To be surprised no one I know is using a childminder

[Aftermidnightstrikes]

Or a nanny, actually. They seem commonplace here but in RL everyone opts for nurseries. Has anyone else found this?

@Macncheeseballs

Some people don't use either

You don’t say

The nurseries near me rely heavily on a lot of very very young inexperienced staff, and have terrible turnover. The children who are there for 2 or 3 years before school starts often have as many as 4 or 5 different key workers.

And despite my friends all choosing nurseries they spent years complaining about things:

• children changed on a routine so getting nappy rash constantly due to being left dirty
• keyworker changing constantly
• nursery not supporting potty training
• kids picking up bugs constantly

The point being that there are pros and cons to both. I personally like a childminder for very young children as I think the home environment suits them better, and a preschool from anywhere between 2.5 and 4 depending on the child.

I don’t know anyone who uses a childminder either. It’s always nursery or occasionally nanny. I’m personally just not a fan of the childminder model.

It's massively area dependent. Where I used to live there were plenty of childminders and we used two lovely, great ones and I was very happy with them. When we moved there were only a couple of childminders in the whole area and none with vacancies so we used a nursery, as does everyone else I know here. I suspect it's got a lot to do with house prices - being a childminder requires quite a lot of space.

My DD has been with a wonderful, experienced childminder from age 1-4. In three years the cm has only ever had one day off, so reliability has not been an issue. My DD loves her, and we will continue to use her for school pick ups and drop offs until she finishes primary school. In return, we always make sure we pay invoices on time, don't send out daughter in when she is ill and make sure we pick up at the contracted time. All our friends use nurseries, and most seem happy with their choice.

Round here, I think nurseries are the default option, purely because there aren’t enough childminders. I get so many enquires, that I have to turn down because I am full. I guess, Those parents go on to be happy with nursery, but they would also have been happy with a childminder. A lot of parents really don’t want to put their baby in a nursery for various reasons. I’ve had a few literally beg for a place, (The last two like this have already had a child go through the nursery system) and I’ve had parents who have been using a nursery and so unhappy with it they have left work as they couldn’t get a childminder place. Unfortunately there aren’t enough childminders- the last time I had a vacancy, I filled it within an hour of advertising it. unfortunately childminder numbers are decreasing year on year, so those children who really need to be in a smaller setting with a consistent carer are not going to be able to have that experience (I appreciate that Some nurseries can offer consistent carers, but in my experience that is rare, a room change from babies to toddlers to preschool, then mid year changes when staff leave or get moved around the nursery can often mean that the bond between child and staff gets changed frequently).

@bluewanda can you link the thread I didn’t see it 😱

I've been a childminder for over 20yrs. I'm flexible, I follow the same curriculum as nursery, I'm experience, qualified, first aid trained, can count on one hand the number of days I've had to close for sickness in that time, take holidays when it suits us all. I work bank holidays, weekends, late nights and early mornings. I feed all the children a home cooked 2/3 course healthy meal every evening. I teach the older ones to cook and I facilitate their independence wherever possible in conjunction with their parents.

Most of 'my' children were or have been with me from birth to yr7. Most of the older ones, now at Uni or working, still visit and keep in touch. I am still friends with their parents.

On top of all that I have babysat for them, I take parcels for them so they can order and not worry about being at work. I help the older ones with homework and craft stuff.

I do all this for two reasons, 1: I love my job, 2: to help the parents have a relaxing evening after doing a full day at work and not having to get home and start cooking/doing homework.

I'm not unusual.

There's no changeover of staff, no unqualified youngsters being paid a pittance, flexibility and a home feel. What's not to like?

I've worked in nurseries, hospitals, private homes, for social services. There are crap staff in all those places and there are fab staff in all those places.

I used Nursery when DD was little and now school wraparound.

There was 1 childminder I looked round, she seemed lovely and experienced but the children called her assistant Mummy because the assistant was her DD and had her own DC there, and that felt too much for me.

I found a lovely Nursery who ticked all the boxes, and DD still talks fondly of her time there.

I know people who use a childminder and are very happy with their choice though, it's whatever suits the family/child.

In my NCT group a decade ago now, I was the only one to opt for a childminder. For us it was the cost being lower and also the fact my DCs have been there five days a week since they were nine months old. I felt a home from home setting with the same carer was preferable to nursery at that age.

Other friends weren't keen as they didn't want their baby to develop that close bond with one person, felt CMs were somehow less professional than nurseries or that their DCs would be sat in front of the TV all day instead of doing the EYFS curriculum.

Our CM works with another CM so the two of them can always cover illness or emergency appointments etc. They've been brilliant and I feel lucky that my DCs have a close bond with them and have had the same carers since they were babies. Totally appreciate there are bad apples out there but I have had a very positive experience with childminders.

