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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

Childcare close to work or close to home?

13 replies

BoingBoing · 23/11/2006 13:35

I'm biting the bullet and thinking of going back to work, almost certainly full time. The job will probably be around 20 miles away, so is it better for DS to go to a CM close to home so it's only a short journey for him or close to the office so I can get to him quickly if need be? As he's only 18 mths I'm not worried yet about him making nursery friends to take him through to school - I'll send him to a local nursery later (or should I be worried?)

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Tinker · 23/11/2006 13:37

Close to home. The thought of a 20 mile drive every morning and night when you may be stuck in traffic with a tired hungry toddler makes me shudder. Plus they may fall asleep on the way home and bugger up any bedtime "routine" you have.

Original poster

BoingBoing · 23/11/2006 13:45

Good point Tinker. The rush hour traffic's a total 'mare. I can do it in 20 mins on a good day, on a bad day? 1 1/2 hours. Longer if it's August bank holiday and the bloody caravans are out!

OP posts:

Bink · 23/11/2006 13:50

Agree, close to home - local childminder also good thing if you have days off work/at work but off site; allows for possibility of local extra babysitting; and it's just nice to have the whole locality familiar - ds can go to same parks with her that he goes to with you, sort of thing.

Also - speaking as someone who has a commute & has always left the children near home - the one day when I did need to bring my daughter in & have her at a nursery near work I was really distracted - by thinking that I could, if I wanted, just go & drop in to see her - better (for me) to keep the worlds a bit more separate.

dmo · 23/11/2006 14:39

i agree both ways close to home is good no long travel to and from work with child and great if u have a day off

close to work is good less money to pay cm and if child is ill you are close to collect

pamina3 · 23/11/2006 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cwmbranchildminder · 23/11/2006 16:14

If u had your child close to home there will be more chance of getting a family member to help out with pick ups if u are stuck in nightmare traffic and running late.
Also your local CM can send your child to local nursery/school when old enough and mix with local children

Original poster

BoingBoing · 23/11/2006 16:56

All very good points, although unfortunately I have no nearby family. Even DH works away most of the week. And I think you're probably right regarding a local CM to take them to local nursery etc.

OP posts:

RanToTheHills · 23/11/2006 16:57

home every time.

tobysmumkent · 23/11/2006 19:04

Message withdrawn

aideesmum · 24/11/2006 13:26

My ds (21 months) was at the local nursery to where I work and lived but we have now moved 30 minutes drive away. When he first started at nursery he had an allergic reaction (we now know it's eggs) and I could get to him in 5 minutes from work.
I did think about moving him to a nursery near home but he is very settled at this nursery plus I can be near him if he has any more reactions. I don't have any family nearby either who could help so I would prefer to be near him.
The drive to and from the nursery can be a bit of a nightmare at times but he is used to it now.
It just depends on your situation.

Original poster

BoingBoing · 25/11/2006 14:35

Oh dear, you've all given me lots to think about there. But thanks for your thoughts which have been extremely helpful. I guess I just need to get a job now.

OP posts:

beansprout · 25/11/2006 14:43

I would say close to home. If you are needed, they are in good hands while you are on the way - being in the back of the car while you make your way from childcare to home is not ideal I think. Also, although I worried about this a lot, I have only been called home once so it's not a major issue. Also, if you were to have a (rare) day off, you wouldn't then have to a huge round trip to drop your lo off. Finally, our ds is with a childminder and I like the fact that he is doing stuff near to home and getting to know his neighbourhood. They go to the same parks and shops etc that we do and I think the continuity and sense of community is a good thing.

One more thing - I find I need the commute to myself as it's really good to have just a bit of time to myself to make the transition between my work self back to my mummy self, and vice versa.

That said, it really is a case of what works best for you, there is no right or wrong!

MissGolightly · 25/11/2006 22:07

I had this dilemma - my instinct was for near home but my DP's work has a subsidised nursery and was very tempted to send DS there.

After much deliberation I decided to pay the extra in order to be home because:

I wanted myself and DP to be able to share pickups - if the nursery was close to one parent's place of work then all the responsibility would fall on that parent and if that parent had to work late the pickup would be a nightmare for the other parent.
I thought if I were ill it would be much easier to take DS to a nursery near home and then crawl back to the sofa, whereas taking him halfway across London while shivering with flu would be awful. Conversely if I have a day off I won't waste it commuting DS to work!
If I have another kid it would be nice for DS to continue at the same place during my maternity leave.

That swung it for me - but I'm sure you have your own priorities!

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