Can I pay a friend for looking after my baby 2 days a week ?

[fizz63]

Hi.

I am only 16 weeks pregnant but am already thinking / planning ahead for when i have to return to work. Its so difficult to know what you will be able to manage on financially especially as this is my first.

I have a few friends that are pregnant at the moment who will be returning to work part time (like i hope to do). what i would like to know is whether i can pay my friend to look after my baby, say 2 days a week - or does she have to be a registered child minder ?

i am sure i have read something that says you cant pay friends/family for childcare but if she declares it as an income, is this still not allowed ? The cost of nurserys is so high these days and I would happily leave my LO with a trusted friend if i can.

My sister might consider looking after LO and giving up her job (if i was to pay her) - would i be able to pay her or can you not pay family members.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[suzib76]

technically you are not allowed, as she would need to be registered - but in the real world as long as you are paying for it and not claiming tax credits to cover childcare then if you trust her yes you could do it

 

[xJG30]

She would have to be registered I think.

My dad has my son every day although I don't pay him

 

[FierceAngel]

as mentioned above if they are not registered then you cant claim costs back..

i think they are allowed to be paid if they are looking after lo in yr home? but not thier own..

luisa is starting nursery this week and sil is having her for 3 hours one afternoon a week.. we are going to give her £10 per week as it means she cant take a shift a work tht afternoon so would usually earn about £18.. sil doesnt want the money though so i see it more as a gift.. we may end up saving it for her as she wont take it lol

xx

 

[Jkelmum]

The laws have just changed and this is not allowed at all ...,my friend as been watching her BF baby for 10 months 1 day a week and as had to stop x

 

[suzib76]

The laws have just changed and this is not allowed at all ...,my friend as been watching her BF baby for 10 months 1 day a week and as had to stop x

see i dont know why you would stop because of the laws changing, if its a mutiual agreement between friends who is to know

 

[Abz1982]

I htink that after the case of those 2 police women they are now not challenging any arrangements made between friends for reward. However, if you were paying her a considerable amount then you are technically employing her - and she would have to pay taxes etc and be registered I think if it is in her home. If its yours the it would be classed as like an au pair or nanny surely?

 

[Quartz]

A friend is trying to be a childminder at th emoment and until she is registered she cant look after any children at her house - however she can look after a child at there house but obviously means that can only look at one persons children. I could be wrong though!

 

[Arlandria]

I saw this on GMTV a few weeks ago. Two police women who were best friends had a child at the same time and to cover work etc they agreed to look after the other ones baby whilst the other was in work and even they got a slap on the wrist as they are not registered child minders!!! They said they didnt know just most people! Crazy i know!! My sister is planning on having livvy one day a week whilst i'm at work but i'm not even sure now that she can look after her for us!

 

[lauraperrysan]

hummm, a tricky one. i never really knew the whole story about the policewomen so can't comment but this is what i do know as i have been told from tax credits....
you can only claim help for childcasre costs if the carer is registerd and has a registration number (you will be asked for this when you start to claim)
family / friends CAN be paid but they MUST be registered and trained.....
baically they are saying no back handers it must be by the book but at the end of they day it's for your child's safety to ensure anyone who cares for them is 1st aid trained etc.....
there are alot of crap nurseries and child minders out there but there are also alot of great ones.....have a good look round and see what happens.....
good luck xxx

 

[whiby]

I've just started the process to become registered and what the CSIW said to me was that you have to be registered in order to look after a child who is not family, for more than 2 hours a day, for reward. Reward can be anything from a bottle of wine/box of chocs to money. Sorry hun but she needs to be registered or you both face court. It's nuts I know.

 

[whiby]

this is an update to the policewomen issue - the issue is if you're paying her to do it then she def has to be registered. https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8303366.stm

 

[buttonnose82]

would she be looking after your child in her home or in yours?

iI *think* (don't quote me on this) that if she looks after the child in your own home it is fine, she doesn't have to be registered, but if it is in her home then she has to be registered