Childminder or nursery for 4-5 month baby

[Saffra]

I'm pregnant at the moment with my first and am need to think about childcare. Will be going back to work when baby is 4-5 months, and wondered if a nursery setting is better than a childminder for a baby this little.

(A friend of mine believes that nursery might be better because there is more than one person around - just in case anything happens to that person when the baby is in their care).

A nursery I have been in touch with has a max of 6 babies in their baby room (with two nursery nurses looking after them). Is this good?

Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated.

Personally I'd wait and see what the baby is like when it's here. You might have a confident baby that can hold it's own in a rowdy room full of other babies, or you might have one that would benefit from more of a 'home' setting.

DD started nursery one day a week a couple of weeks ago at 9mo, before that with family (my Nan and MIL) because I don't think she'd be up to a room of babies every day when I'm not there. However, she's now totally settled and I'd be happy for her to be there more. But when she's with family she's their priority for the day.

See if you can visit some of them too so you can get a feel for what it's like. But it really comes down to what you feel is right for your baby at the time.

the CM will have an emergency plan to show what the procedure is if something happens

I feel that babies are better off with CMs because they will have one person to bond with, and there will be a smaller group for the baby to get used to; a CM will be allowed to have one baby under 12 months, and up to 2 others under 5 plus up to 3 in the 5-8 age range (these are general rules, if the CM has young children then the numbers may differ, similarly if the CM is caring for twins or siblings)

Go with what suits you

Nursery definitely.

I always feel that with a CM you're putting all you eggs in one basket ifyswim. If there is a problem with the CM by the time the child is old enough to tell you the damage will have been done. Also as there is more than one person at a nursery it is easier for child to find someone to 'bond' with. Just because you like a particular CM doesn't mean to say your child will. Both my boys had favourite nursery nurses in each room they went into. In fact DS2 named a teddy after one of them.

Nursery's are open everyday and your not reliant on 1 person who may get sick, go on holiday, or have a family emergency to sort out which prevents them looking after your child.

"If there is a problem with the CM by the time the child is old enough to tell you the damage will have been done."

What's with the scaremongering? Do you truly believe that a child is not at risk in the same way in a nursery? Try telling that to all the parents who little ones have been abused by nursery workers recently.

Also 6 babies for 2 adults is a lot especially in they are all very young. CM's will have no more than one under 12 months as BALD says.

For a baby that young I would choose a CM, mainly for as there is more 1-to-1 time, more like a family environment. CMs have to be registered and checked by OFSTED, just like nurseries.

I phoned and visited several CMs before I found one I was happy with.

I'm biased, as a CM, I would say a CM

When the baby is born, go and meet a few childminders and visit a few nurseries as well and see what suits you and your baby :)

just had this dilema myself my baby wiill be 9mths old when I go back (should be a thread I started somewhere on here about why people chose nursery over childminder)

I go back initially for 3 days and have chose a childminder for those days

and then after 3mths I will be doing 4 days and will use a nursery for that 1 extra day and as he gets older will consider increasing nursery time to 2 days a week.

Also have the option if nursery really doesnt suit him for him to increase time with childminder.

I vistited a nursery and that made my mind up that I didnt want it for my baby anymore than 1 day a week - actually have visted more since and know 1 day will be nice for him and anymore wouldnt be great for him.

Childminder - my Ds1 was with one from 6 months - he is 5 and still loves her - very special -would almost never get that continutiy of care at nursery - you do need to go and see a few - and I would want one with a fair bit of experience with babies - most will have lots of references from other parents - and will let you follow up if you want to
go and visit nurseries as well though - it will clarify your thoughts

and a good childminder will be doing things like toddler groups and art and craft etc so nursery isn't needed until pre-school age in my view
my childiminder has had about 1 day off sick in 5 years and that day she found another childminder -who I knew to cover -does that for her holidays as well

1:3 ratio for staff to babies is normal (and the legal limit). Are you going back to work full time? Personally I wouldn't leave a little baby in a nursery 5 days a week.
The main problem I found with a childminder is that they're looking after lots of different ages and sometimes do school pick ups and drop offs too. The care isn't dedicated to your childs age as it is in a nursery.
If you can get a childminder who has a little one about the same age as yours that's great.

