Childcare Crisis: 'I feel like I'm in an impossible position'

The Parent:

A stressed-out mum who asked not to be named got the happy news that she and her partner were expecting their first baby at the beginning of December 2019 but joy soon turned to worry as the reality of organising childcare soon set in. She said:

“I'd emailed many places while pregnant and only three responded to say they "might be in a position" to take a baby under 12 months, I never knew maternity leave was only so long but babies under 12 months aren't welcome in childcare settings.

“I got emails to say unless my baby had a sibling in the same place, they couldn't accommodate an under 12-month-old.

“So after taking all and any leave I could, all the while searching for childcare and becoming physically ill with the stress, I finally managed - with two days left before I HAD to go back to workplace - to get someone.. So far my little one loves the place and seems to be getting on great there. The downside is the cost - €450 a week!

“I am now only working to get "my stamps" as after paying childcare and my car fuel I'm left with an average of €1.17 a week, without paying for groceries, rent, utility bills etc.

“If I give up work, I'm entitled to nothing but if I continue like this, I'll be bankrupt and so ill I'll be hospitalised.

“I did look at getting another mammy to mind them, but I was getting silly quotes from them too (north of €100/day and must pay for days not attending due to having my household mixing with theirs meant an increased Covid risk for them!). I feel like I'm in an impossible position.”