Sending your child to daycare. How?

[Ladylove]

Abigail what are your work hours like? Could you get away with a really good sitter which would be a little cheaper than a nanny?

[Calluna]

Are you eligible for childcare rebate and/or child care benefit? I'm pretty sure you can claim it with a nanny. No idea how much, but might be worth looking into?

Otherwise I'm certain there are centres that will be safe for your boy. Every centre I've worked in, despite all their other failings , have been very strict on allergy management.

Good luck I hope you can find a solution you are comfortable with.,

[Miss E]

I'm suprised that there are centres out there that don't take it seriously! Surely the risk of legal ramifications would make them sit up and take notice, if nothing else.

Our centre has quite a few children who are anathelatic (Sp?) including one of DS's little buddies. He is allergic to nuts and eggs and doesn't tolerate dairy well. The centre is completely nut and egg free, and I think also free of some of the other big ones like strawberries. He's been there for 2 years and according to his mum they've never had a problem. In fact the centre even went through a process a year or so ago of sending home nappy creams and specifying which ones were appropriate because many actually contain traces of nut oils - to me that is taking it seriously.

They have strict rules about not letting any outside food be brought on the premises and IMO do a great job of protecting the children with allergies. I think if you look around enough and talk to enough centre directors you will find one that you can trust.

On a side note, it makes me furious how other parents don't take allergies seriously. I can't tell you how many times we've been at play centres and the like that have a 'no outside food' rule and I've seen parents give their little ones crackers/snacks from home that get taken into the play area and innevitably left lying around for the next child to pick up.

[Floweryfields]

Are you eligible for childcare rebate and/or child care benefit? I'm pretty sure you can claim it with a nanny. No idea how much, but might be worth looking into?

Otherwise I'm certain there are centres that will be safe for your boy. Every centre I've worked in, despite all their other failings , have been very strict on allergy management.

Good luck I hope you can find a solution you are comfortable with.,

You can only claim CCB, CCR through a registered provider - such as LDC, FDC - most nannies aren't registered providers.

[Calluna]

Oh ok, I was sure I read something on the centrelink website about nannies, but it's not what I was looking for so didn't pay much attention.