Childcare Advice For Small Baby

[LouisaJF]

I'm currently 24 weeks, so no bambino yet, but we are trying to plan ahead. In my job I am able to work from home a lot, and my employers are very flexible and understanding. When I got pregnant I asked if it was possible to take a very short maternity leave and work from home full time after that. They said this was fine, and confirmed that again a couple of months ago when I double checked, but I never got them to put it in writing. They have now decided that this is not suitable, and want me to work in the office three days a week when I come back, and 2 days at home.

I am taking 6 weeks maternity leave (can't really afford more) and then 6 weeks full time work at home. After this point I must come back into the office part time. I can ask grandma to babysit 1 or 2 days a week, but I cannot ask for more.

My question (eventually) is what are your experiences of putting a 3 month old into childcare for possibly one day a week? Is this practical, and what sort of options are available? I know that costs will vary, but can anyone give me a rough ball park of what I should expect this to cost?

It's not what I want to do, and I am still trying to negotiate, but I need to be prepared for all eventualities. I would really appreciate any advice or experiences.

Hello it would depend on your area - if you could afford one maybe a nanny would suit best otherwise for a young baby I would suggest a chilminder.

Nanny will cost from min wage upto £15 gross an hr dependant on area, nannies experience and quals, whether you are happy for nanny to bring own child (would reduce cost by about 25%).

A childminder would be anything from £2.50-£6 an hr and again would vary on area and whats included in that cost.

definitely a childminder for a little one. At that age they need lots of one to one and cuddles and the stability of the same carer which most nurseries can't provide
depends on your area, but you're lokking at anywhere frm £25 - £45 per day. ( maybe more if you're in a very naice bit of London!)

If it's any comfort, a tiny baby will generally cope much more easily with separation from parents than an older one at the age when they are typically first sent to childcare.

You can make her/him more comfortable with the transition (if indeed it turns out to be needed) by making sure the baby gets used to lots of attention (cuddles, taking a bottle, having nappy changed etc) from other people, get the baby used to being close but not always held, and used to a relatively busy/loud environment (e.g have people round, including children, carry on with your usual tidying, hoovering, putting the washer on, rather than tiptoeing about the baby, have the radio on at home etc).

I went back to work full time when DS2 was 4 months old. I would suggest that if you can afford it you put your baby into nursery more than 1 day a week as it's not enough really for them to become acclimatised to the enviroment. DS2 went 3 days a week, I had him for one day (I worked one day at the weekend) and 1 day with GPs.
DS1 went to nursery from 5 and a half months and again I worked fulltime. I'm not convinced about the childminder thing (I was never very keen on putting all my eggs in one basket iyswim) but I do see that's personal choice. A childminder is still likely to have other children, usually demanding toddlers, so your baby won't necessarily have that much 1-2-1 attention. Babies at nursery are all in a baby room with a high ratio of fixed staff so I much preferred that.
I now have 2 lovely confident, sociable DSs aged 7 and 11 so they have not been scarred for life. I know the manager at our nursery said the children who had the biggest problems settling into nursery were two year olds who had been at home for the first two years not the babies who remembered nothing else.
Also don't under estimate the demands of a new baby. I am not sure how you will manage the demands of a two month old baby with a full time job. don't know what you do but I really think you will need someone to come and 'watch' the baby whilst you do some work otherwise you will be unable able to give the necessary amount of attention to either activity (baby or work).

I've worked as nursery nurse up to deputy, and nurseries are good but you need to chose wisely. As some nurseries are full of young nursery assistants or agency staff and they may not be so observant. You need to find a nursery who has mature staff within the baby unit and look at how their given lunch and the sleep routine I,m now a childminder and will only have 3 children, one of which is school age. So attention can be given to every child. So i would visit nurseries and childminders, as this will help you decide.

how stressful for you and not nice of your employer.

i am a cm but suggest that your little one will settle with any setting which is professional and caring so any good cm or nursery, visit some and get the vibe.

whatever happens am sure it will all work out, good luck

I'm a childminder and I have minded 3-4 month old babies several times. At these times I have only been minding one other child. From the point of view of the baby and the childminder, an early start works fine, the baby is too young for seperation anxiety. I think it's hardest on the Mum.