Maid verse infant care center

Before the confinement nanny went back, I got a maid in. She is from Indonesia and had a baby once but passed away when delivered. I took her despite she has zero experience with baby. She told me she help her siblings take care of baby. When she was at my place I even console her on her lost baby. I encourage her that after her contact end in 2 years, she can go back and try again and who knows the lost baby might come back to her.

She followed the confinement nanny for 3 days and my confinement nanny had full of complains about the maid. The maid does not speak English and she cannot understand the feeding schedule. I told her to write down all the feeding timing. She can't figure out am and pm. She can't figure out dates as well. I think I m very patient towards her... There was once I even invented a new method to teach her about feeding interval using 2 bottles to mimic baby tummy and feeding.  The 1st week she was at home with me and baby during the day. 2nd week we start going to my mum place in the day as that would be the arrangement for her and baby when I return to work. Everyday she has to pack baby stuffs to my mum place and there are days she forget to pack milk. I wonder would she forget to eat her own meals.

Having trained her for 2 weeks I decided that she is really not cut to take care of baby. Considering that Clovy is a much easier baby than Charlotte... She can't really manage her feeding... Clovy is constantly crying when the maid feed her... Cos the maid doesn't know how to burp her. I do not know how is the maid going to manage it alone when I go back to work. I think Nick is constantly hearing my complain about the maid everyday. I spend so much effort to train her, forsaking the comfort of my own place to bring her and bb to my mum place early in the morning and teaching her how to take care of baby, yet nothing much goes into her brain. She is very stubborn and will take things in her own hands.

Initially, Nick is not keen for Clovy to go infant care as this would chalk up our expenses plus we might not need the maid which means housework for both of us. But after a few agony days with lots of blood boiling incidents, (I do not want to recall so I m not listing them) I convinced Nick that we really can't leave Clovy in the maid's care. He is supportive of my decision so I called up about 8 to 10 centers mostly Pcfs as the ntuc ones has long waiting list. I managed to find 3 centers near my mum place which has vacancy. I went to view the centers immediately. I dare not leave the baby alone with the maid for too long so using the interval during her feeding time, I walked to the 3 centers. After viewing, my ultimate choice is the one which a small area and they can only take in a max of 10 babies. Currently they have 5 and including Clovy, it will be 6. I ask around for advise on infant care and I decided that the smaller area IFC would be a better choice. I brought Nick to view the place the next day (Saturday) and place the deposit and enrollment on following Monday. Before placing the deposit, I asked around my mum place to see if there is any nanny. It happen that my mum Neighbour staying 1 level down is an experienced nanny. I went to look for her but she can't take in Clovy as she is currently taking care of 1 toddler.

As the center only take in baby every beginning of the month, they hope that Clovy can start in 1st Sept as they already have bb going to come in Oct. Clovy will only be 2.5 months old by 1st Sept. Nonetheless, I decided that it might be better to get her to kick start the routine fast. Whenever I tell people Clovy is in IFC, they will give me this horror look... But I rather she goes to IFC then in the hand of the maid which is so unpredictable. People start telling me how neglected the baby will be in the IFC... But I myself can't attend to here all the time when she was with me at home. I often left her crying and screaming when I need to attend to other matters.

I send the maid back to the agent by late of August. Initially I wanted to keep the maid for housework as my mum place need to clean up as well. But a lot of incidents that make my blood boil and I keep losing my temper. I am worried that one find day she will go crazy also. She really bo sim to work for us. By sending her back I lost about 1k. The insurance and misc about $500, her 2 weeks stay in the agent before she get a transfer will cost $210. The govt levy during the transfer another $120.  It got me really upset and pissed. Now I am still waiting and considering if I want the replacement. If I do not take the replacement, I would lost the agent fee about 1k. Her prepaid salary about 2k I still do not know if I can get those back. Sian.... All in all, I might be paying 2.7k (1k misc, 1k agent fee and 700 for her 1 month salary) for her 1 month work with us! Bloody hell, it's even more expensive than the confinement nanny and yet useless. The issue about maid is when you get a good one, it will be helping hand. When you get a lousy one, you will have sleepless nights and training for your blood pressure. I am seriously considering not to have any maid.

When I had the maid, I stop the part time cleaning service for my mum place... Then now I get the part time cleaner to come back... She increased our fee.... I really feel like a walking carrot all thanks to the maid... My wallet is feeling very very painful.