To wonder what is best for a child, nursery or childminder??

[Hotmad]

I had in my mind that when I begrudgingly go back to work I would find a childminder for my DD who will be around 1 yr old.
A friend then told me that a nursery would be better as they would get more social integration there.

Also contact your local council and they will give you a list.

It's very important that babies and toddlers are able to develop deep attachments to whoever is caring for them. This would happen automatically with a lone childminder but can also happen in a nursery with a very well thought out and carefully managed key worker system. just having the same person recording their learning every week isn't an effective key worker system. There needs to be one or two people who do most things with your child, including feeds and nappy changes so they get to know each other really well.

It's also important that you are comfortable with the ethos of the setting and that it matches your parenting style sufficiently well that you won't clash, feel resentful or find it hard to trust them. Your gut feeling when visiting will be a good indicator of this.

Other things, like expensive resources and teaching them to read early, are less important. In fact any setting that pushed the academic side would put me right off.

When I go back (when child is 1y/o) I will b using a child minder. I wouldn't like to think of a baby in Nursery at that young age but that's just my preference. I will probably think about changing over to Nursery care though when he hits 2/3 when I think the social aspect of Nursery would be more of benefit.

It's all about quality really. A great childminder beats a mediocre nursery and a great nursery beats a mediocre childminder. A great childminder will find lots of opportunities for social interaction and learning. A great nursery will make plenty of time for one on one, and ensure that children feel safe and cared for.

littleducks I believe that all of that stuff is good for babies, I really do. I think first babies are a bit disadvantaged with all of the flapping about naps and what have you. If they're tired, they will sleep regardless. It's life.

OP - also think about longer term. Does your local primary have a pre-school? I used a nursery for DS but then when DD came along I went with a recommended childminder because I really wanted her to go to the school pre-school - for all the reasons mentioned about nurseries above. The CM takes her and picks her up from the pre-school so she has the best of both worlds.

Biggest downside of a CM is that you are only dependant on them. Can you be flexible with your holidays to fit around them? Are you willing to be?

Which nursery, which childminder?

I would say in general childminder as they provide something that is closer to a home environment and they generally spend their days going to groups with other child minders.

However, it depends which nurseries and childminders are available to you. Also, a childminder may occasionally not be available if e.g. is sick.

I thought fitting into a normal life was a great advantage for dc: it meant they got taken for a walk morning and afternoon whether the CM felt like it or not, they had a great time socialising with other children in the playground whilst waiting for older mindees and when their turn came to start school they were already familiar with the environment.

Our CM had every qualification under the sun, seriously impressive, knew far more than I did.

child ratio was 1:3 for littlies, but they could then have a few school age children on top; which was lovely for dc when they started school because there would be older children there who knew them and would look out of them

I preferred nursery for my DC after a bad encounter with a CM. At least nursery had more staff and they got breaks and could swap keyworker if there was a mis-match between carer and child. My DD is lovely but clingy and not everyone s cup of tea.

Also nursery is open every day except bank holidays and between Christmas and New Year, which makes working life easier.

"If they're tired, they will sleep regardless."

I wish you had come and told that to over tired ds at 3 am this morning. He was woken from his naps yesterday due to school runs and swimming lessons and was tired and grumpy all evening before waking up and being hard to settle (not hungry/not wind/not teething/not ill) repeatedly all night.

I found having a baby slotted in well with having a toddler (baby could nod off in pram at toddler groups) they both had nap after lunch etc. but am finding it tricky to balance school aged children and babies needs.

Well confession time as a mother of one I have it all to come though as planning DC2 in a year or two so DS will be 7/8.

I do know not all babies sleep as easily as others. I still think (broadly) that it's better and more interesting for a baby to have others' lives to slot around rather than just having the world and all schedules revolving around them.

BertieBotts

There's no substitute for doing your homework - go and see nurseries/CMs, ask lots of questions, ask around for local recommendations, look at OFSTED reports. Then think about what suits your child. A shy/sensitive child might benefit from a quieter environment.

We chose our nursery because it has great local recommendations and the facilities/activities it offers are fantastic. The children looked really happy when we visited, the staff seemed engaged and affectionate. The food (made fresh by their on site chef) looked great.

