My SIL has kindly offered to look after DS while I go back to work a couple of days a week. She is studing childcare and looking after DS will fit in to her study requirements, so it would also be great experience for her diploma.

She is happy to do it for nothing, but I dont think that would be right, but I also have no idea how much would be reasonable to pay her. I 'think' if we would use FDC it would work out to about $60-$70 a week.

She is looking after DS in our house, so everything she needs is here for him, nappies, food etc.

Do you think $50 a week would be ok? She knows money is tight atm, so whatever we pay would have to be less than FDC or CC.. otherwise I am better off putting him in FDC IYKWIM (for purely financial reasons), of course I am weighing up the benefit of having family look after DS.

We have asked her, but she doesnt know either!