to think my nursery is a bit crap?

[wolfear]

I've been back at for two months and DS (9mths) has been at nursery. Apart from all the usual new mum/going back to work anxieties I'm not totally happy with the nursery. Don't get me wrong, they're not awful and the girls seem mice enough but it's things like having to hammer home several times certain points, like no dummy unless in bed, times for sleeps and bottles etc, even though I sat down with the room manager before he started and went through his routine and a few points I'd like followed.

The times recorded in his daily diary never match up, like he'll miraculously be having a bottle while he's asleep and having a nappy change while eating his lunch. I know that may sound petty but it seems they're just making up what's going on during the day and it makes me wonder what is really going on.

DS is always knackered and a nightmare after a day at nursery and he's usually very calm and content.

I do understand that they have their work cut out and there's other babies to consider and please feel free to tell me if I'm being unreasonable and expecting too much, but I don't think I am. It's my son's well-being after all.

Has anyone had experience of both nursery and a child minder and can compare? I'm wondering if a home environment is better for DS at this stage.

I give the childminder vote.

I had to use one as the only nursery around here is appauling and am a complete convert.

My CM is part of a network as mentioned earlier so DS goes to a playgroup, an art club and a music club. My CM has a playroom in her house and becuase she has an assistant there are often 6 children there.

This week he had a cold and I know that he was given more attention/cuddles/one to one because that was what he needed .

I can't speak highly enough of them (as long as you find a good one!).

Good luck.

And btw - my DS is on his second CM and I agonised about moving him as despite my own reservations I felt that he was settled and I didn't want to disrupt him. In the end I did move him and he was absolutely fine (just thought it may be something which is on your mind).

I vote cm for under 2s too, ours is a star and both dc have been very happy there.

A lot fo you think that CMs are best for under-twos. Is it the home environment thing? Do CMs provide food for the kids?

all childminders work differently just like all nurseries, I chose to childmind as when dd1 was little and prior to that worked in many nurseries and pre-schools although they do have good points I found many bad points e.g. under 1's room if three children asleep member of staff would take break etc rather than give extra time to children still awake as a cm if 1 or 2 children asleep I can dedicate time to other child(ren) I offer parents choice as to who provides meals them or me and give them sample menu's including catering for allergies. I have been a cm for 5 years now and have undertaken at least 18 training courses some up to a year in length, in that time in a nursery I was only offered 2 training courses as I already was working on a nvq3 I went back to a pre-school 2 - 3 years ago as well as cm afternoons as thought maybe was bit harsh to decide nurseries not as good but left after a year as found wanted to dedicate myself to childminding my ds2 is 19mths and thrives in working environment we go out everyday to various community groups etc my dd1 enjoys bringing friends home from school as she looks on children I childmind and they enjoy activities too

I used to teach nursery nurse students.
I once asked the teenage students whether, based on their experience, they would use a nursery for their own under two year olds.
Every one of them said no.

I had a child minder for the three days a fortnight I needed her (I worked part time night duty) she was worth her weight in gold, the children adored her and they still even now great her with great delight and wide open arms if they see her-and the kids are now 20, 18 and 15!

I wouldn't leave my child anywhere I wasn't 100% confident with personally.

Anyone else got an opinion on childminders vs nurseries for under 2s?

My ds has been in a nursery since he was 10 weeks old, (no im not a cruel bad ass mother, im a lone parent who couldnt afford to take more than 10 weeks maternity leave) and they have been fantastic with him, he is now 21 months old and he doesnt have a dummy or bottle and is now nearly potty trained, they have done a better job than i could have. I cant afford a CM and the nursery is cheap, but even if i could afford a CM i wouldn't swap anyway.

ds went to a fantastic childminder until he was 14 months and she became pregnant and gave up minding. He then went to a terrible cm until I managed to get him a nursery place. (The cm seemed to think stickingan under 2 in front of Nick Jr was a good thing - she also thought "placid" children were best). When dd was born she went to the same nurswry as ds - and had excellent care until she left at 5 years. The uirsery did not have a high turnover of staff and the baby room in particular had only a few children with older, more experienced staff members.
So to summarise - it very much depends on the individual c/m or nursery.

My dd (19mo) is at a cm & loves it. I think its great that she gets to see the same person every time - she's lovely, and I really like that she's in a home environment. She's only been there a few months but she's really thriving.

Having said that, she'd probably be fine in a nursery too. My nephews both went to a nursery from 6 mo and loved it, both are confident & have good social skills.

I think as long as you're happy, it doesn't matter what sort of place it is. I would be frustrated with your situation, & wondering what else they're not listening to you about, but maybe just having a chat with them could sort it all out?

Good luck!

I guess it's down to the individual nursery or CM. One of the main bugbears for me is that DS is stuck in the same room all day. Everytime I drop him off or pick him up, I never see the carers actually playing with the babies, more just holding them if they're asleep. They seem to be left to stimulate themselves.

My DD has been with her CM since she was just over 5 months old. She's now 7 months old and seems to be thriving. Sure, it's only 2 months but the relationship seems to be working beautifully. Our CM said that her philosophy is "treat them like they're your own but don't forget that they're not".

When I collect dd, CM hands her straight to me. DD then reaches out to touch CM's face (her affectionate little habit) and smiles at her. Now that's as good a sign as any that she's happy.

CM has 5 y/o twins and a 2 y/o ds so dd gets plenty of stimulation and exposure to other children. CM is part of a CM network, takes DD to a music class and attends coffee mornings etc.

I would say a childminder every time for all preschool children tbh.
that is not to say that nurseries are Bad or anything, I just think that c hildminder provides a better environment imo and ime.
obviously you need to pick a good childminder

Ds has been going to nursery since 6mo. I chose this nursery because the staff genuinely seemed to be happy with the children, and the children with the staff (running up to say hello); there was a feeling of relative calm in the baby room, although there were plenty of things to do; there was very little crying - and any crying was being attended to; there was lots of outside time - with the babies being taken out in triple buggies...

I also know that there is a low staff turnover, and that various members of staff do have their children in the nursery for some of the time.

In terms of milk, I always sent ds (as a baby) with 2 extra bottles more than I would have expected at home. This meant that, even if his routine got put out, he still had enough milk and wasn't going hungry.

In terms of sleep, ds actually slept better at nursery, going to sleep on cushions at the side of the room wheras he preferred to be in my arms at home.

Ds is always happy to go into nursery - as a baby he would reach out for the nursery nurse who collected him at the door. He still likes to greet the nursery nurses who were in the younger section and regularly gives them a cuddle.

I'm sure that there are other good nurseries out there - and there are also poor ones - but the same goes for child minders: whichever you go for, you need to try to get a good one!