Shift work and daycare

Krissie - posted on 06/09/2011

my husband and I are both officers working 2nd shift with rotating days off. We went through A LOT of trouble finding someone that would watch out son different days each week and varying times.....however we finally found someone that I completely trust! We also use a stay at home mom who treats our son like another member of her family. Sometimes I feel like they are a glimpse of a normal family life for him since we work such crazy hours. :-( I definitely appreciate them though! We had considered getting an au pair as a 2nd choice; that can be rather costly though at around $1600 and up a month!

Laura - posted on 10/11/2009

I posted an ad for a Nanny. Stating the crazy hours that we work and types of scheduling I would need and that I would need 24/7 availability and got a lot of responses from Stay-at-Home moms. I found a really awesome mom who has 4 kids of her own and I can call her at the last minute if I need to and she is available to watch our daughter. Did I mention my Husband is a SO deputy that works nights and I am an EMT. Which means crazy shifts and crazy schedules. Just a suggestion to try putting out an ad and then conducting interviews from there and finding the best fit for you.

Alicia - posted on 06/09/2009

Have you tried any fellow officers or officers wives? My husband is a firefighter & I am a dispatcher. I was talking to one of our officers and he said his wife watches kids. So one thing led to another and boom she has been watching them for over a year now. Good luck

Tara - posted on 04/07/2009

I am a Police Dispatcher, and know the shift work well.  I contacted my County'd Childcare services and called everyone who was certified through my county.  I was lucky and found an in-home daycar ethat was flexible to the needs of my job.  Some nights, my daughter would be with her until 10pm, and, more recently, my fiance picks her up around 6pm.  But look for an in-home, but do your research.  Check to see if they have ever been reported, or any incidents had occurred that would bring them to the attention of child services.  Everything is pretty public now, so you shouldn't have a hard time looking into the background of the place that you choose. 

Another plus of the in-home daycare, is that the family has become another part of my family.  We became very close over the years.

I wish you luck!

Emilie - posted on 03/23/2009

I know in Michigan we have what is called the three Cs.  It has all of that information on it.  I have had the same issue.  I work a mid day swing shift 11a-9p.  So when my hubby is gone for 24 hours and I have to work...we end up in a huge jam!  I was able to find a home daycare that was willing to go day by day instead of flat week fee.  I was also able to find a center that was willing to do the same, but was a lot more expensive.  Check with one of the daycare centers around you to see if they can tell where there is a listing of licensed centers.... 

Meredith - posted on 11/23/2008

I work in South Florida, so my suggestions are quite limited compared to Toronto.



My husband works every third shift, and I work midnights, so there are nights we overlap and need someone to watch our daughter.



We ended up getting a live-in through Cultural Care Au Pair because it was just too difficult to switch shifts and do otherwise.



I don't know where there is a directory for all registered home day care, but I love to Google and would suggest trying there. It might work out that way. Also, check to see if the local churchs or JCCs have daycare where you have the option of enrolling your child for 3 days a week instead of the full 5. That way he/she can still get to go while you are at home, allowing yourself some time for you, and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Good luck with it and please let us know how it goes!