but such is life, I guess.

[C~Q]

I think kmh is right, Family Day Care is probably your only option

I always preferred Family Day Care for the first year or so though, it's generally cheaper - most long day care centres charge for 12 hours no matter how long bubs is in there for. Also I preferred the more personal touch when they were very little.

[mbear]

My DH is a shift worker - he is a firefighter, so his shifts change every week. Whilst he is home 6 days out of every 8, this obviously changes every week, so thinking he could mind the girls, whilst i go back to work, isnt even an option.
I know within the NSWFire Brigades families often tee up with other families on the same shift, and do family day care that way. Fire Brigade is a fairly close knit community, so i realise if it works here, it may not work in yr situation. But what do other couples whom work within your DH organisation do for childcare?? Might be worth looking into.....