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Paid childcare

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Original poster

2 DC - nanny or nursery?

77 replies

butadream · 12/03/2010 20:35

DS went to nursery and we were happy with it but the pick-up time was always stressful. Mainly for this reason now we have 2 DC we're considering a nanny instead. Other reasons for a nanny are:

  • a nice nanny always seems like a nicer arrangement for younger babies anyway
  • no problems if DC ill
  • the other nursery duties a nanny does are v attractive i.e. clean clothes and good food for DC

BUT:

  • would a live-out nanny work 8.30 am - 7 pm (hopefully we would be home earlier most nights but trains are not trustworthy enough to promise it)?
  • lots of posts on here about unreliable nannies worrying me esp if agencies aren't that helpful
  • nursery still cheaper actually esp with increases to employer NIC on the way
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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FabIsDoingPrettyWell · 12/03/2010 20:52

I used to work 7.45 to 6.45 5 days a week. That was a live out job but one live in job I did 7.30-7.30.

jkklpu · 12/03/2010 20:49

It's not quite clear what you mean by "the pick-up time was always stressful" about the nursery. Have you identified what made it stressful? how far away was it from your work/home? Was it hard for you to get there in time without risking fines or what was it? Maybe you need to get to the bottom of this before you decide.

Other questions: are you considering full-time for both? If 5 days/week it would be a pretty long week for a nanny unless s/he lived very close by. You say there would be no problems with a nanny if dcs were ill. But you need to bear in mind that nannies need holidays and also get sick: what would your emergency fallback option be? WIth a nursery, you know it will always be open, which is reassuring if you and your dp are in high-pressure jobs.

And do you have nursery options or is your ds still at a nursery and your baby would go to the same one. Your OP implies that your older child might already be at school if nursery is a thing of the past. So presumably a nanny would be expected to do school drop-off/pick-up.

I'd say that you need to work out what it is you want from your childcare, what are the priorities? If it's that you and your dp can keep working longish hours and then go straight home, then it sounds as though you're heading for a nanny. But if you want more stimulation for your older child and less risk that you have to come up with alternative arrangements when the nanny is suddenly indisposed, you might want to reconsider the nursery.

It's a difficult judgement to make but determining your highest-priority reasons might help you work it out.