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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Full time nursery or mix with childminder?

30 replies

Thewalker75 · 21/11/2019 12:07

I have 2 ds (nearly 3 and 18 mths) who are both currently at nursery 3 days a week and with Grandma 2 days a week in our house.

From January, Grandma daycare is over - she's helped us for a year and she's 72 soon and I've said that's more than enough go and enjoy retirement thank you very much!

My dilemma is whether I extend the days they are at nursery, which they both love but are absolutely exhausted when they get home, or look at getting a childminder to cover those two days so it's a bit more of a relaxed/home environment which is what they are used to?

Would a mix confuse them? Am I being precious at the thought of full time at nursery? Any ideas appreciated!

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Original poster
Thewalker75 · 21/11/2019 16:25

I just remembered that our nursery does tapered fees so the more hours they do, the cheaper it is, so to do anything different on those last two days will bump the cost up massively which we can't afford to do.

Gutted as I was really liking the idea of them going to a childminder (or yes, was considering a nanny too, although I got a bit stressed at the thought of being an employer!).

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twintwin22 · 21/11/2019 15:38

I think a mix is a good idea :)

nannynick · 21/11/2019 15:37

They are used to being at their own home two days, so how about a nanny? For two children that will be more cost than a childminder but they get the 1:2 ratio which they are used to when with grandma.

Lots of children do a combination of different types of childcare. A child I nanny does nursery a couple of days a week, has me one day and has mum the rest of the time.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 21/11/2019 13:59

I’m a childminder and most of my children do a mix of me and another setting/carer. They are all fine and enjoy the mix of pace at each place.

Original poster
Thewalker75 · 21/11/2019 13:56

bump for lunchtime crowd?

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