Hey
I have been thinking a lot lately about things like respite- my little one is only 18 months (about 5-6 months developmentally), at the moment she gets 2 hours a week in a surestart creche. (since she has been going she is quite the babbler hehe)
I was thinking about asking my health visitor if she could help me arrange a night a month/ every 2 months respite. I am just SO frightened! In my mind it seems perfect she sleeps 8.30pm - 8am I wouldn't miss anything and I'd have a night to maybe go out & socialise (instead of via facebook!) go cinema or just relax I guess. What I am scared about is them saying that my reasoning is petty because she is so young.. are "they" strict with respite? does this sound like a realistic request, should I just wait till she is older? *sigh* Idk!! Thank you

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Jennifer ♥

Hi there, i asked about respite for my little boy, as like yourself it would be lovely to have a bit of me/us time but was told by his community nurse that they don't do respite for children under the age of 5 yrs unless they are terminally ill, not sure if it the same in all areas but you could ask the surestart people i'm sure they would know if it was possible if not they might know the right people for you to ask. Hope you can get something sorted as we all need a break xx Marie xx

Hi

Don't know where you are based but there is a place called Zoe's Place they have one in Liverpool, Coventry and somewhere else that I can't remember. They offer respite for children with life limiting conditions and severe disabilities. I have been thinking of taking Zack for a couple of afternoons. Don't think I am ready for night stop overs as don't want to leave him just yet. Anyway is there anything like that near to you that could help give you a little break? It's not selfish to want some time to yourself regardless of the age of your child.

Linzi
xx

I am in the west midlands I still have a lot to find out! A mother from the child development centre I take my daughter to was going to write me a list before the ester hols , so that will probably help me a lot!
I am just a bit scared of how they may respond because what I am asking for would usually be a granny or daddys job. :\

& I am opposite (now) I would feel much more comfortable over night because I know she is sleeping where as in the day I find it hard to trust people to feed her bathe her clothe her- and I'm a bit clingy in the sense that I want to be the one to make her giggle and babble with her! =P
Thank you

You could look into Direct Payments as an option.
I got Direct Payments to pay a personal assisstant to do one overnight a week.
I pay my mum to do it. For us it works out better this way as he then stays at her house.
Otherwise an assisstant would have had to come here to stay overnight.