So do I go for a childminder or nursery???? am so torn

[justJAM]

Any info, pros/cons greatly recieved

i thought about both and went for a nursery in the end because less issues with illness (ie if CM is ill), more activties etc etc. I chose a nursery with a small baby room (only up to 8 babies) and they are flexible in when they move up a room. Also DS can stay as there is a pre-school so the continuity of care is great.
Nanny L - that is a really shocking comment - not helpful and liable to induce guilt/upset/anger in mums. I understand everyone is entitled to their opinions but that just sounds like babies are going to be miserable at nursery or worse.
My DS loves his nursery - is very happy and content and developmentally has come on so much since he has been going. The staff are all lovely with him - very cuddly ... i think it was the best choice for us.

whatever you decide check out loads of nurseries and childminders first and speak to other parents ... also beware as some CMs and Nurseries have long waiting lists.

at the risk of upsetting more people i have to say im with nannyl on this one.
ive worked in 4 different nurserys and have seen some applaling and very disturbing things in each one,(all of which were reported to ofsted)
my post is not intended to upset anybody or cause guilt/upset/anger as taylormum says BUT this is my view and this view is taken from experience and first hand knowledge.
i would never ever reccomend a nursery.

Having put ds in a nursery when he was 7mos (and where he was very happy), then had a nanny and now about to switch to a childminder, I'd say it's more about the people than the setting. And about the age of your child.

The problem with nurseries is the people can change. That's why I took ds out - the two people he loved left and staff turnover suddenly rocketed. Much less emotional security. Don't think I'd put a baby in a nursery again, tbh.

Obviously nannies and childminders vary - interviewed six childminders before choosing nursery and wouldn't have left ds with any of them, tbh. But as long as you choose someone you trust, I'd be happier with either of those for a baby. Ds is now going to school 2.5 hours a day and will be going to a childminders in the mornings. He's been desperate to go to both since we visited. In fact childminder's not brilliant for me in terms of hours but went for it anyway as clearly the best option for ds. Luckily I'm freelance so can probably make it work.

smeeinit - can i ask what kind of bad experiences? I am not jumping down anyones neck just am interested :-)

of course haily.........to name just a few.......
a 6month old baby having its hands sellotaped (yes sellotaped) together to stop it crawling away when the evil cow who was meant to be looking after it wanted to sit and chill out.
i have been left in a baby room on my own (where the ratio is 3-1) with 14 babies all under one.
all nurseries ive worked at gave the "im such a lovely caring person" attitude to the parents faces but when the doors closed and parents are gone its a very different matter.
on the same note,childrens daily reports were written untruthly to make the parents happy and not giving a true account of what the childs day was REALLY like.
children as young as 16mnths not being given a snack/drink as they couldnt say "ta" when prompted.
the list is endless haily.
i really dont want to offend anyone but you did ask for some experiences and im giving them to you HONESTLY.
these are my personal experiences and i urge any parent who uses or is intending to use a nursery to fully investigate it first.
im sure alot of nurseries are great!

also just to add if anyone wants to view a nursery turn up announced rather than make an appointment!
and just so i dont sound totally one sided im sure there are alot of terrible cms out there too!

If you contact your local Childrens Information Service they will have details of local CM's.

I personally wouldn't use a nursery for a little one. Like the whole bonding with one person thing.

I have had a horrible experience with a CM, but I changed to another and never looked back.

Also see if it's possible to use one that is networked with the NCMA. They are checked 6 weekly instead of once a year with Ofsted. I am not saying that they are better childminders necessarily but they all get together and know each other and I would say it weeds out the bad ones. You could also try talking to the network coordinator for NCMA in your area. She will know all of the CMS and may be able to recommend one.

but with a child minder it can raise jealousy issues .. you obviously want your child to love them... but you better!

you will find info here

CIS

Some more information on NCMA here

here

My first CM's were not registered with the NCMA. They said they were but were lying. I was lucky that a friend knew the coordinator and checked for me.

there seems to be a lot of nursery bashing going on here - using words like "disturbing" is not balanced and instills more feelings of guilt and upset in those of use who have chosen to send our children to one.
Everyone is of course entitled to their opinion but i have to re-iterate i think the nursery my son goes to is excellent, low staff turnover, and i turn up at different times everyday and i have NEVER seen anything that i would be worried about.

