Nursery versus childminder post Covid

[Reedmonkey]

Hello! My first time posting here so apologies if I’m not doing it right, but I’d really appreciate some advice on the benefits of nursery versus childminder, especially in our new COVID landscape!

My DD is currently 7 months and will be 11 months in September, when she will start childcare two days a week. We have ageing grandparents in Scotland (we live in London) and we want to be able to see them as freely as possible from September, as long as we are allowed to travel by then.

My daughter has a place in quite a nice nursery, which has introduced some very strict COVID measures, including staff not touching or picking up children. While I understand this is probably very important for avoiding transmission it also seems quite tough on a very small child who will be away from her parents for the first time. Today we met a childminder who is super close to our house and who seemed very nice. However her measures against COVID are just extra hand washing and not going to any baby or toddler groups with the children. There is no social distancing in place between herself and the children she is caring for. I understand it must be near impossible to get children to socially distance or for a childminder to do her job effectively with social distancing. I just wondered if anyone has any thoughts re which might be safer for infection? It’s not that we are too desperately worried about having the virus for ourselves, more we want to protect grandparents and family members but still be able to visit them if at all possible once DD starts childcare.

Many thanks in advance for any advice you might have for us! Also any advice in general about small, caring childminder versus large nursery with lots of different stimulating areas but less one on one time.

Are you sure the nursery is enforcing no touching/picking up? That just sounds crazy and essentially abusive towards babies and toddlers.

I agree, sounds very wrong. Of course they have to pick up and comfort children!! What about nappy changes?!

I wouldn’t send my child anywhere that didn’t pick her up at that age! Children need to form strong attachments to care givers, it is vital for their development.

There is no social distancing to be done within childcare settings (apart from adult to adult). It's just not feasible with young children. I'm a childminder and that's pretty much my steps for covid too. Not really much more we can do. Cleaning toys and spending more time outdoors for me too and removing cushions and rugs. What other steps would you expect? But from a logical point of view the exposure would be less in a cm environment if there are less children

My son is with a childminder. He did go to nursery but never really settled there. I love that it's one constant person, turnover was so high at the nursery which was part of the problem. It's also a smaller setting so covid wise there is statistically less chance of him coming into contact with someone infected. Having experienced both I would now go for a CM if you have found one you like. Do check what time he takes off though as ours takes August, 10 days at Easter and 2 weeks at Christmas which is hard to cover.

In terms of Covid - no childcare setting is going to be safe.
In my experience childminders tend to be cleaner than nurseries but to be honest, children are largely asymptomatic and are going to cough, lick and sneeze all over the toys and each other.

I'd be choosing a setting more based on emotional security and attachments. Childminders are better able to provide that for babies imo.

some very strict COVID measures, including staff not touching or picking up children
That is ridiculous. For a 7 month old. Is she going to change her own nappy, feed herself a bottle and put herself into a cot for naps? Or will they wear hazmat suits to do that? I wouldnt send my child to an nursery who even considered such an over the top response.

Childmilder sounds lovely, and realistic. Remember the virus is very unlikely to do any harm to your daughter - being left in a room all day not being touched or picked up will be far more harmful.

Personally I think for a young child especially childminder is the way id go.

Nurseries can do whatever they like but toddlers won't Social distance. Nor can they avoid contact for nappy changes etc.

With a child minder the group of others they are exposed to is much smaller and the environment will be more like home. I think less people equals less risk as any measures are either not going to work or will be difficult for kids to understand and cope with.

I would double check with the nursery about these rules - that doesn't sound right. There's no way they'd leave a baby in a soiled nappy all day, unable to feed themselves or have a bottle, and not put them in a cot and soothe them at nap times. It goes against their duty of care.