The crippling cost of childcare is making some mums think twice about returning to work. KATE THOMPSON talks to two women about the choices they made...

LOOKING after young children is a costly business. A recent report showed the average cost of bringing up a baby to the age of five is a staggering £52,605.

The number one cost is childcare, which can run into thousands, be it nurseries, nannies, child minders, au pairs, after school clubs or holiday play schemes.

In Southampton the average cost of childcare per week ranges from £144 for a nursery place to £135 for a childminder.

While paying for your first child to be cared for may be costly enough, it is when second and third children come along that the bill can spiral.

Ann Brine, 35, a director at the Southampton based Lawton Group, has two young children and was shocked when it came to paying her part-time nursery bill.

For her sons Alex, 3, and Tommy, 15 months, to spend two and a half days a week at nursery school costs Ann £500 a month.

She is luckier than most in that she and her husband Richard, 45, have been able to sort out their working week so they share the responsibility between them.

And Ann's mum also pitches in to help.

"The issue with this is that you know you have to pay that sort of money to ensure your children are being looked after in a loving environment that is stimulating for them.

"I am lucky that Richard starts work early and gets home early so he can look after the boys.

"Since Christmas I have been back at work full-time. I sometimes have to work in the evenings or at the weekend but it balances out," she said.

Catherine, 26, is mum to Joshua, 3, and Lucas, six months. She is just about to return to work but could not afford to if she had to rely on nursery care.

"The only reason I can afford to go back to work is because I am working every other Friday and my sister will be looking after the children.

"They will go to the nursery two days a week and that will cost us £30 a day per child," she said.

Catherine's partner Geoff, 41, is a self-employed painter and decorator and can also help out with childcare.

"I am going back to work now because I don't want too big a break in my career. I have the chance to earn bonuses and to start with I will be working two days a week and a third day every other week.

"If I was working full-time and paying for the children to go to nursery every day, after tax and insurance I would effectively be paying to go to work," she said.

In Southampton there are 31 nurseries, 234 childminders, 13 creches, 60 pre-schools and ten nursery classes in schools.

Lin Clark, of the Southampton Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, explained nine out of ten families with children are eligible for tax credits.

They can help families to pay for up to 70 per cent of childcare costs - and this can considerably reduce the weekly outlay.

"The majority of people can get help with the cost of childcare and it is up to the individual whether you prefer a childminder or nursery.

"Southampton has a good record for developing childcare in the city.

"The more a parent can plan ahead with their childcare the better - and we are here to offer them advice," she said.

The government has proposals for a new ten-year strategy to ensure "every child gets the best start in life".

Councillor Calvin Horner, executive member for education, said childcare was a major issue in the city.

"As a city council we are looking to provide support for childcarers and parents and to sustain the provision.

"There are issues about demand and whether we can meet that demand - we need to provide 392 new places in a year.

"So we have to ensure more people are being trained to fill those childcare worker places," he said.

For more information contact the Southampton Children's Information Service FREE on 0800 169 8833.