Mother-in-Law to provide Temporary Child Care

[strake]

Sorry if this has been asked before....

I am a UK Citizen and my wife (Russian) has just received naturalisation.

I am in full time employment and travel abroad, so away from home on an irregular basis. My wife will complete a degree course in London (80 mile commute) in June of next year. We have a child who is now 18 Months old. We invited my wife's mother to the UK to, effectively, provide almost full-time child-care for our daughter. My wife's Mother has a two year multi-entry visitor visa and has been with us since September.
In our innocence at the time, we did not really understand the restrictions placed on visitor visas and have only just understood the maximum 6 month stay requirement together with all the other restrictions on visiting.
We have read the guidance notes and understand that a family visitor MAY be allowed to stay to provide child-care on a temporary basis but not for longer than six months. So, my MiL has been here now for three months, and we need her for another six months.
Given the various restrictions, what can anyone suggest....should we try to say, take MiL back to Russia for two weeks over Xmas and then hope she can return for the final 6 months or is there a "proper" visa which she should apply for?
Many thanks in advance..

[SYH]

she leaves for a month a goes back

[Wanderer]

The accepted rule of thumb for visit visas is no more than six months out of every twelve.

Otherwise it looks too much like an attempt to settle.

[VictoriaS]

If she has a two year multiple entry visit visa then this is more than just a rule of thumb, it is a strict requirement.

Victoria

[mansawant]

Hi,

My mum has 5 years multiple entry visit visa. She was here in UK for 3 times for 6 months each time with one month gap. But last time she was told that she can't come to uk with one month gap out of uk, she has to apply for settlement visa if she wants to stay like this. She went to home country in last week of July 07. So can she come in Jan 08 here again or she has to wait for 6 months gap and she can come in Feb 08.

Thanks & Regards,
Mansawant