Nursery vs Childminder & when is too young to start?

Again depends on thrsery redglow our place most members of staff have been there since it opened. I have done 3 years there and hope to be there until retirement if they will let me.

The last nursery they hadnt had a new member of staff in 16 years, which I did placement at and no positions ever cam up. ll staff had been there since there own children had attended there when they werelittle.

True that you can't say all childminders are better than all nurseries, but I will say my strong dislike of nurseries comes from working in them, same as redglow, just a different perspective from a parent using one.

Pixiewitch your best option would be a nanny if you can afford one. If a nanny is too pricey maybe look into nannyshares, these can be the ideal solution (not for everyone, but they can be fantastic)

Molly how many nursery nurses do you have to babies?

In my nursery they are in slings a lot with key worker so get a lot of time having hugs and cuddles. I wouldnt put them in one of those nurseries with rows of cots and you want them looking after only a very small amount of babies.

No suppose there might be the odd good one, I have temped in quite a few and they were not great. You do go a high turnover of staff in a nursery though. Al

You cant say that about all nurseries redglow same as you cant say it about childminders. It all depends

Having worked in nurseries I would go for a childminder. You will get much better care at a childminders.

Totally agree with sleep. Mine went at 4 months and the other 5/6 months.

I much preferred the idea a number of adults rather than relying on one person. They had a keyworker scheme at the DSs' nursery which did work really well. It was a good nursery with low staff turnover (something to look out for) Childminders will also have older children esp. toddlers who are much more demanding of attention than a baby.

Obviously it's down to personal choice but I would prefer a good nursery over a childminder any day.

I personally think a good nursery with a good small baby room is vastly better than a CM. For your own peace of mind that if CM sick/on holiday there's always care and because I think having 3-4 babies with 2 adults and everythign revolving around them is better than the potential bedlam of lots of older kids and a distracted CM. That said if you find a good cM that's probably the best of all but I never found one even half as good as the baby room at DD's nursery

I will also add I prefer nurseries to childminders but I am lucky as I know somevery good nurseries so all depends on your area.

If you have to, you have to.

Unless you can find a nursery that is exceptionally well adapted to caring for babies (most aren't), find a good childminder.

They settle easier the youngr they are.DD started at 4 monthsand Im due in 8 weeks and this DD will start at 5/6 months. I am going to pay for sessions early so when I start back at 8 months she wont cry.8/9 months is the worst time so I definitely want her in earlier

Childminder. Babies and v young children benefit most from forming strong attachments to an individual carer. Nurseries have keyworker systems, but often the baby will not necessarily be always cared for by the same person due to leave, illness etc.

Whether it is too young or not depends on the reasons you have for wanting to do it. If you need to work for example, then you need to, end of.

Difficult to specify exacttly what to expect. I would want someone I felt I could trust, who had a natural warmth with babies and young children, who had a clean and appropriately kitted out home. Also someone who I felt would listen to my requests, care for my baby ina similar way to me and communicate well with me. I would probably be interested to know about their daytime routines and which other children they care for.

Your local council may have info on childcare locally, that's where I got a list with contact details of childminders from.

1. Only you can answer that. I wouldn't personally, but if you want to/need to go back to work then your child will be fine. They settle easier at this age than then they're older and more aware of what's going on.

2. Another one that is personal opinion, but I would always always go for a nanny or chilminder with a child under 2. Lots of people use nurseries for babies, both have their strengths and weaknesses.

3. What do you want from them?

1 full day/ 1 half day isn't very much and would be more difficult for baby to get settled in a routine, if you could do it then 3 half days may be better?