Is it confusing for a child to be looked after by different people on different days?

[GoldysMum]

Hi there, I'm still trying to sort out my childcare situation after being dumped (with a bit of notice) by my childminder who was finding doing school pickups to be a bit much. Anyway I've found a great nanny who can only do two of the four days I need and I'm toying with other combinations of family help and other nurseries and childminders for additional days. It looks like the schedule will consist of my mum on one day, nanny two days and a nursery/childminder/pickup by family member on fourth day, me as patent all day on 5th day. My question is, would this combination of different carers be a good or a bad thing for a child? Will it get confusing for them or would it actually be a good experience for them to be around lots of different people in different environments? Very interested to hear what people think.

We've done the same sort of thing for 3 years nearly. MIL on one day, nursery next and my mother 3rd day. DD hasn't suffered any ill effects because of it. She got different things in different days. Shithot social life on MIL day, little friends etc on nursery day and quiet on my mother's day. Has been ok but was only 3 days a week.

I'd try to do 2 days with each childcare provider if you can, as lots of children struggle just doing one day a week. DS does 2 nursery days, 2 childminder days and 1 day at home with no problem though.

I don't think it is confusing for a child to be looked after by different people on different days, but I would find it difficult to know that my child was getting the right mix of activities over the week if several people were taking care of him/her.

Interesting this thread as I need childcare on a Thursday, dont really want to do another chilminder was thinking of a nanny so it would be a different day I think it may work.

If school age then no problem - if younger depends on the child a bit

My 13m DD goes to nursery one day, Mum's one day and MIL one day a week, and is with me 4 days a week. I think it took her longer to settle in at nursery than if perhaps she was going there two or three days a week, but otherwise we have no problem. She follows the same routine (ie sleep and meal times) at each place which I think helps. Only slight hitch is the slightly different rules (eg she is allowed to climb the stairs at home but not at MIL's, can play with TV remote at MIL's but not at Mum's) but in general it's worked out very well for us.

Thanks for all your responses - unfortunately I can't have each childcare option for 2 days as not enough days in the week - and if I lose the day with my mum and add a paid for option then after tax I would pay out the same as I earn in childcare so it wouldn't be worth it. Anyway, the nanny I've found for two days seems great and I've found a nice nursery who will accept one day a week so will do lots of settling in time and hope I'm making the right decision for my kids this time.

My DSs are looked after by my mum on 1 day and a nanny the other 2 days, with me at home the remaining 4 days. Only been back at work for 2 weeks (DS3 is 9mo), so early days but seems to be working OK so far! Good luck with it all.