@RedMarauder it always amazes me how most hold nurseries with such high regard. Without going into too much detail I had an opportunity to work extremely closely with the staff at my DD's preschool if I'd had the knowledge of what I found out I would never have entrusted them with my child's care. Absolutely shocking behaviour total lack of understanding basic safeguarding and even a member of staff had SS involvement with her own family and not just for support reasons.
Gossiping about parents doesn't stop with childcare it also happens in schools.

I don’t know anyone that uses a Nanny, it’s not really a thing in my area but it’s a pretty equal split between nurseries and childminders.

I used both for my two, and we much preferred their time with a Childminder. DD has just started with a new childminder before school as she was really upset about having to go back to school breakfast club and is loving it.

The childminder that I used when I went back to work after having DD (DD was 7 months old & DS 6 for wrap around care). Was a husband and wife set up, they had a huge extension set up like a small nursery. Provided home cooked meals but still took the children out on and about daily. I hated the idea of them being in a small room all day at nursery.

And yes all CM’s are required to follow the same early years curriculum as nurseries.

I don't think there are many childminders near us. Houses are tiny and expensive with small gardens. The three major employers have subsided nurseries also

@FawnFrenchieMum

I don’t know anyone that uses a Nanny, it’s not really a thing in my area but it’s a pretty equal split between nurseries and childminders.

I used both for my two, and we much preferred their time with a Childminder. DD has just started with a new childminder before school as she was really upset about having to go back to school breakfast club and is loving it.

The childminder that I used when I went back to work after having DD (DD was 7 months old & DS 6 for wrap around care). Was a husband and wife set up, they had a huge extension set up like a small nursery. Provided home cooked meals but still took the children out on and about daily. I hated the idea of them being in a small room all day at nursery.

Yes that's so important! My DCs are very active and love the outdoors. I feel like a nursery probably wouldn't have been the best place for them in that sense.

I'd have gone for a nanny if I could have afforded one, as in most cases they'll look after your kids if the kids are a bit under the weather, but definitely rather a nursery rather than a childminder in early days. Not only will they not take a child that's even slightly ill, but they'll also take sick days and holidays themselves which a nursery won't. I think nursery staff also keep an eye on each other and can support each other at those tired frustrated moments in a way that a childminder can't.

I have used a daycare nursery and had a nanny but would have preferred a good CM! There are very few in my area.

I’m sure there are some great nurseries (the one we used wasn’t) but in reality the children are mostly spending day in day out in one or two rooms. That just seems really depressing to me.

Things like going to the supermarket, post office etc, are learning experiences for young children. Sitting all day (10hrs) in a room with children the same age is not.

Our nanny was great at tailoring trips, activities etc for our children’s interests, plus they got to relax in their own homes after school. But it’s a very expensive childcare option.

We have been lucky to afford a sole nanny since the children were little. It’s definitely not cheap but works for us

Yes most people use nurseries imo

Childminders are just as used as nurseries where we are. In fact most people want a childminder but the waiting lists are long.

@PearandHoney

I have used a daycare nursery and had a nanny but would have preferred a good CM! There are very few in my area.

I’m sure there are some great nurseries (the one we used wasn’t) but in reality the children are mostly spending day in day out in one or two rooms. That just seems really depressing to me.

Things like going to the supermarket, post office etc, are learning experiences for young children. Sitting all day (10hrs) in a room with children the same age is not.

Our nanny was great at tailoring trips, activities etc for our children’s interests, plus they got to relax in their own homes after school. But it’s a very expensive childcare option.

My DDs nursery used to take the children out on trips 2 or 3 times a week, trips to the post box, to get the biscuits and milk for the staff room from the local Tesco etc. So it can be dependent on the Nursery I think.

Nurseries are cheaper and more reliable (sickness cover, set holidays etc) plus more social interaction for both kids and parents. Both my son and I met some lovely friends through nursery.

I used childminders for all of mine and each was different but brilliant. With the last two it was also essential as no nursery around here would take my children at 0645 in the morning, the childminders would.

I used a nursery as I disliked most of the childminders I met at playgroups when I was on maternity. I was surprised how many of them didn’t like their children. My friend was a childminder at the time, well loved and hugely in demand. She hated it though and also seemed to dislike the children (she put a good face on though). I did use one when DD was too old for nursery for a few years.

I’ve never ever met anyone who has used a nanny.

There is more money in nursery care for staff and a slightly better career progression path, but worse work life balance. Locally Childminding is something a lot of experienced Nannies or Nursery workers do when they don’t want the shift work and long hours and stress. They can set their hours, pick and choose their clients (most won’t take sen kids & will use any excuse to reject them. Locally it’s only nurseries that do).

Childcare is a horrendously poorly paid industry because while people are willing to pay market rate for phones and TVs they aren’t willing to do it for their kids. So staff don’t always see the point of training fully & can and do jump ship for incredibly small amounts of money. For example I lost an incredibly experienced girl for £2 extra an hour which I couldn’t afford as we needed more staff at a higher level than what she was qualified at - so I could bring in more kids to cover shortfalls.