childminder v nursery dilemma

[mumofben]

sorry if this topic has already been discussed - I'm returning to work in Feb and until recently thought nursery would be best for my 6 month old - However, i flicked through the Stephen Biddulph book on "raising boys" and he suggests that boys in particular benefit from a calm environment with a constant person they can learn to be attached to etc which made sense. So, I changed my mind and thought a childminder would be better, especially in the early months then I could change to nursery when he's a bit bigger.

However, talking to a mum the other day made me re-think again - I've got him into a routine with naps etc - a childminder will want him to fit around her routine - eg out in the car all day? or will he be stuck in front of TV while she's doing her housework etc. Therefore, no guarantee he'll get individual attention anyway.

Now I'm completely unsure what to do. Would be really grateful if anyone can help point me in the right direction?

well, we've decided on a nursery - it's a leapfrog one, which unfortunately seems to attract a lot of criticism, there's a thread in the nurseries topic on here about them. It seemed fine when we went - the babies all loked happy and occupied, and I didn't see anything that put me off. Obviously, I still worry that the staff are young, and that it might be too stimulating etc., but as my dh put it, a bad childminder is more risky than a bad nursery - at least the staff are supervised.

Feel as if I've made the best decision out of a limited choice, although whether it is the right decision, only time will tell...

mumofben I am glad that you have found somewhere that you are both agree on. You both sound like concerned and involved parents so I am sure you will be able to tell that your son is happy when he starts there.

I have been speaking to some mums whose sons have started in nursery and they said they were settling in really well and having a great time there. I have however heard a lot of horror stories about getting colds & bugs in the first few weeks so a fairly long settling in period before you go back might be wise ( says she who doesn't know much about it but if DS was going to nursery thats what I would be doing).

thanks rookie, I was only going to have a couple of days before starting full time, but I think I will start him sooner than planned. Dealing with an ill baby is one of the joys I have yet to encounter!...

Got all the weaning stuff to deal with as well soon- I've gone from avidly reading all the sleep threads, to the going back to work , then this one, now the nursery ones. I've just started looking at the weaning ones - I think I'm drowning in information and feel just as clueless as ever! Wish I could just get on with it and chill out. Instead, I've become an anxiety ridden mess!