If you want, or have, to return to work when your maternity leave is over you’ll need to carefully consider the childcare options available to you.

You’ll need to plan ahead to make sure that your baby care is the best available on your budget.

But before you make plans here are some tips for working mums:

1. What are you true motivations for returning to work, considering the financial and emotional cost of leaving your child with someone else. Could you, or would you want to work part time in future? Sometimes the cut in wages can equal the childcare costs saved and you get to spend more precious time with your children while they are young.

2. Do you want to return to your previous job or is this the ideal time to try something new? Talk to friends, family and other mothers about your plans. Often in the world of employment “it’s not what you know it’s who you know”.

3. Brush up your skills, learn new ones, or consider volunteering to keep your skills relevant and boost your confidence for when you return to the workplace.

Childcare options:

1. State nursery schools: run by local education authorities with a fully trained staff. Three year olds are entitled to free nursery care 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. Some will take younger children but will usually charge a fee. Additional hours (if available) will also be charged.

2. Private nursery schools: run for profit and often very expensive they take children from very young ages and usually have facilities for baby care.

3. Playgroups: are often run by parents and provide a few hours of organised play a week often in a village hall or community centre.

4. Childminders: look after children in their own homes. They are limited on how many children they care for and have to complete courses, be CRB checked and be registered and inspected with Ofsted (or CSSIW in Wales).

5. Nanny: is possibly the most expensive option and they will be involved in every aspect of your child’s upbringing. Live-in nannies expect their own room in the family home.

6. Au pair: cheaper than a nanny (they live in and have full board and bed but only expect a small amount of spending money). They are only expected to do a certain number of hours of childcare a week, limited babysitting and some light housework.

7. Family: maybe grandparents or other relatives would be able to help out one morning or afternoon a week each (or even more) so you can spread your baby care.

8. Mum share: you can care for a friend’s child without being registered as long as you receive no payment. Ofsted has a useful fact sheet on this topic: Factsheet: childcare - Registration not required / General / Other / Browse all by / Forms and guidance / Ofsted home / Ofsted - Ofsted

Author's Bio: 

Debra Aspinall is an experienced journalist and the editor and leading writer for the Emma’s Diary website, one of the UKs foremost pregnancy and baby websites. Debra writes on pregnancy related topics such as planning the nursery, free baby stuff, nursery tips, baby clubs uk and etc. She also writes on women’s health and beauty issues and contributes travel articles to glossy magazines in London and the Home Counties.