It's that old nanny or nursery dilemma

Nanny, hands down. Your life will be so much easier with a good nanny. Kids willl be more relaxed, days can be planned around how they're feeling at that time, you can decide how to feed them, nanny will wash their clothes and bedding so you get more quality time with them.

You could maybe check out local childminders too- can be a happy medium between nanny and nursery. CMs can create a home like atmosphere and have daily trips out but not taking place in your actual home so less admin and stocking up in advance for you than with a nanny based in your home.

Also CMs can have some of the advantages of a nursery if they have other children at the childminder, so good socialising opportunities with similar age DC but on a smaller, more family sized scale.

Also whoever said it’s worth it for not having to stress about sick days alone is spot on. I have friends who used every day of holidays for two years covering sick days off nursery.

Could you split it- nanny 3 days and nursery 2, so when the free hours kick in it gives you some saving, they get the social factor etc?
My friend has just gone from FT nursery to pt nanny and pt cm to balance costs and flex
I have 2 kids one at nursery and one wrap around school. I plan on using a housekeeper/ nanny /au pair when second is at school to be able to do more life stuff with them
I love our nursery but feel they don't get as much just playing at home and in puddles etc as I'd invisaged my kids having!!
Nanny for convenience would win if level costs and it was 100% time at one option

My kids had a nanny and only started nursery once they got free hours. In no way has this held them back socially - they spent time with other kids at groups and out and about at playgrounds, but not much, but it didn’t make difference. They are both confident and friendly with other kids, as well as unusually mature and thoughtful. They are both hugely ahead in speech, language and literacy too.

I think the 1-1 nurturing of a nanny is so much more valuable than socialization of nursery. If you are in the fortunate position to do it, I strongly recommend.

Oh my goodness - extras are nothing with most nannies round here, a pound or two here and there for a bus and a playgroup. Mine is brilliant at making the most of museums and other things that are free.

Nanny, no question.

Sick days alone make it worthwhile. Plus nannies usually have (or quickly develop) brilliant networks and your ex-nursery child will love the play dates and one-on-one attention

Extras depend on how frugal your nanny is. We had a nanny who was very conscientious with our money and generally went to library, park and playgroups (£2 a time) rather than £10 a time classes. Although we chose to pay for some like swimming lessons. She always took packed lunches for the DC and barely ate lunch herself (we offered to buy her food so many times!!) I have heard of nannies who think £12 on softplay is a normal morning and expect salmon fillets and organic veg for their lunch... Checking references is key (call up and have a good chat).

Cactus round here a nursery is £86/90 a day for one year old. Gross Nanny cost is c£16 an hour plus pension.

Nanny every time! I’ve done both but a good Nanny is brilliant. It is so much less stressful as you don’t need to get them out in the morning, no worries if the children are under the weather and can’t go to nursery. Dc were much happier at home and going to groups than long days at nursery too

We’ve got twins and I go back to work soon. Paying a nanny, her pension, Ofsted registration fees and the admin costs of PAYE etc is comparable to 2 x nursery fees that my friends are paying for their 1 year olds. It’s crazy money, we are also in London.

I’m feeling a bit more relaxed about going back to work as I don’t have the nursery settling in or the mountain of dreaded sick days to start with. Just have to hope that the Nanny is as good as we think she is!

Longer term I’ve thought that Nanny & Pre school would work well. Although I understand that this will be slightly more expensive as nursery fees go down at age 3 but obviously Nanny costs won’t. I haven’t looked in detail at the economics but I can imagine the convenience and good for the kids will out weigh the cost saving.

£50 a week should be plenty I would think. I'm in Yorkshire so genetically hard wired to shout 'how much!?!' at the price of anything south of Sheffield but the stuff I take my dc to are in the £2.50 a session range! Soft play is a bit dearer but not that much.

Being SUPER nosy now, but very roughly how much is a nanny full time for two a month?

Nanny any time. For the illnesses alone.

We have done both - had 2 at nursery and now have a nanny. And would say 100% nanny - there are so many advantages compared to nursery. No rush to get kids ready in the morning, no getting home exhausted after work with 2 grumpy hungry kids to a cold dark house with dinner still to make and clear up. The kids are so happy and settled with her and get loads of interaction through play dates with other nannies. It is so nice to get home to a warm clean tidy house and two happy settled and fed children. Plus if either of the kids are sick there is no stress about having to take days off to care for them or find them childcare. Plus the nanny will do bits and bobs of shopping, dry cleaning, cooking etc - I used to spend most of my lunch breaks doing these chores. Life is just so much easier than when the kids were at nursery and I really don't think there are disadvantages.
HOWEVER as pp has said it isn't the same price as nursery even if it seems to be at first glance. You will need to factor in petrol or travels expenses for excursions and money for days out, snacks and drinks when out etc. Plus your kids are eating lunch at home every day rather than in nursery. I would say we pay out between £100 - £150 a month on petrol and extras.

Agree with the posters who've said nanny. For all the reasons mentioned and also, think ahead just two years to when your eldest will be starting school. Lots of people think this is when it gets easier. It isn't. Having an established nanny at this point would be fantastic (while your youngest still needs full time childcare).

The nanny can:

• help settle the child into school (many schools do shorter days at first)
• be there for inevitable sick days
• enable you to avoid breakfast clubs/after school clubs which can be a bit overwhelming and tiring for little ones
• help your home life to run smoothly by sorting out school-related admin (uniform, keeping track of dates, sorting out costumes, arranging play dates, etc)

Just my thoughts.

Another vote for nanny. All the nannies I know take the DCs to a group/class every day so socialising not a problem.

Is there a pre school near you? A nanny could take your 2 year old?

If it costs the same then absolutely get a nanny!

Make sure you are accounting for the cost of a good nanny (market rate not lowest rate) and you've factored in hidden costs like outings, nanny's food, having the heating on in the day. Also bear in mind nannies have holidays and occasionally get sick.

On the other hand (and this is a BIG consideration) a nanny will look after a sick child unlike a nursery. Overall parents who use nannies are IME far less likely to have to miss work due to childcare issues than parents who use a nursery.

Nanny can take your DC to classes and playgroups (if you are in London there will be loads), will do playdates with other nannies, and also do other outings - park, library, softplay, museums even. And as pp said your DC1 will be ready for his 15 free hours soon.

And as pp said it is SO much more convenient for you. No rush to get DC up and ready before leaving for work. Much more flexibility if you are running late sometimes. And they can do kids' laundry, cook for DC (incl freezer supplies), put away food shop etc.

Childminder?

Will it really be he same cost though? By the time you add on expenses - things they do, travel, food, etc. - and take off the free hours you'll get once your ds is 3 ?

Will it be worth it once your older one is in school (which comes round sooner than you think) ?

Nanny every time. No rushing about to get out for drop offs, kids can play at home as well which is nice for them I think and both nannies we’ve had (2 in 9 years) have kept kids super busy with play dates and groups with other nanny friends. A good nanny is a total life changer (does kids washing, stays on top of toys, helps work through any issues with kids).