Childcare: The ultimate guide

Starting a family comes with a whole host of amazing benefits but it’s no secret that it can be overwhelming at times! Many new parents worry whether they’re getting it right and a common difficulty that most parents face at some point is figuring out suitable childcare for their children. From finding a good babysitter for the occasional night out to securing your ideal full time nanny, we’re here to guide you through the process.

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Starting your childcare search

We know that entrusting your children to the care of another person is a huge responsibility and finding the right person or solution for you and your child can be a difficult task as there are so many factors to consider. It can seem overwhelming knowing where to start and we know more than anyone that parents are busy people, so we’ve broken down the search process into stages so that you can find your ideal childcare solution as efficiently as possible!

First of all you need to look at all the available types of childcare on offer so that you can narrow down your search to one type of provider. Luckily we have done all the research already, so just check out our guides below! (You should also decide whether you require your care provider to be Ofsted registered not to help further narrow your search)

Types of childcare:

There are three main types of childcare provider in the UK which are commonly used by families across the country. Childminders, nannies and babysitters all have their advantages and can be the perfect solution for many different situations.

  • Childminders are self-employed, Ofsted registered professionals who work from their own homes and look after two or more children for at least two hours per day. Check out our guide to childminders for more information!
  • Nannies are professional childcare providers who work from your home to look after your children during the day or sometimes overnight too. They can work as live in or live out nannies and can either be a nanny exclusively for your family or for multiple families, depending on how busy their schedules are! Find out more about nannies here.
  • Babysitters are the perfect solution to informal, casual childcare. Finding a trusted babysitter is a must for parents of children of any age as they can be a real lifesaver when you’re in need of emergency childcare!

Choosing the best childcare solution for you

There are lots of different childcare solutions , some will suit certain families better than others., or perhaps a combination of childcare solutions will work best for you. There’s nanny shares, nurseries, playgroups and a whole host of other options you might not have previously considered. If you want to know whether to pick a nursery or a nanny, or find out the pros and cons of babysitters vs childminders then our guides are full of information to help you figure out your ideal childcare solution.

The most common type of childcare provider are babysitters, as they offer such flexible solutions for children of all ages, so finding a reliable and trustworthy babysitter is crucial to any family! A good babysitter is worth their weight in gold, so make sure you find out how to find the best babysitter!

Finding your childcare provider

Once you’ve decided which type of childcare will suit your family best then it’s time to figure out how to find the right person to look after your children. There are numerous ways to find a babysitter, nanny or childminder from word of mouth (which can be great for getting first hand reviews), to using specific childcare agencies (who can do the entire process for you but can be expensive), to online platforms (which have great variety, security of online protected payments and trusted review systems too!).

Once you’ve found a few potential applicants, remember how important it is to do your research and conduct in person interviews before making your final decision. We’ve created a handy guide for how to interview a babysitter that you can check out before getting started.

If you’ve decided to go with a childminder then they will have their own processes and registration formats for you to adhere to as they operate as their own business. For nannies however you will be the employer rather than the customer as with childminders, therefore you will be required to provide your nanny with a contract to sign before starting to work for you. Nanny contracts are usually quite straightforward and are designed to protect both the nanny and the family they are working for. We’ve got information about nanny contracts and everything you need to know here!

Funding your childcare

The cost of childcare varies greatly depending on the type of childcare provider you choose, your location, the age of your children and more. Childcare can be a great solution to allow parents to find a suitable work-life balance and in the UK over 75% of parents with children aged 0-4 currently use childcare, either utilising their Government funded childcare or paying for a childcare provider.

The great benefits of finding an amazing childcare provider are that it allows parents to regain some freedom in their own life and can help to provide a suitable work-life balance for busy parents. However it’s no secret that regular childcare can be expensive as costs do add up, so it is worth researching your options for child-care funding before starting your search so that you have an idea of your budget.

New parents may not be aware, but in the UK all children aged 3 are eligible for either 15 or 30 hours of free childcare and some children aged 2 also also included in this scheme, which is funded by the government. Additionally to these schemes, working parents may also be able to utilise tax-free childcare schemes to help cover some of the costs of childcare beyond their free hours or if their children do not fall into the eligible age categories.

It is important to weigh up the costs of childcare solutions when conducting your search. The more expensive options such as private nannies of course have their benefits and for some children and families will really be worth the extra cost as children can benefit greatly from the undivided attention and stability of a nanny, however lower cost alternatives such as childminders or babysitters have been popular alternatives for years.

Making Childcare work for you

Ultimately it is important to remember that childcare is so flexible so you can make it work for you no matter your family situation. It’s no secret that childcare can be expensive, therefore you want to ensure it is helping your family balance their schedules as effectively as possible rather than being an inconvenience.

For many working parents, childcare can be a great solution to get you through the holidays or to allow you to maintain a great work life balance by enjoying professional career following regular office hours.

Anyone who needs help can hire a trained professional to support them and their child at any time and this does not have to be a permanent solution either, you can hire a nanny or a babysitter as a one off, part time or just for a particular school holiday. Perhaps you would prefer to spend time with your children during the summer holidays instead and hire childcare during term time? Whatever your situation there is a childcare solution out there, you simply need to decide whatever works best for you!

Family Life – Our parenting community

Whatever childcare solution you decide is best for your family, at Yoopies we have a vast range of applicants available to offer trusted and high quality care for your children. As dedicated professionals we hope to support as many families as possible and are happy to provide childcare resources to any parent, not just our Yoopies families!

We know that looking after children can be a difficult task, no matter their age, so why not check out some of our great blog articles to keep your family entertained on the weekends, during the holidays or downtime.

Alongside industry expert we provide some excellent general parental advice on all sorts of topics to do with family life. If you’re looking for help with anything from keeping fit at home to weaning your baby you’re sure to find support on our childcare blog pages as the Yoopies network is made up of so many like minded individuals and families!

Not only can you find great parenting advice, but there are also a plethora of free resources to help with your children’s development that can be used in a relaxed and fun manner. We regularly update our users with fun new activities for kids, including:

Sign up to our monthly newsletter to receive up to date articles and parenting advice and even some exclusive discounts and rewards from Yoopies!

Your perfect childcare provider is waiting for you!

If you’re looking for trusted, reliable and affordable childcare provider then Yoopies is the perfect place for your family. Not only is our hiring process stress free and easy to manage but you can be reassured in the knowledge that you’re choosing an excellent childcare professional by checking out reviews from other users. We handle all payments and booking safely and securely online to ensure the process is as simple as possible, so what are you waiting for!

Simply sign up for free and post your advert with your individual requirements to get the ball rolling in your search for the perfect childcare solution.

Find great childcare!