Brian - sorry, did not mean to jump back at you.

The fact is that it does still happen today where people live close to relatives or with relatives. I know examples where childcare is split between nursery and grandparents. But I suppose you do need to be close enough, and have willing grandparents/relatives (lets not assume that just because they are retired, they have nothing better to do than raise their grandchildren - and why should they).

I suppose it is also the case that families are now a lot smaller as people tended to have less children, so the extended families/ relatives that used to be available to help, also does not exist, even if you stay living in the same place.

Were you offering to take up childcare as derbyhilltop suggested?
;-)