hear the army

Another excerpt from an email to a friend regarding how we’ve handled childcare here so far:

Gosh, i’m trying to think when i started [using daycare]…it was when Bijou could finally go for about 4 hours between feedings because she refused to take a bottle so maybe when she was about 5-6 months? I would use the hourly day care place near my house JR Kids Room Rokkomichi if i needed some time.

Then I used a lady who posted her name on a board saying she would do housework or sitting for a few times but after a weird experience with her and when Bijou got a lot more mobile and a danger to herself i started using a licensed sitter from a service (Mary Poppins) – more expensive but worth it.

So now if it’s daytime I use the day care and if it’s night time (she’ll be asleep before i return), i hire a sitter. I think having someone to help clean and come around is a great idea. I never had the cleaning help but have definitely dreamed of it! I think most of the sitter services also offer that. I’ve never used it but also heard of a “Silver Service” or something where retired people who want to spend time with babies or help out volunteer through the city and it’s super cheap. Check the above link (Japanese only) or at your city/ward office.

The two services I know of: I use Mary Poppins.
Another friend also recommends this service (Japanese only).