I didn't want my dd going to the same playgroups etc that I'd taken her to on mat leave (lots of CMs took children to those). I knew she'd quickly become bored and she needed more variety/challenge.

Our nursery has structured/varied activities that suit dd. Yesterday dd rode a scooter and a trike, painted, played with play-doh, helped make biscuits, did singing and played games around learning letters and numbers. She's not even 2 yet. She loves going there, is always engrossed in something when I pick her up.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking all CMs provide constant, one to one loving care and all nurseries leave children to sit crying in their own poo. Keep an open mind, visit and get as much info as you can.

What swings it for me toward nurseries or nannies is that these are people who have chosen to go in to the caring for children profession, before having children themselves, thereby proving a desire to work with children. Whereas cms only choose this career after they have their own children. As it gets you out of having to go back to work after mat leave.

Depends on the child but don't get hung up on social interaction. Every scientific study going says they don't really gain anything substantial from it until they're 3.

littlemissbrum: nothing substantive to be gained from social interaction? Really?

Don't toddlers learn to share, to be gentle with younger toddlers etc by interaction with other children? Yes they can learn the theory from parents/nanny but that isn't the same as learning by practice.

Mumsnets own child development calender for 2 yr olds flags developing relationships with other adults/children as a sign of growing security.

Man of our local nurseries do local trips to rhyme times and parks. Having observed the teenagers who escort the little ones on these outings and their failure to engage with the children while they all sit and gossip, I'd choose a well regarded childminder all the time.

Another factor is the peripheral qualifications in first aid, food hygiene etc. nurseries have to have someone on the payroll who is qualified in each of the necessary things. A childminder has to have all these qualifications.

Arethereanyleftatall
I don't think that's strictly fair or true tbh. Firstly not all childminders have their own children, I know several who don't. But even those who do aren't necessarily doing it just so they don't have to go back from maternity leave - lots of people are from smaller families so have less experience of children before having their own. They have a child, spend more time with kids in general and maybe discover a career option they had never considered.would you consider anyone else who changes career later in life -lots of nurses and midwives get in to it when they are older - as inferior or is it only those in childcare?

Oh and they've not all been on maternity leave cos they're not all female

at childminders, there could be other members of family looking after the kids, who may not be CRB checked

I think all over 18's who would be alone with the children have to be CRB checked

I didn't want to send ds1 to a childminders as didn't like the idea of being dragged on school runs, being ignores in favour of older children etc. I now send ds2 to childminders - he has a shorter school run than would if I was a sahm taking ds1 to school & loves the attention & continuity he gets from having one CM (yes ds1 had a succession ofkeyworkers ) and playing with the bigger kids after school

I prefer a Nursery because they are more accountable and there are several people looking out for the children and for eachother. However, a good childminder or a good nursery are equally desirable I recon.

I am dreading having to find a childminder when my DS starts school and needs to be picked up after school :(

The best thing for a child is his/hers own parents. Obviously.

MillionPram but they will get that kind of interaction from everyday life unless you lock them in a protective bubble and never let them talk to anyone.

I agree that under 3s don't need the "socialisation" offered by nursery. It's not harmful or anything but it is of no significant benefit that they can't get elsewhere without any extra effort.

i think under two should be more 1 to 1 which a child minder can give, they cater to the child a lot like you would.

Over two's need interaction with other children to help with their personal development

I've used both. DD1 had a childminder, who we loved but who looked after a lot of after school kids too with other members of her family, until we moved house. Then she went to nursery aged 2.9. I was a bit worried she wasn't making friends at first but she soon settled down, and now has a big group of nursery friends, which has also meant we have met a big group of local Mums. DD2 does a nanny-share but she is about to be 2 and I feel like she could use a bit more stimulation so am looking to start her at nursery 1-2 days a week before dd1 leaves in September.

Think nursery is really good for preparing the kids for school, but know plenty who have SAHM and just do the three hours a day, which seems enough preparation.

The best thing for a child is his/hers own parents. Obviously. Not what the OP asked and most of us don't have the luxury of staying at home to look after our kids because of those pesky things like rent, bills, food costs etc