Do you use Grandparents for Childcare?

**noo noo** · 25-03-2009, 12:26pm

Just wondering in the light of the reports today http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7960977.stm

Apparently 1 in 4 families use grandparental childcare each week

Do you think they should be paid?

Its not an option for us as DH's parents are both dead and mine live over 100+ miles away.

I'm not sure about them being paid or not. Although I think that a lot of people who do rely on grandparents for childcare don't realise how lucky they are to have it on tap so to speak.

**jubiedoo16** · 25-03-2009, 12:29pm

Nope both my parents work (my stepdad doesn't atm due to redundancy but will again soon hopefully) and DHs parents live too far away.

**Livvypops** · 25-03-2009, 12:30pm

When I have children I definitly will as my gran has her own childminding business in her house

**spandangley** · 25-03-2009, 12:31pm

Yes, my MIL currently has L one day a week, and my SIL has him once a week too. He has a childminder for another, and Im home with him 2 days in the week.

I do realise how lucky we are.

My MIL wont be able to have him as of a couple of weeks because she starts treatment, so its become even more clear to us how lucky we are, when trying to work out what to do

**Puddser** · 25-03-2009, 12:31pm

We won't as mine wouldn't be able and DH's mother lives too far away

**frenchpolish** · 25-03-2009, 12:32pm

Yes, my mum has dd one day a week and ds another day. Mil has ds one day a week.

The rest of the time is nursery (with me one day a week).

Mum and mil both wanted ds once they had retired (they both hit 60 when he was 18months old or so). My mum loves having dd. Mil will have dd one day once ds goes to school in sept.

I find it a nice mix with me, them and nursery sharing the care.

**littlepinkpiglet** · 25-03-2009, 12:34pm

Nope, my parents are on another continent and DH's are 1000 miles away. But one of my best friends uses her mum as her only childcare, part time. AFAIK she doesn't pay her.

I think people who use them for full time care should pay them

Kids are HARD WORK!

**santafi** · 25-03-2009, 12:34pm

My parents are my babysitters - on the very rare occasion we go out they have the kids at their house so we don't have to pay someone to look after them.

Mum and dad also help out during the week with collecting the kids from school if I'm not able to and are the emergency contacts from school in case the kids are sick and I can't get to collect them.

**Miffy** · 25-03-2009, 12:35pm

All our parents still work, plus my parents are too far away. I think even if they were able my mum wouldn't as she says she hasn't got enough energy to keep up with Jacob

**skylark** · 25-03-2009, 12:35pm

No but I would if I coulc. My DH's parents live in South Africa and mine are both dead so not an option. My cousin leaves her dd with her mother every Wednesday. Surely the point of using grandparents is to save on childcare costs?

Some mothers would not be able to return to work at all without the support of their parents when it comes to childcare. It think this is a failing of the childcare system as the government wants mums to get back to work in 12 months but only offers funding (and limited at that) from 3 yrs e.g. Gemma goes to pre-school for two mornings a week but also has 2 days at the childminder, but I can't claim the remaining 3 sessions to offset the cost of the CM.