Yes there are poor nurseries but but i am also sure there are some CMs i wouldn't be happy leaving my son with - i think at the end of the day do your research & speak to other parents and look at OFSTED reports - yes turn up at the nursery unannounced, ask questions etc ...

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I would choose a decent nursery over a childminder anyway. I would make a point of investigatingi t as thoroughly as possible and dropping in unannounced as often as possible to try and make sure that the children were being properly cared for - but on balance, given the pros and cons of each I would vastly prefer a decent well-run nursery to a childminder.

Shosha, I found the whole 'NCMA' thing very reassuring when looking for a CM. As you are a childminder, would you say that belonging to it definitely is a plus for parents looking or not. I also liked the idea that all of the CMs knew each other through this so if one was a 'bit rubbish', they would be outted etc IYKWIM

thanks smeetinit...

sorry if my comment was "unhelpful" or "inducing guilt" or whatver else (orginal question was should i use nursary or childmineder and i was helpfully adding that in my opinion a childminder is a much better option)... my comment was indeed honest and i maintain that not 1 single person who i know who has worked in a nursary... or currently works in a nursary (or is just a nanny) (even a very good friend who works in one of our local tiny / caring / 1st choice with parents / long waiting list type nursary) would ever send their baby to any nursary...

thats a fact... thats how it is... and that is the opinion of at least 15+ child caresrs who i know personaly and we each have our individual opinions about things. Have had lots of converstaions over time and not one of us has said they would send our baby there

i have never even worked in a nursary(and nor would I) (only ever done nannying.... after i graduated from uni) but i have seen disturbing things when picking up children from several different nursarys to make me vow to myself that i will never ever send my own baby to one.

Of course if you are a mum and really think you have found a lovely / perfect nursary for your baby and you are happy with that than thats fine for you..... would be interesting to know how many of the staff there would (honestly) send there own babies there!... and ofcourse what they tell the mums may be different to what thy tell their friends with no children!

Oh also, yes there are some childminders who i wouldnt even dream of leaving my baby with, and in my time i have even met 1 nanny who i wouldnt want to look after my own baby!

Message withdrawn

I am on an NCMA quality assured network but am not a member of the NCMA.
It is a false quality reassurance to rely simply on childminders being members of the NCMA.
The only thing that sets members apart from non members is the membership fee - which I guess could be considered money well spent if it makes parents think you're better than you are.

Thanks Shosha. I don't think I would use one that wasn't NCMA anymore. Once again, I am not saying that people not in it are rubbish. In fact in some places it doesn't exist. Just that if I were going to use a CM, they would have to be part of this for me

Gooseegg, aren't the checks done 6 weekly though whereas Ofstead only check once a year. Surely there is a bit more control with that.

I didn't mean to offend you NannyL, as said i just thought it sounded pretty harsh, might just be the way i take things.
It wasn't easy choosing childcare for my dd. She was with a childminder to start with, but she then decided to get a german shepherd. This was after Ofsted had visited her. I know she will probably now get investigated for this, and i know i might be hypocrytical as i have a dog myself. But come on a german shepherd??
So i decided to look at my local nursery. It is brand new and the staff there are lovely. I also think though that some CM's might be doing the same awful things that Smeeinit said some Nurserys do, but in a nursery surely there are more people witnessing it?
As said before i don't mean to offend anyone. I just think it is sad as this thread seemed very one sided.
I agree NannyL it is our opinions, and i do like to hear what other people have to say as well.
Thank you as well Smeeinit, i have been dropping round the nursery unannounced. So far so good! :-)

Yes, being on the network means that I have 6weekly checks but I am NOT member of the NCMA and don't have to be to be on the network.
Anyone can pay their membership fee and be a 'member' of the NCMA, but simply being a member of the NCMA does not mean you are on a network.

Oh, never knew that, and funnily enough, thats the bit I like about it the most. Oh well you live & learn