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Paid childcare

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

Nursery vs childminder? Advice wanted pls xx

28 replies

Annie2222 · 12/08/2024 21:18

Hi all, was hoping for some advice on nurseries vs childminders for a 12 month old. We are so undecided! We like the structure, safety aspects and checks and balances of a nursery but we’re worried about staff turnover, lack of connection between staff and the kids, and illness. We do like the idea of a childminder who’d bond with our baby and it’s a smaller, more intimate setting etc, but find it hard to understand how one childminder could easily manage 4 young babies alone? Like how does it work? I know this is the legal ratio but in nurseries when there are multiple staff it seems more manageable?!

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated! First time mum and highly anxious about the whole thing 😕 thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
TemuSpecialBuy · 12/08/2024 21:30

CMs have max 3 under 5....

I thought I'd be into nurseries but for the reasons you mentioned turnover, reduced accountability etc i didnt like nurseries and found i much preferred our CMs...

I found anecdotally my dd gets less sick than her nursery peers.
I also like how flexible the days are and would really recommend a CM for children under 2

Mama3737 · 12/08/2024 21:26

A childminder wouldn't have four young babies on her own at once. They are generally allowed one baby under one at any one time, plus another 2-3 pre schoolers, so perhaps a baby plus a couple of toddlers, and then possibly pick up older school aged children too. They are absolutely not allowed anymore than 6 children aged under 8 at any one time.

Tulip8 · 12/08/2024 21:24

I don't know any childminder that has 4 babies

Maybe go and visit some of both settings before making sweeping decisions about either?

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