Did you watch Parents under pressure on BBC2 a couple of nights ago (can watch it on iplayer). They had an interesteing debate over nursery v other childcare from an early age, may be worth watching.
My personal opinion is that if baby not at home with mum or dad then the next best thing is another form of home based childcare. However every child and family are different and it is also important to go with your instincts.
I would not worry too much about the 'what if something happens to the childminder' scenario, as someone said they will have procedures in place and you could as well worry about 'what if something happens to me'?

Childminder definitely for babies under 18 months/2 years IMO

I'm looking at 5 x half days. At this moment in time, some of the childcare maybe shared between grandparents, although not broached to this subject yet so cannot assume so at this stage. I'm not sure they could commit to it.

I'll be working part-time hours during m-f.

The one nursery that I've spoken to so far has said they have a waiting list - hence why I don't want to leave it too late to make some kind of initial decision (although realise this is not set in stone).

I'll take a look at Parents Under Pressure, thanks. Is this available on iplayer?

Sorry, you did mention iPlayer, princesslina. Was reading from my phone - makes it harder to read everything!

Will read your thread eastmidlandsnightnanny - thanks.

But, yes, fully intending on doing lots of visits before making a decision - for both nurseries and childminders. But thought it would be beneficial to get thoughts and ideas from mums that have been in a similar position.

Its not an easy decision and both have pros and cons and you will know for yourself which you prefer perhaps go and visit a few nurseries now.

I always thought I wouldnt mind before I had him what we used but soon as I started considering it was more towards a childminder and then when I visited both I knew a childminder would suit us better but I also liked the idea of nursery so thats why I have chosen to use one 1 day a week from when he is a year old.

Dont be swayed by cost if you can manage it as a childminder esp if you are doing half days will prob work our cheaper but I decided not to look at the cost as I had in my mind it would cost anywhere between £30-£48 a day in my area and we would choose the one we like best and was best for our baby and the childminder for a 9hr day is £31.50 and the 2 nurseries we are deciding between one is £42 and the other £48 a day (I will geta 10% discount for working for NHS of those nursery rates).

Another tip is using childcare vouchers we only recently found out that my husband can start building his up and could have done since baby was born - have been telling lots of people at baby groups we attend so they have all been getting husbands to sign up asap to build up a stock.

Yes, I'm keeping a bit of an open mind at this stage, but I really need to have an idea of what the plan is because of work/finances, etc. My priority is finding the best quality childcare that suits my circumstances.

Definitely looking at using childcare vouchers through DH's work (though not mine) - and that is a great tip about signing up ASAP. Never thought about that!

I watched the Parents Under Pressure prog on iPlayer with DH. Hmmm.... not sure if that was any help at all, I'm afraid! The message seemed to be that there's lots of things that can go wrong - from different situations, and it's a mix of contributory factors that determine outcome. Didn't really answer any questions, just repeated things that I think most mums probably know already perhaps? It was still good to watch with DH, if only to affirm that we're on the same page with regards to our plans.

Im a childminder and have had a nephew in nursery, im NOT knocking nurseries but personally would choose a childminder anyday, and for silly people telling you "what ifs" what ifs happen at home to. The childminder you leave your child with will be ofsted registered and checked, i text my mums (all that are allowed to recv texts at work) and tell them what we have done in morning and i text them in afternoon and they love that.
I show them pictures if any at end of the day and am sure you will bond with your childminder quick enough when you pick the right one.
If you go for a nursery then you will walk in and feel thats the right place to....hard decision for you but that certain person you will just know is right

I agree with those that have said look around and get a gut feel. I looked round a few nurseries, all with good/outstanding OFSTEDs and recommended by friends/colleagues, and didn't like them - each for different reasons.

I then started meeting childminders and stumbled across one that I really liked, visited her home and loved it. DD couldn't be happier, has bonded with her amazingly well. She is happy to take DD if she is under the weather (not infectious) and just pkan a quieter day with her (a lot of nurseries state they have to be up to a normal day). My CM tells us her holidays (4 wks only, some of which at xmas) months in advance so we can plan for it.

After I had met and decided on her, I did visit a nursery (pre-booked ages before) that I could have contemplated, but the CM just felt right.

As others have said, it's a very home from home day, they go to the park, shops, do the school run, playgroup etc. While it may be a mixed aged group, the activities are very much tailored to the individuals.

My CM works out cosiderably cheaper than a nursaery as I only pay for the hours DD does, rather than a whole day. She accepts vouchers too.

Good luck finding what's right for you.