Please help me choose childcare!

[qumquat]

I am losing my mind with this decision! A bit of calm perspective might be useful, I would be grateful for your thoughts.

Option a:
A local childminder recently expanded to run a small nursery, about 15 children up to school age
The childminder who runs it is lovely, staff seem nice
Lovely whole house dedicated to childcare
Dh can do drop off I do pick up
£60 a day

Option b:
A lovely childminder local to my work, half an hour's drive from home, so dd would have an hour a day in the car
Dd would be one of 2 children cared for
Lovely home two rooms dedicated to kids
I would have to do all pick ups and drop offs
If dd was sent home sick I would have to always be the one to leave work as cm is two hours travel away from dh work
£40 a day

Obviously the money speaks for itself. But we can just a afford the more expensive one- it would give dh more involvement and me more freedom. Dd wouldn't have to sit an hour a day in the car. Could this be worth £20?

I realise a lot of people wouldn't have the luxury of this choice, so sorry if my dilemma winds people up.

Should add is term time only.

A major fear is half an hour in the car at 6pm would mean dd would nap which would then bugger up bedtime. Or could possibly it give us a nicer more leisurely evening with a rested tot?

I would go for option B, which has the added benefits of DD possibly making friends who would go to the same school as her, and for CM to take her to routine doctor's appointments/pick up and drop off at pre-school/drop off at taster days at school when the time comes etc.

Thanks middleagedmum, but it's option a that is near home, so I'm a bit confused! Option a still offers school pick ups and drop offs although now technically a nursery.

I would go with option a local one chance to make local friends. And especially the point you made in the evenings if she falls asleep and messes up her sleep routine which just adds more stress to an already late evening getting her in would not be worth the £20 savings.

Option A I think is better.

It may be a much larger organisation, and more money. But I think the points you made about OH being more involved,closer to home etc make it worth it

I'd go with option a based on your description. The fact that you can't share option b with your DH would be a deal breaker for me.

I would go with option A. Mainly because there are other staff there, so you don't have to worry about childminder being ill or away, and also I'd much rather she is being looked after by a few people (for me that feels more secure). Also she can make more friends

Also, as they get older I think it's more fun for them when there are more children around.

Thank you all! Things are a little complicated by the fact that I might be moving to near work next year... So my life would definitely be easier this year using nursery here but then might have to uproot dd next year. Also keep having visions of £20 notes floating away!!

I wish I knew how she'd respond to the car time, if she hates it and cries for an hour a day I wouldn't want to do that to her. She's a good traveller now but she's only in the car about once a week.

I'm terrible at making decisions generally, I'm hoping motherhood will force me to get better at it!

Why don't you do some trial runs in the car at the weekend? I know it's not quite an accurate measure of traffic and what not, but if that's troubling you, it may answer some questions!! X

You'd be paying a lot more in petrol costs if you choose option b.
Does the option b childminder have any other hidden costs which option a doesn't? Soft play/toddler group costs, nappies, meals, paid holidays for the childminder or paid sick days.

Yes, soz, I meant option A. The one nearest where you live.