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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Worried about childcare

15 replies

ournewbaby2 · 01/10/2014 21:21

Hi does anybody know any decent, caring and stimulating childcare out there. Every nursery I go to all the babies are combined with toddlers so from 3 months through to 2 years of age in the same room, also they have no separate sleeping area and just place mats on the floor for the babies to sleep on in a busy, noisy and stuffy envornment.

Is there any nurseries that cater for just babies in the baby room and are not so busy, within the middleton/Rochdale area of Manchester.

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adsy · 02/10/2014 08:24

Hi,
Have you considered a childminder? They offer a much more personal service than nurseries and follow all the same regulations / inspections etc.
I'm in Whitworth which may be a little far away from you?

Greenfizzywater · 02/10/2014 08:32

Not in Manchester, but sounds like you've been looking at poor quality nurseries. Every nursery I've ever seen has cots for the babies - mats only for the children over 2. They usually have a baby room for the under 1's so they have time on their own, with some time also mixed with the 1-2s but not too much. Maybe you need to find a better quality of nursery!

Theboulderhascaughtupwithme · 02/10/2014 19:09

Blimey no cots for small babies!!??

I have seen nurseries where there are no cots for over twos ( just mats) and I wasn't even keen on those!!

At three months up they need to be sleeping in a safe and quiet area.

The nursery where my son goes to has a room for 3 months to 1 year (ish) a each child has a designated cot which sinning special room behind one way glass ( staff had see in from main room but babies cannot see out hence it is a quiet sleep promoting environment).

Look elsewhere!

Original poster

ournewbaby2 · 03/10/2014 17:00

Thanks for your help not thought of a child minder but will definitely start looking now

OP posts:

sleeplessinderbyshire · 03/10/2014 21:15

Keep looking. Every nursery I know of has a baby room 0-12m, a 12-24m room a 2-3 room and a 3+ room. Babies sleep in cots unless parents specifically want them to sleep elsewhere (eg in buggy/bouncer/where they fall). When my DD1 was small she still went in the nursery cot aged 2+ (DD2 has been insistent about sleeping like a big girl on a cushion since she was about 15m though).

You'll get biased opinions here but I'd consider carefully what you are looking for. If reliability is the key priority a nanny or childminder is never going to be as good as with one individual there's always the risk of illness, you also have to cover their holidays which can be very difficult. Nursery literally never shuts.

We use a mix of nanny and nursery and it is perfect as if nanny is ill (hardly ever) or on holiday nursery can usually take an extra child for the day. Childminders are usually much more expensive than nursery as well (round here nursery c£35 a day, childminder more like £45)

concernedaboutheboy · 03/10/2014 21:24

Those nurseries sound absolutely awful! A childminder is much more human-scale for a young baby. And I say that as someone who has used all manner of childcare setups for my kids!

Nanny share coukd also be an option although personally would choose a CM as they are better regulated.

concernedaboutheboy · 03/10/2014 21:26

I think cost-wise it depends on area. Nurseries around here are about the same as CMs. Not much in it.

adsy · 03/10/2014 22:54

Round here CM's and nurseries are roughly the same price. When you think of the much better ratios with CM's it makes them much better "value".
Also, every CM I know ( including myself ) has lots of back up CM's for the very very rare occasions we are not available. I've not had a day sick in the 10 years I've been minding and I know the other CM's in the village are never off but it's always good to have back up just in case.It means we cover for holidays.

jac36 · 04/10/2014 08:10

I'm returning to work in a month. 8 month old son is booked in with CM that I have felt very happy with & was recommended to me. A mutual friend saw CM texting whilst driving in very heavy, slow moving traffic with her children in the car ! I feel unsure what to do now! Talk to CM? I'd also previously heard that she does quickly go into the supermarket leaving the children in the car. I'm confused! She's so brilliant with the children in her care in all other aspects..

PhoebeMcPeePee · 04/10/2014 10:18

To be fair sleepless most childminders I know are very reliable - I've not taken a day sick in 3 years (a combination of good health & muddling through so I still get paid & don't let parents down )

sleeplessinderbyshire · 04/10/2014 15:29

I'm sure most of you are committed and try to be well and battle through when not but I've always gone for the 51 weeks a year available option because it suits me (because my work means it is almost impossible to take a day off at short notice without causing chaos +/- endangering safety). Our nanny is almost never ill but unfortunately with the best will in the world can't avoid getting things off kids - mine are rarely ill but the other family she works for had D&V a couple of weeks ago and our nanny got it and couldn't work one day. Totally understandable but a nightmare at 6am to know you need childcare from 8am. Fortunately nursery had 2 spaces but I'd worry that many childminders wouldn't be able to arrange emergency cover at the drop of a hat and there are threads and threads on here about parents struggling with CM holidays (and nanny holidays) and maternity leaves etc where nursery means this is all the managers problem not the parents'

adsy · 04/10/2014 18:21

sleepless that's why the majority of CM's have back up CM's so they can arrange cover at a moments notice. In my case I know the local nursery will also take children on an ad hoc basis. if the worst came to the worst.
I've also read a fair few horror stories where parents have arrived at nursery in the morning to find a note on the door saying they are shut down!!
The other big factor is that if you use a CM, they will then continue as wraparound / holiday care when your lo starts school whereas with a nursery you have to start all over again looking for that

sleeplessinderbyshire · 04/10/2014 20:48

oh for a CM to pick up from DD's school. there are none. (there used to be one, she's given up childminding). there is a good wrap around breakfast/afterschool/holiday club but i agree a cm would be ideal - that's one of the many reasons we had to have a nanny

marcopront · 05/10/2014 08:03

jac36 maybe the childminder was texting a parent, saying she would be a few minutes late, as she was stuck in traffic.

Cullercoats88 · 05/10/2014 08:47

Childcare is a minefield, especially for under 2s I think!!

You will find both outstanding nurseries and CM but actually I don't think I would EVER chose a nursery for a a child under 18months. I am an ex-nursery manager, currently a CM and pregnant with DC1.

You need to arrange lots of visits with different providers, weigh up what's most important to you and take from there.

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