Where do you get childcare?

Nurses General Nursing

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Just wondering if there are any nurses affiliated with military or just away from friends and family who have had a difficult time finding care for their little ones for those 12 hour shifts. My husband is military but has been on shore duty for the past 4 years, meaning he doesn't deploy. This last year I had a friend "nannying" for me, but she decided to pursue other avenues. Now I am wondering if I have to sacrifice the job I love for a mon-fri nursing job. It's not that I would mind working mon-fri, but I really like my job and I am feeling stuck, because most places only watch kids up until 1830. My hospital has care for my 4 year old, but only mon-fri and I would still need a before and after for my older boys. Any suggestions?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Try looking on sittercity.com--I've found a couple of sitters on there that have worked out well. And since you're military/DoD, you get free membership.

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Try looking on sittercity.com--I've found a couple of sitters on there that have worked out well. And since you're military/DoD, you get free membership.

How much do you normally pay them?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
How much do you normally pay them?

For the website...don't know, we're military :) It's free for me.

For babysitters, usually 8-10/hour for 1 child, 10-12/hour for both. But my eldest gets a lot of childcare through his school's before/afterschool program.

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We are military as well and when I work he is with CDC. Cheaper though but to make it work two children I think $12 an hour is doable. My problem is I don't know how I am able to trust anyone taking care of my kids!

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I would look into the CDC as the PP said. I don't know where you are located but usually they are affordable & trustworthy.

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He is with CDC now. I think every base has CDC. They are affordable only if your spouse has a low pay grade or you do the drop-in. Otherwise base of your income, yes, combine incomes.

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double check! I remembered this so I searched for it to post here.

31 at Base Daycare Center Had Criminal Records | Military.com

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
He is with CDC now. I think every base has CDC. They are affordable only if your spouse has a low pay grade or you do the drop-in. Otherwise base of your income, yes, combine incomes.

Even if your SO's rate/rank is high and you don't qualify for the subsidy, CDC rates are still pretty affordable compared to other childcare options. Better half's pay grade is high enough that we didn't qualify for the subsidy, and we still paid only $130/week for childcare.

I've never used the CDC facilities on base though. Because of my hours, I use the CDC to get referrals for childcare providers who work out of their homes and whose hours are somewhat more flexible than the 0600-1800 the centers would provide. Unless things changed recently, all of the CDC at-home providers are licensed and insured--though I run my own checks (background, state, etc.) to make sure all is well.

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Specializes in ICU.

Not currently now, but my husband was active military for several years. Is there any of the other wives in the unit/squadron that watch kids? I know that is what several of the other wives did at various duty stations we were at. The other thing you could do is use the CDC if it is a decent one and arrange for a friend to pick up your child at a specified time. We have had similar issues since my husband works various different shifts as a LEO. Hope you are able to work something out!

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