Hiya. We are currently considering our childcare options for when i return to work in September. We met a great nanny this week who has availability from September, hence us trying to conclude now on the best route. In September, our children will be almost 8, 5.5 and 10 months. Our elder two both went to private day nurseries from 10 months back when they were babies.
So the potential scenarios are these:
My husband and I share drop off and pick up. We will need to drop baby first at nursery 7.30/8 depending on which nursery, and then the elder two at their schools between 8&8.30, then onto the office. In the evening, pick the elder two up from after school club (5.15-5.45), and then get to nursery to pick baby up between 6&6.30. We would be doing these journeys by bike/ bus to/ from the station depending on the weather. In the holidays, the older two would do holidays clubs (activ camp/ art camp etc) which they have previously enjoyed.
The second scenario would be to get a nanny. She would arrive at ours at 7.30 am, drop the children at school by car/ bus/ scooter, take care of baby during the day and take to play groups etc, then pick the oldest two up from school between 3.30&4.30 depending on clubs they are doing at school. My husband or I would then get home around 5.30 when the nanny would finish for the day.
In the holidays, the nanny would have all 3 children- plus her own child, and they would have days out etc.
The cost differential of these options is c£7500 extra for the nanny over a year which we could just about afford, but would mean we need to limit holidays/ luxuries.
Which option would you go with? There are obviously pros & cons for both in my mind- which is making the decision very tricky! Thanks in advance for your help. 